Our fee is only 25%* on motor vehicle accident cases
At Poynter & Bucheri, our advertised fee is 25%* on motor vehicle accident cases, including car, truck, and motorcycle crashes. No fee and no costs unless we recover for you.
*Disclaimer: The 25% fee applies only to motor vehicle (car, truck, and motorcycle) accident cases settled prior to trial. If there is no recovery, the client owes no fee. Case costs and expenses paid by the firm are reimbursed from any settlement or recovery. This 25% fee is valid for 15 days after the date last advertised.
South Bend and Mishawaka anchor North Central Indiana along the Indiana Toll Road. Poynter & Bucheri accepts truck, car, and premises injury cases from St. Joseph County. You don't have to come to an office. We can do your consultation by phone or video, and you can sign up by e-signature.
Roads and highways around South Bend
The Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) runs along the north side of the city. The U.S. 20/31 St. Joseph Valley Parkway bypass loops the south and west, and U.S. 31 runs south toward Plymouth and Indianapolis. Lincolnway, Ireland Road, and Grape Road carry heavy local traffic.
Local crash and injury risks
Lake-effect snow, long-haul trucks on the Toll Road, and crowds on Notre Dame game days all add crash risk. Retail corridors along Grape Road and Main Street in Mishawaka are common settings for store and parking-lot falls.
Courts for St. Joseph County cases
Injury cases from St. Joseph County are commonly filed in St. Joseph Superior or Circuit Court in South Bend (the county also has court facilities in Mishawaka). Federal cases may be filed in the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Indiana’s venue rules can allow other counties or courts in some cases, depending on where the defendants are located.
How we help people in South Bend
Our focus is semi and commercial truck crashes and slip and falls at businesses, and we also handle car, motorcycle, pedestrian and bicycle, dog bite, and wrongful death claims. Getting started takes a phone call to 1-800-265-9881 or the short form above.
Interstate truck crash guides for this area:
Hiring us from South Bend without an office visit
You can hire Poynter & Bucheri from South Bend without visiting an office. We can talk through what happened in a free phone or video consultation. When you're ready, we'll email you the sign-up papers, and you can sign them electronically from your phone or computer. There's no appointment to drive to. If English isn't your first language, we have access to professional interpretation. Call 1-800-265-9881 or fill out the form above to get started.
Indiana deadlines to keep in mind
Most Indiana injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (IC 34-11-2-4). Claims involving a city, county, or state vehicle or property require written notice within 180 days (local) or 270 days (State). Indiana’s modified comparative fault rules (IC 34-51-2) reduce damages by your share of fault and bar recovery only if your fault is greater than everyone else’s combined.
Frequently asked questions
Can you help with a Toll Road truck crash near South Bend?
Yes. We accept Toll Road truck crash cases from St. Joseph County and the rest of Northern Indiana.
Do you accept cases from South Bend even though your main office is in Indianapolis?
Yes. Poynter & Bucheri accepts injury cases throughout Indiana, including South Bend and St. Joseph County.
Where would my St. Joseph County injury case be filed?
Injury cases from St. Joseph County are commonly filed in St. Joseph Superior or Circuit Court in South Bend (the county also has court facilities in Mishawaka). Federal cases may be filed in the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division.
Do I have to come to your office from South Bend?
No. If you're in South Bend, you can talk with us in a free phone or video consultation and sign up electronically with documents we email you. There's no need to drive in to get started. Some later steps in a case, like a deposition, a medical exam or a court date, may need you in person, and we'll tell you ahead of time if one comes up.
Sources
- Indiana University Public Policy Institute, Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: 2024 County Profiles, Saint Joseph County (PDF page 156; 2024 data)
- IC 34-11-2-4 — official heading: “Injury or forfeiture of penalty actions.” An action for injury to a person or to personal property generally must be started within two years after the cause of action accrues.
- IC 34-51-2 — official heading: “Chapter 2. Compensatory Damages: Comparative Fault.” Indiana’s comparative fault chapter: a claimant’s own fault reduces damages in proportion, and recovery is barred if the claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone whose fault contributed (sections 5 and 6).
Indiana Code links open the official chapter PDF from the Indiana General Assembly (2026 Code); federal rules link to the current eCFR text.
More official links: Indiana accident resources · Indiana crash statistics · How to get your crash report
General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.