1, you don't need to hire a lawyer to prosecute a traffic accident, but it can be handled in the following two ways:
(1) If a civil lawsuit is filed, it is up to the parties themselves to decide whether to entrust a lawyer to represent them;
(2) In criminal proceedings, if the defendant is unable to entrust a defense lawyer, he may apply for judicial assistance or defend himself.
2. Legal basis: Article 74 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China
In the event of a dispute in traffic accident compensation, the parties may request the traffic administrative department of the public security organ for mediation, or they may directly bring a civil lawsuit to the people's court.
After mediation by the traffic administrative department of the public security organ, if the parties fail to reach an agreement or fail to perform the mediation after it takes effect, the parties may bring a civil lawsuit to the people's court.
Second, how long is the limitation period for the crime of causing traffic accidents?
The effective period of traffic accident prosecution is 1 year for personal injury and 3 years for property loss.
If a traffic accident causes disability or death, the limitation of civil action shall be 1 year. If a traffic accident causes property losses, the limitation period of civil action shall be 3 years. If there are both personal injuries and property losses, the limitation of action shall be calculated separately. The limitation of action is not calculated from the date of the accident, but from the date when the parties know that their rights have been violated. As long as he has been claiming rights from the infringer, the limitation will not start to calculate.