Why Should I Contact a South Bend Car Accident Lawyer After a Rear-End Accident?

October 23, 2024

Car crashes are routine occurrences in South Bend, and among the most common are rear-end accidents, which account for 29 percent of collisions between two or more vehicles.  Fortunately, you could be eligible to pursue a personal injury case when someone else is responsible for your South Bend rear-end accident, and your chances of success could be far greater with the help of a knowledgeable legal practitioner.  Join us as we discuss the benefits of partnering with an attorney if you are asking yourself “Why should I contact a South Bend car accident lawyer after a rear-end accident?” 

Handling Your Own Case Could Put You at a Disadvantage 

While you are certainly permitted to handle your own rear-end accident case, you could be at a disadvantage if you attempt to do so. 

For instance, you may have trouble merely identifying each of the potential defendants.  Typically, the driver to the rear is considered to be at fault in a rear-end accident, along with the owner of his or her vehicle (if separate from the driver).  However, others could be liable too, such as a company making commercial use of that vehicle, a mechanic whose improper servicing hastens a breakdown-related crash, or a government agency when an unrepaired road hazard leads to a collision.  And if you fail to go after everyone who contributed to your injuries in a timely fashion, you could be forever barred from obtaining full compensation.   

Assuming that you manage to track down all of the parties who share blame, you could still face stiff opposition from their insurance companies, who will probably be your primary sources of financial recovery.  This may be your first major car accident, but it won’t be the first for a veteran insurance adjuster, who may try to cast doubt on the extent and relevance of your injuries to minimize your claim.  This tactic is especially likely to be deployed when you are involved in a “fender bender” that takes place at a comparatively low speed or if you suffer from whiplash, a soft-tissue neck injury whose frequency may subject it to heightened scrutiny. 

By exploiting your inexperience with the claims process and your inability to calculate the true value of your case, the insurer could justify offering you pennies on the dollar, which could leave you with little recourse when you and your family may already be struggling to stay afloat. 

Hiring a South Bend Car Accident Attorney Can Make a Difference 

No matter how straightforward a rear-end accident may seem, the insurance carrier generally has the upper hand when squaring off against a novice claimant, but this is where hiring a South Bend car accident attorney can make a difference. 

Just as it won’t be the first car accident for the adjuster, it won’t be the first for your lawyer either, who will be much better equipped to counter the strategies that would otherwise be used against you.  Your attorney will also be better equipped to assess what your case is really worth and will always strive to equal or exceed that figure during negotiations, which is a key reason why the wrongfully injured receive 3.5 times more on average with lawyers than they do without them. 

Once retained, your attorney will launch a comprehensive investigation into the causes of your rear-end accident and the individuals and entities who may be culpable for it, then move swiftly to establish valid claims against them.  If the situation demands it, a lawsuit could be filed as well in a court with the authority to issue a binding judgment. 

Next, your South Bend car accident lawyer will amass the materials needed to build the strongest case possible.  When confronted with irrefutable proof of your losses and the insured’s guilt, an adjuster may agree to tender a generous settlement rather than risk a worse verdict at trial. 

In fact, most rear-end accident cases are resolved without going to trial, though a seasoned attorney will become indispensable if your case does, since plaintiffs who represent themselves in court only win about four percent of the time.  In contrast, plaintiffs with professional representation are statistically favored to prevail in the courtroom, and receptive juries might even be convinced to award them the resources necessary to get their lives back to normal.  

Get in Touch with Our Dedicated South Bend Car Accident Lawyers 

Hensley Legal Group has been standing up for the innocent victims of negligence for more than 25 years.  If you are reeling from the effects of a serious rear-end accident, get in touch with our dedicated South Bend car accident lawyers to explore the remedies available to you. 

You can call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free case review with an accomplished South Bend car accident attorney today.