1. Keller & Keller
Focus Area: Car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice
Practice Areas: Semi-truck accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle crashes, nursing home abuse, Social Security disability, wrongful death lawsuits
Background: Operating since 1936, this firm has accumulated over 85 years of experience handling injury cases throughout Indiana. The attorneys have represented thousands of clients across the state and have established a network of expert witnesses including accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals. The firm maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (Multiple office locations in Indianapolis and statewide)
Contact: (877) 781-6681 | www.2keller.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Cases handled on contingency fee basis with zero fee guarantee.
2. Yosha Law Firm
Focus Area: Catastrophic injury cases, trucking accidents, car collisions
Practice Areas: Truck accidents, car accidents, slip and fall incidents, premises liability, wrongful death, electric shock injuries
Background: Established in 1963, the firm has advocated for injured Hoosiers for over 60 years. Notable case results include a $20,325,000 verdict against a Fortune 500 energy company for a near-fatal electric shock injury and a $10,000,000 verdict against Frito-Lay North America, Inc. The attorneys have accumulated over 150 five-star reviews from clients.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Contact: Available through website | www.yoshalawfirm.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation with upfront and honest advice on case merits.
3. Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers
Focus Area: Complex personal injury claims, catastrophic injuries
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, product liability
Background: The firm has over 50 years of combined experience representing injury victims across Indiana. Team members have received recognition as Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year and have been named among the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Indiana. Attorneys are consistently recognized in the Best Lawyers in America publication. The firm has over 120 years of combined legal experience among its attorneys.
Location: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Contact: (317) 920-6400 | www.wkw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee arrangement with no upfront costs.
4. Vaughan & Vaughan
Focus Area: General personal injury, negligence-based accidents
Practice Areas: Auto accidents, slip and fall, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability
Background: The firm has been serving victims in Marion County and throughout Indiana since 1913, making it one of the oldest personal injury practices in the state. Attorneys are board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The firm has decades of courtroom experience and focuses specifically on Indiana law. Attorneys maintain open communication with clients throughout the legal process.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Contact: (463) 241-6483 | www.vaughanandvaughan.com
Consultation: Free case consultation available. Contingency fee basis with no payment unless successful.
5. Hensley Legal Group, PC
Focus Area: Accident victims, wrongful death, construction accidents
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle collisions, slip and fall, construction site accidents, workplace injuries, nursing home abuse
Background: The firm has been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998, accumulating over 25 years of experience in personal injury law. Hensley Legal Group is known for community involvement, including the Backpacks 4 Good initiative that has distributed supplies to over 42,000 Indiana students and Pawpalooza, an animal adoption program. Attorneys have comprehensive familiarity with federal and state construction laws.
Location: 101 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Contact: Available through website | www.hensleylegal.com
Consultation: Free consultation. Contingency fee arrangement.
Personal Injury Laws in Indiana
Statute of Limitations
Indiana law requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years from the date of the accident or injury (Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4). This deadline applies to most personal injury cases including car accidents, slip and fall incidents, and general negligence claims. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years from the date of death. Medical malpractice claims have a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the negligent act, with special rules for minors under age 6 who have until age 8 to file.
Negligence Rule
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system (Indiana Code § 34-51-2-5 and § 34-51-2-6). Under this rule, an injured person can recover damages as long as their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. If you are found 51 percent or more at fault for the accident, you are barred from recovering any compensation. If your fault is 50 percent or less, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
Damage Caps
Indiana does not cap compensatory damages (economic and non-economic) in general personal injury cases. However, punitive damages are capped at three times the amount of compensatory damages or $50,000, whichever is greater (Indiana Code § 34-51-3-4). Medical malpractice cases are capped at $1.8 million for acts occurring after June 30, 2019 (Indiana Code § 34-18-14-3). Claims against government entities are limited to $700,000 for injuries or death of one person and $5 million aggregate for all injuries and deaths in one occurrence.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Indiana operates under a fault-based auto insurance system. Drivers are legally responsible for injuries and property damages they cause. The state mandates minimum liability insurance coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident (25/50/25).
At-Fault System
Indiana is an at-fault state for auto accidents. The driver who caused the accident is financially responsible for the resulting damages. Injured parties can file claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, file with their own insurance and let them pursue the at-fault driver, or file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault party.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the person who injured me lives in another state or leaves Indiana after the accident?
If the defendant leaves Indiana after causing your injury and before a lawsuit is filed, the statute of limitations may be tolled (paused) during their absence under Indiana Code § 34-11-4-1. However, this tolling does not apply if the defendant maintains an agent in Indiana capable of receiving service of a lawsuit. Once the defendant returns to Indiana, the statute of limitations resumes, and you may have less than two years remaining to file.
Can I still recover damages if I was not wearing a seatbelt during a car accident in Indiana?
Indiana’s seatbelt law does not allow evidence of seatbelt non-use to reduce your damages in a personal injury case. This means the defendant cannot argue that your injuries would have been less severe if you had worn a seatbelt. However, this protection applies only in civil lawsuits; insurance adjusters may still raise this issue during settlement negotiations.
How does Indiana handle personal injury claims against government entities like the city of Indianapolis?
Claims against Indiana government entities are governed by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. You must file a notice of claim within 180 days after the injury occurs. The maximum recovery is capped at $700,000 for one person’s injuries or death in a single occurrence. Punitive damages are not available against government defendants. Failure to file the timely notice of claim can result in losing your right to pursue compensation entirely.
What is the Patient’s Compensation Fund in Indiana medical malpractice cases?
Indiana operates a unique system for medical malpractice claims. Individual healthcare provider liability is capped at $500,000, but the state maintains a Patient’s Compensation Fund that pays amounts above that threshold up to the total cap of $1.8 million. Before filing a lawsuit, you must submit your claim to a medical review panel composed of healthcare professionals who render an opinion on whether malpractice occurred.
If I am injured in a hit-and-run accident in Indianapolis, what are my options for compensation?
Indiana law requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage as part of their auto insurance unless they explicitly reject it in writing. If you are injured by a hit-and-run driver, you can file a claim with your own UM coverage to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You must report the hit-and-run to police immediately and cooperate with the investigation to preserve your claim.