1. Truitt Law Offices
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Insurance Defense
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Slip and Fall Injuries, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability
Background: Founded by Richard Truitt, who has over four decades of experience practicing personal injury law in Indiana. The firm includes attorneys Phillip Truitt and Daniel Brophy, a former insurance defense attorney who brings insider knowledge of how insurance companies handle claims. The team has deep roots in the northeastern Indiana community.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana (serving Huntington and northeastern Indiana communities)
Contact: (260) 420-1777 | https://www.truittlawoffices.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation initial consultation. Contingency fee basis.
2. Glaser & Ebbs
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Social Security Disability
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Dog Bites, Medical Malpractice, Social Security Disability Claims
Background: The firm has more than 100 years of combined legal experience among its trial lawyers. With offices in Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Decatur, Kendallville, and Indianapolis, the firm serves clients throughout Indiana. The attorneys are recognized for thorough case preparation and willingness to take cases to trial.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana (with additional offices throughout the state)
Contact: (260) 420-9300 | https://glaserebbs.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available at any Indiana location.
3. Delventhal Law Office LLC
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Truck Accidents, Workers’ Compensation, Wrongful Death, Slip and Fall Injuries
Background: Founded by Chad Delventhal, who has nearly two decades of experience representing injured victims in Indiana. The firm operates from the heart of Fort Wayne and emphasizes personalized attention to each client throughout the legal process. Attorneys guide clients from intake through final resolution.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (260) 420-1000 | https://delventhal-law.com
Consultation: Free case review. No fee unless the case is successfully resolved.
4. Vaughan & Vaughan
Focus Area: Personal Injury Litigation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Premises Liability
Background: The firm has been serving the Fort Wayne community for over 110 years. Lead attorney Charles V. Vaughan holds board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The firm has recovered more than $25 million in compensation for clients and maintains 24/7 availability for new clients.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (765) 742-0056 | https://vaughanandvaughan.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation. Works on a contingency fee basis.
5. Theisen Hubley Law
Focus Area: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Disability
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, Employment Law, Workplace Injuries
Background: The firm has more than 75 years of combined experience and is recognized as the only firm in Northeast Indiana handling personal injury, work injury, employment law, and disability cases under one roof. The attorneys have obtained multimillion-dollar results and have published work on vocational experts in Social Security disability hearings that has been cited by courts nationwide.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact: (260) 420-4070 | https://www.theisenhubleylaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Employment consults require a $300 pre-payment.
Personal Injury Laws in Indiana
Statute of Limitations
Indiana law requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years from the date of injury under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(1). This deadline applies to car accidents, slip and fall injuries, premises liability claims, assault and battery cases, and defamation claims. Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of death under Indiana Code § 34-23-1-1. Medical malpractice cases also have a two-year deadline from the date of the malpractice, though children younger than six years old have until their eighth birthday to file. Product liability claims must be filed within two years from the date of injury.
Negligence Rules
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule under Indiana Code § 34-51-2-5 and § 34-51-2-6. Under this system, an injured party can recover damages only if they are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. If the injured person is 51% or more responsible, they are barred from recovering any compensation. When fault is less than 51%, the damages award is reduced by the injured party’s percentage of fault. For example, if someone is found 25% at fault and their damages total $100,000, they would receive $75,000.
Damage Caps
Indiana imposes caps on certain types of damages. Medical malpractice awards are capped at $1.8 million for acts occurring after June 30, 2019, under Indiana Code § 34-18-14-3. Each defendant’s liability is limited to $500,000, with the state’s Patient’s Compensation Fund covering amounts up to the total cap. Claims against government entities are capped at $700,000 for one person’s injuries or death and $5 million for all injuries and deaths in a single accident under Indiana Code § 34-13-3-4(a). Punitive damages are capped at three times the compensatory damages award or $50,000, whichever is greater. Wrongful death damages are limited to $300,000 if the deceased was unmarried, 23 years old or older, and had no dependents.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Indiana is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying damages. All drivers must carry minimum liability insurance of 25/50/25, which includes $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits, though policyholders can reject this coverage in writing. Indiana does not require personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Penalties for driving without insurance include license suspension for up to one year and requirement to obtain SR22 insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a car accident on I-69 or US-30 in Fort Wayne?
After ensuring everyone’s safety and calling 911, exchange insurance information with other drivers and document the scene with photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Fort Wayne sees significant traffic on major corridors like I-69, US-30, and Coliseum Boulevard, where serious collisions frequently occur. Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor, as symptoms can develop later. Indiana requires accident reports to be filed with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles if there are injuries or property damage exceeding $1,000. Contact an attorney before providing recorded statements to insurance adjusters, as Indiana’s comparative fault rules mean anything you say could be used to attribute fault to you.
How does winter weather in Fort Wayne affect personal injury claims?
Northeastern Indiana winters create hazardous driving conditions including ice, snow, and reduced visibility that contribute to many accidents. Property owners have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions, but Indiana’s comparative fault rules may reduce recovery if an injured person failed to exercise reasonable care in obvious winter hazards. For slip and fall claims, timing matters significantly because property owners need reasonable notice of dangerous conditions before liability attaches. Documenting weather conditions, photographing the hazard, and reporting the incident immediately strengthens these claims. Vehicle accidents during winter weather may involve disputes about whether speed was appropriate for conditions.
Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my accident in Allen County?
Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault system, you can recover damages as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced proportionally. For example, if your damages total $80,000 and you are found 30% responsible, you would receive $56,000. However, if you are determined to be 51% or more at fault, you receive nothing regardless of the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies often attempt to shift blame to injured parties to reduce their payout obligations. An attorney can help gather evidence, interview witnesses, and work with accident reconstruction specialists to establish liability accurately.
What types of damages can I recover in an Indiana personal injury case?
Indiana law allows recovery of economic damages including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Indiana does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, though medical malpractice and government liability claims have specific caps. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, though these are capped at three times compensatory damages or $50,000. Keep detailed records of all expenses and impacts on daily life to maximize the value of your claim.
How long do personal injury cases typically take to resolve in Fort Wayne courts?
Case timelines vary significantly based on complexity, severity of injuries, and whether litigation is necessary. Simple cases with clear liability may settle within several months through negotiations with insurance companies. Cases requiring litigation in Allen County Superior Court or Circuit Court may take one to three years or longer to reach trial. Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations creates the outer deadline for filing suit, but building a strong case takes time. Maximum medical improvement should generally be reached before settlement negotiations conclude, as accepting early offers may leave future medical needs uncompensated. Your attorney can advise on timing based on the specific circumstances of your case.