Is My Car Accident Case Strong Enough to Hire a South Bend, IN Lawyer?

January 20, 2026

Car accidents are far too common in large Indiana cities like South Bend, and the physical and financial devastation they can leave in their wake is often immense. Fortunately, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim after a collision on the St. Joseph Valley Parkway or some other South Bend location, and teaming up with a skilled attorney might increase the amount of compensation you obtain, provided that legal action is warranted. Join us if you’re wondering “Is my car accident case strong enough to hire a South Bend, IN lawyer?”

The Requirements and Challenges of a Car Accident Case

There are two core elements that must be featured in a car accident case for it to be viable: negligence – the failure to take care to avoid inflicting harm – and damages – the negative effects of that negligence.

To put it simply, anyone who sustains bodily damages in a car crash that was brought about by the negligence of an individual or entity (typically referred to a “defendant”) could go after that individual or entity for economic damages.

Therefore, if you’ve been hurt in a collision that occurred in South Bend traffic as a result of a defendant’s negligent conduct, then a case arising from it is likely strong enough to merit assistance from a place like Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998.

And the sooner you seek that assistance, the better, since a successful outcome is never guaranteed thanks to the many challenges that may lay ahead, like the challenge of identifying ALL of the potential defendants for your case, a list that could be longer than you think and may include the:

• Driver who hit you
• Owner of his or her vehicle
• Business making use of the vehicle commercially
• Incompetent mechanic or servicing agent
• Manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a defective vehicle or component
• Government agency with authority over a road in disrepair

Neglecting to file suit or otherwise resolve a claim against every defendant who harmed you within the time allotted by law could forever bar you from full and fair recovery, though it’s not as if your problems will suddenly disappear if you do.

Indeed, you’ll probably still face stiff opposition from the defendants’ insurance companies, who could take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the claims process to settle your claim for less or merely deny it altogether – but this is when a knowledgeable lawyer can make a huge difference.

How a South Bend, IN Car Accident Attorney Can Help

This may be your first car accident, but it definitely won’t be the first for a seasoned South Bend, IN car accident attorney, who will have what it takes to meet the insurers on a level playing field. A veteran lawyer will also be more adept at determining what your case is really worth and will always strive to equal or exceed that sum, a key reason why 85 percent of the funds that insurance carriers pay out go to claimants with attorneys.

Your lawyer will begin by launching a comprehensive investigation to unearth the root causes of your car accident and the defendants who contributed to it, establish valid claims against them, and possibly file a lawsuit as well in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

Next, your attorney will amass the evidence needed to build a car accident case that exhaustively conveys both the depth of the defendants’ negligence and the extent of your damages, such as:

• Police reports
• Citation and dispositions
• Witness statements
• Crash site photos
• Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance videos
• Black box data
• Phone records
• Driving histories
• Maintenance logs
• Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

While the overwhelming majority of cases like these can be amicably concluded prior to trial, a South Bend, IN car accident lawyer will become indispensable if your case has its day in the courtroom, where plaintiffs who represent themselves only win about four percent of the time.

In contrast, plaintiffs represented by attorneys are statistically favored to prevail and might even manage to secure verdicts that are substantial enough to get their lives back on track.

Our South Bend, IN Car Accident Lawyers Will Be Here

Hensley Legal Group has been getting justice for seriously injured Hoosiers for over a quarter century. If your world has been turned upside down by a catastrophic car accident in the South Bend area, just know that our South Bend, IN car accident lawyers will be here to set things right again.

To learn what an accomplished South Bend, IN car accident attorney can do for you and your car accident case, schedule a free case review by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form now.