You have the legal right to represent yourself (pro se) in civil lawsuits, but doing so significantly disadvantages your case. Court procedures require strict compliance with rules you must learn while simultaneously managing your recovery and building evidence. Insurance company lawyers will exploit your inexperience with legal procedures, evidence rules, and negotiation tactics. Self-representation often results in dismissed cases due to technical errors or inadequate settlements from poor negotiation positioning. Personal injury attorneys work on contingency, eliminating upfront costs and typically generating higher net recovery even after fees. Complex medical evidence, expert witness requirements, and damage calculations exceed most non-lawyers’ capabilities. Consider attorney representation as an investment that pays for itself through increased recovery rather than an expense reducing your compensation.