You don't necessarily need an attorney to file a claim with the insurers. You can file a personal injury claim all on your own by filing the required paperwork. However, having an attorney certainly makes things easier. For one, you won't have trouble understanding the legal jargon of the legal documents. Moreover, your personal injury lawyer would also take care of all the negotiations with the insurers, which is a challenge on its own. While it's not mandatory to have a lawyer file the paperwork, it is advisable to get one anyway.