Legal Question in Personal Injury in Georgia

You'd better. Any other choice is foolish.

That is the whole reason you buy insurance. If there is an accident, they have to pay the legal defense costs (which in a simple case can be tens of thousands of dollars), and they have to pay the claim if they lose the case.

If you hired your own lawyer, besides having to pay a huge retainer, you'd be in breach of your insurance policy meaning they would not pay any judgment or claim.

The only time that you would hire counsel would be if the claim was more than your coverage, the insurer paid the policy limits, and then turned over the defense to you.

I agree with Mr. Ashman's analysis but would add that the attorney hired by your insurer is paid by your insurer. While technically this attorney is supposed to represent you, whom do you think the attorney is actually beholden to? You may wish to have a "personal attorney follow along with the insurance company paid attorney to be sure your rights are protected. The insurer's paid attorney would still be in charge of the case but your "personal attorney" gets to see all pleadings, correspondence and advise you. You pay the "personal attorney" yourself not the insurer.