Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Indiana
The deadline to sue after a crash in Indiana, how fault is shared, when a crash must be reported, how lawyers usually charge (contingency fees), how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Indiana: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, which expenses come out of the recovery and whether before or after the fee is calculated, and any expenses the client owes whether or not they win; at the end, the lawyer gives a written statement of the result and the client's share. Indiana bars contingent fees for criminal defendants and domestic relations fees contingent on securing a dissolution, on the amount of maintenance, support or property settlement, or on obtaining child custody. A contingent fee for a post-judgment domestic relations collection action is allowed if the lawyer advises the client in writing about other collection options and otherwise complies with Rule 1.5(c). |
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Indiana rules to know first
| Deadline to sue | A lawsuit for injury to a person must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. Claims for injury from childhood sexual abuse have longer deadlines. Source: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 |
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| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (51% bar). An injured person is barred from recovery if his or her fault is greater than the combined fault of all others whose fault contributed to the damages; otherwise damages are reduced in proportion to his or her fault. Source: Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6 |
| When to report a crash to police | If a crash injures or kills another person, the driver must, as soon as possible, make sure law enforcement (local police, sheriff, or state police) is notified. After hitting an unattended vehicle or other property, if the owner cannot be found, the driver must call a law enforcement agency to provide their information. Facts are from the official BMV driver's manual. The manual does not state a property-damage dollar threshold. |
| Minimum car insurance | Minimum financial responsibility is $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25, the property amount effective July 1, 2018). Source: Ind. Code § 9-25-4-5 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Indiana State Bar Association does not run a statewide referral line; it offers a Find a Lawyer directory (InBar.Reliaguide.com) and information on local resources for attorney referral. The Indiana courts' self-help site also lists Virtual Ask a Lawyer, hosted by the Indianapolis Bar Association (call or chat online). Also: https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/resources/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Indiana Supreme Court's Roll of Attorneys, maintained by the Office of Admissions & Continuing Education, can be searched by last name and, optionally, city. It shows the attorney number, name, address and phone on file with the Clerk, the date admitted to practice in Indiana, and the status of the attorney's license. You can also call Admissions and Continuing Education at 317-232-2552 to confirm license status, whether formal charges are pending and whether the lawyer has been disciplined before. Roll of Attorneys search: https://courtapps.in.gov/rollofattorneys |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances about Indiana lawyers go to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission (staffed by the Office of Judicial & Attorney Regulation). Submit the Request for Investigation form online, or print and mail it to 251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204; call (317) 232-1807 to have a form mailed. Include the lawyer's name, any court cause number, a short statement of the conduct, and copies of supporting documents. The Commission does not recover money, file criminal charges or give legal advice, and fee disputes generally fall outside discipline unless the fee is clearly unreasonable. A grievance cannot be withdrawn once filed. Disciplinary history is public once formal charges are filed; Supreme Court discipline orders since 2003 are posted online. Discipline decisions: https://www.in.gov/courts/public-records/orders/discipline |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Indiana Legal Services, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, "provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people throughout the State of Indiana" (indianalegalservices.org). Indiana Legal Help (IndianaLegalHelp.org) helps with cases, forms and finding no-cost or low-cost legal aid, and Indiana.FreeLegalAnswers.org lets qualifying people ask volunteer attorneys questions for free. The courts' Self-Service Legal Center provides information and forms for people representing themselves. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Indiana · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.