10 Questions South Bend Residents Ask After a Car Accident

May 12, 2026

• Car accidents are common in South Bend, with its mix of highways, local roads, and colleges, and the many overlapping jurisdictions can complicate claims.
• Knowing what to do after an accident can help you protect the integrity of your case from the beginning until the end.
• Having South Bend car accident lawyers who know the law and who will fight for you is the best way to have a successful claim.

South Bend is the traffic hub of Northern Indiana. You have people driving across 90 heading east to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York or west to Chicago and beyond. We’re on a major route from Michigan toward Indianapolis and Kentucky. Notre Dame, the airport, the casino – for a place surrounded by farms, South Bend is pretty busy.

That means a lot of traffic, and a lot of potential for car accidents. And if you are a South Bend resident who has had a car accident, you’ll have a lot of questions. As experienced South Bend car accident attorneys, we think you deserve the answers.

Accidents can be scary. Your life can change. Having the information you need can help you get what you need to become whole again. These are some of the most important questions South Bend residents ask after a car accident.

Do I call SBPD or the Indiana State Police after my crash?

This depends on where the crash takes place. If you are on a city road, such as Route 20 where it intersects with Chapin and Marion, that will be the South Bend Police Department. The Indiana State Police covers major highways, such as Highway 31 as it circumvents the city (as opposed to the business road going through it), and of course 90. The other department that can get involved is the St. Joseph County Police, which handles streets in unincorporated areas.

What if police didn’t come to my accident scene?

If you and/or the other driver decide not to call the police, you should still consider filing a police report. In Indiana, you are legally required to file if there is more than $1000 of. You can go to the South Bend Police Department website to file a report if there aren’t officers needed on the scene.

Remember, if you are injured, you should always call the police to make sure a report is accurately filed. This will help you make a claim with insurance to cover your medical bills as well as other costs that might arise.

 How do I get my SBPD accident report?

The police report generated by the officer at the scene is extremely important for your claim. It details the scene, and that helps insurance companies determine who is at fault. The police report is the primary “source of truth” for your claim.

If there is information you dispute, you will want to know that in advance so that you can deal with and potentially change it before your claim gets going.

To obtain a copy of your report, you can go to buycrash.com (the SBPD website will send you there to purchase one as well). It costs $12 to obtain. You will need:

• Your report number
• Your report date
• The last name of the driver or the owner

You can also go to the SBPD’s headquarters to request one in person.

The roads were icy and snowy. Isn’t that the cause of my crash — not the other driver?

Roads in and around South Bend are frequently icy and snowy – winter being one of the two main seasons around here, along with construction. When the roads are bad, whether there is a blinding lake effect blizzard or just the normal wet and ice of winter, it is easy to say that an accident was no one’s fault.

But Indiana is a comparative fault state, and drivers can be partially at fault. If the other driver is driving too fast or too recklessly for the conditions, he or she can still be found to be partially negligent. Bad driving can make bad conditions even worse.

Additionally, if the city or state is negligent in cleaning the roads or making them safe, it might also be partially to blame for the accident. A qualified South Bend car accident attorney can help determine who is responsible for an Indiana car accident.

The other driver had Michigan plates. Does Indiana or Michigan law apply?

There are a lot of Michigan drivers in and around South Bend, whether they’re coming down for work or play or passing through. But no matter where the other driver is from, Indiana law will apply.

Of course, the other driver might have insurance from a Michigan company. While Indiana law will still apply, there will potentially be different regulations. That’s why partnering with accident attorneys who know how to work with insurance companies from Indiana, Michigan, and anywhere else is important to making your claim successful.

My crash happened near Notre Dame. Is that SBPD or someone else?

A recent accident at State Road 933 and The Avenue showed the complexities of life in a college town. As The Observer put it, “The Notre Dame Police Department, Notre Dame Fire Department, South Bend Police Department and St. Joseph County Fire Department were all present at the scene.”

In this case, the NDPD mostly directed traffic, while the SBPD managed the report.

On campus, the Notre Dame police will create an accident report. If it is off-campus, it will most likely be the SBPD, though it could also be St. Joseph County. If the NDPD are the leading officers on the scene, you will still go through buycrash.com to obtain a copy of your report.

Can I sue the City of South Bend for a crash caused by a bad pothole or broken signal?

Short answer: sometimes. Indiana’s Tort Law provides immunity for the city if there is a temporary condition caused by weather. Sometimes, to put it bluntly, things happen. But if it can be proven that the city had the time and the ability to fix the pothole or the broken signal, it might be found partially at fault.

That’s why it is important to have a South Bend car accident lawyer. Timing is critical – there is a shorter Statute of Limitations when filing a claim against a government entity. You will need to be able to quickly identify negligence and take action. (See below for how long you have to file a claim.)

I was rear-ended at a stoplight. The other driver admits fault. Do I still need a lawyer?

In rear-end accidents, the drivers who hit the other drivers from behind are nearly always at fault, especially if they admit it. You might think that you won’t need a lawyer in such a cut-and-dried case.

But cut-and-dried doesn’t always mean easy, especially when dealing with insurance companies. You might have more expenses than initially appear, and your medical bills might linger for a long time. Insurance companies will want to pay the bare minimum, even if fault is clear. A lawyer will fight for you and help make sure you get what you need to avoid financial hardship.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Indiana?

The moment a crash occurs is when the clock starts on your claim. In general, Indiana law gives you two years to file your claim after the date of the accident. The time is shorter if there is a government entity involved. If the City of South Bend is involved, a Notice of Claim has to be filed within 180 days. This is different from filing your claim, since it gives the government a chance to respond.

You might ask why you would wait a full two years before filing a claim. The main reason not to hurry is that lingering medical issues can create more expenses, as not every injury is immediately apparent. It is important to know the full extent of your financial liabilities before filing a claim.

What should I do in the first 24 hours after a South Bend car accident?

In many ways, the first 24 hours after your South Bend car accident are the most important. If you are involved in an Indiana car accident, there are some crucial things to do.

• Get to a safe spot and receive whatever medical treatment is needed.
• Gather witness statements from the scene (the police usually do this, but the more witness statements the better). Make sure you get contact information.
• Contact a South Bend car accident attorney to understand your rights.
• Protect the integrity of your case: DO NOT TALK TO ANOTHER INSURANCE COMPANY. It may try to use your words against you to limit or negate its liability.

Reach Out to Our Experienced South Bend Car Accident Attorneys

When you are in a car accident in South Bend, you need lawyers who know the law, can determine liability, and pursue your case until the end, like the ones at 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.

Simply call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a free consultation with a knowledgeable South Bend car accident attorney.