Why Do I Need a South Bend Car Accident Lawyer After a Car Accident?

July 17, 2024

As the fourth largest city in Indiana, South Bend sees a significant number of cars passing through on a regular basis – and a significant number of car accidents as well, including 3,617 collisions in 2022.  If you have been hurt in a crash in South Bend and are contemplating a case for compensation, you may be wondering “Couldn’t I represent myself?  Why do I need a South Bend car accident lawyer after a car accident?” Join us as we explain the value of having an attorney work on your South Bend car accident case. 

The Difficulties of Handling Your Own Car Accident Case 

While you have every right to handle your own car accident case, you could encounter considerable difficulties if you do, particularly if this is your first serious collision. 

Any viable car accident case must feature two core elements: negligence and damages.  Negligence is the failure to exercise due care to avoid inflicting harm, otherwise known as damages.  If a plaintiff incurs physical damages in a car accident caused by a defendant’s negligence, that plaintiff could pursue the defendant for financial damages. 

This concept may seem simple enough, but identifying both elements could prove challenging.  For instance, there could be many different defendants for a single car accident.  In addition to the driver who hit you, the owner of his or her car (if separate from the driver) could be liable, as could any company making commercial use of the car (if separate from the owner), along with other individuals, entities, and even government bodies, depending on the circumstances.  And if you do not go after every culpable party within the time allotted by law, you could be forever barred from recovering what you are owed. 

Aside from the trouble involved in tracking down all of the defendants and their insurance carriers, you may find it hard to assess the full range of your damages.  Even if you have been injured before, you probably haven’t calculated injuries in economic terms, which is essential to judging whether an offer is fair or low.  Moreover, your present injuries may constitute only a fraction of your total South Bend car accident damages.  If you accept a settlement for your short-term, monetary damages, you could be forced to cover the cost of any complications that may emerge later entirely on your own, not to mention the non-monetary damages that can sometimes be more enduring, such as pain and suffering and psychological trauma. 

These are just some examples of how your relative inexperience could work against you, and the matter could really come to a head during negotiations with a veteran insurance adjuster, who will be looking for any opportunity to settle your claim for less or even deny it altogether. 

What a South Bend Car Accident Attorney Can Do for You 

But if representing yourself could put you at a disadvantage, you could gain the upper hand by hiring a capable South Bend car accident attorney, who will be far better equipped to fend off the standard tactics that insurance companies deploy to minimize claims.  A skillful lawyer will also be better equipped to calculate what your case it truly worth and will work tirelessly to equal or top that figure, which is one of the reasons why 85 percent of the money paid by insurance companies goes to claimants with professional representation. 

Once retained, your attorney will investigate your South Bend car accident and everyone at fault for it, then establish valid claims or file suit against all of the defendants.  Next, your lawyer will amass evidence detailing both your losses and the defendants’ liability.  When confronted with a rock-solid case that comprehensively conveys the extent of your damages and the culpability of the insured, a sensible adjuster may agree to a healthy settlement rather than risk a worse outcome at trial. 

Indeed, most car accident cases get resolved outside of the courtroom, but a trial may still be necessary, thereby making a seasoned attorney even more crucial.  While plaintiffs without lawyers only win about four percent of their cases in court, plaintiffs with lawyers are favored to prevail.  And the more compellingly your South Bend car accident attorney can present the facts of your case to a judge and jury, the greater your chances are of being made whole again.   

Talk to Hensley’s South Bend Car Accident Lawyers 

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the wrongfully injured since 1998.  If you are struggling to get back to normal after a major crash, talk to Hensley’s South Bend car accident lawyers to explore the remedies available to you. 

You can schedule a free case review with a dedicated South Bend car accident attorney now by calling or texting (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.