There is no requirement that you hire an attorney for any legal issues you may face, but that does not mean that you should attempt to go through this process alone. Tort law in California is complicated, and you will be working directly with a team that is working for their client, the insurance company, in order to save as much money as possible. At the same time that this legal team is springing into action, you will need to focus on your recovery so that you can get your life back on track as soon as possible. These are just two reasons of many why it is so important that you hire an attorney to help you through this process.