Do You Need a South Bend Car Accident Lawyer After a Car Crash?

June 12, 2025

You may have grounds for a personal injury case if you have been hurt in South Bend traffic through no fault of your own, and hiring an attorney could increase your chances of success, but do you need a South Bend car accident lawyer after a car crash? Hensley Legal Group examines the benefits of retaining legal assistance for an auto injury.

Significant Challenges May Have to Be Overcome

Though you are certainly entitled to go it alone in the wake of a South Bend car accident, significant challenges may have to be overcome if you hope to be fully compensated for your injuries, including the challenge of identifying every potential defendant for your case.

A car crash may seem like a fairly straightforward event, but the reality is that a wide range of individuals and entities could be liable for it, such as the driver who struck you, the owner of his or her car, any company making use of that car, and possibly other parties too. Very often, multiple defendants could share blame for the same South Bend car accident, and you could be forever barred from obtaining what you deserve if you don’t pursue them all within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations.

Even if you do manage to take action against each of the defendants, you may still face staunch opposition from their insurance companies, who will probably be your chief sources of financial recovery. This might be your first car accident, but you can bet it won’t be the first for a veteran insurance adjuster, who could exploit your inexperience to resolve your claim for less than it is worth or simply deny it altogether, leaving you with few options if you are already struggling to stay afloat.

How a South Bend Car Accident Attorney Can Make a Difference

As you can see, you could be at a major disadvantage if you attempt to get justice for a car crash by yourself, but the advantage could be yours if you join forces with a dedicated South Bend car accident attorney.

Just as it won’t be the first car accident for the adjuster, neither will it be the first for your lawyer, who will be better equipped to meet the insurers on a level playing field and will always strive to secure a settlement or verdict that reflects the true value of your case. This is a key reason why personal injury victims tend to receive 3.5 times more with attorneys than they do without them.

A knowledgeable South Bend car accident lawyer will begin by launching a comprehensive investigation to unearth the root causes of the accident and the defendants who may have contributed to it, then establish valid claims against them before the Statute expires. If the situation should warrant it, a lawsuit could be filed as well in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

Your attorney will also amass the evidentiary materials necessary to construct a rock-solid case, such as:

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

When confronted with irrefutable proof of both the extent of your damages and the depth of the insured’s wrongdoing, a sensible adjuster may decide to put forth a generous offer in order to avoid a disastrous outcome at trial.

In fact, a South Bend car accident claim can usually be negotiated amicably prior to trial, though a seasoned lawyer will be indispensable if your case makes it to a courtroom, where 96 percent of unrepresented plaintiffs lose but professionally represented plaintiffs are favored to prevail.

And if you are concerned about spending more money when you may least be able to afford it, you should know that personal injury firms like Hensley Legal Group generally operate on a contingency basis, so you should not have to pay anything until your case is won.

At that point, reimbursement may be sought for out-of-pocket expenses and a fee for services rendered, typically as a percentage of your ultimate compensation package, which is likely to be much more substantial if you have a South Bend car accident attorney in your corner.

Get in Touch with Our South Bend Car Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been advocating on behalf of hardworking Hoosiers like you for more than 25 years. If your life has been upended by a serious car crash in the South Bend region, get in touch with our South Bend car accident lawyers to learn what they can do to set things right.

To schedule a free consultation with an accomplished South Bend car accident attorney, please call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form today.