Unless there was personal injury involved, a lawyer is waste of $$$ if the other party is dirt poor and had no insurance. If your insurance renigs on paying a legitimate claim then you can sue your own insurance. Lawyers aren't cheap and they won't go after someone who has no money or insurance. I was hit by somone who didn't have any insurance and was poor. I let my insurance fix my damages and go after that person in collection. They were never able to collect . I was out my deductiable. A lawyer wouldn't have done me any good and would have been a waste of money. I wasn't injured at all( my car was parked). Insurance is for paying claims on a policy. If they don't cover their part then that is a different story.