Hiring a Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Indiana
The limits on workers' comp lawyer fees in Indiana, filing deadlines, how to check a lawyer's license, and free state help for injured workers. 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
| Lawyer fee limits | Indiana sets a schedule of claimant attorney fees for cases before the Worker's Compensation Board that result in a recovery: a minimum of $200; 20% of the first $50,000 recovered; 15% of recovery above $50,000; and 10% of the value of unpaid, out-of-pocket or future medical expenses. The Board keeps continuing jurisdiction over attorney fees and may order a different fee in a particular case. |
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| Deadline to file a claim | If there is a dispute, an Application for Adjustment of Claim (State Form 29109) must be filed with the Board within two years of the date of injury, or within two years after the last compensation was paid. If the deadline is close, send the application by certified mail; otherwise the filing date is the date the Board receives it. |
| Deadline to challenge a denial | If a dispute is not resolved through the Worker's Compensation Board's informal dispute process, the worker must file an Application for Adjustment of Claim (State Form 29109) with the Board within two years of the date of injury; the case is then heard by a Single Hearing Member. A party dissatisfied with the hearing member's award may appeal by filing an Application for Review by Full Board (State Form 1042) within 30 days of the date of the award; the Full Board hears legal arguments rather than a new hearing. Any further appeal goes to the Indiana Court of Appeals and then the Indiana Supreme Court. |
| Can you sue your employer? | The rights and remedies of the Worker's Compensation Act exclude all other rights and remedies of the employee, the employee's representatives, dependents or next of kin against the employer for a personal injury or death by accident, except remedies under IC 5-2-6.1. Read in the 2025 Indiana Code on iga.in.gov on 2026-10-28. Source: IC 22-3-2-6 |
| Suing someone other than your employer | If someone other than the employer (and not in the same employ) is legally liable for the injury, the worker or dependents may sue that person even though workers' comp is paid. Out of any recovery or settlement, the employer or its insurer is repaid the compensation, medical services and burial expenses it paid (sharing pro rata in the costs of the claim), and its liability for further compensation ends. If the worker recovers from the third party before receiving any compensation, the employer has no further liability. Read in the 2025 Indiana Code on iga.in.gov on 2026-10-28. Source: IC 22-3-2-13(a), (b) |
| Filing a claim online | In Indiana the employer's First Report of Injury is filed electronically with the Worker's Compensation Board (the Board offers a "Confirm First Report Filing" lookup). If a claim is disputed, a worker can ask the Board for informal help with a Request for Assistance (State Form 45442) or start the formal hearing process with an Application for Adjustment of Claim (State Form 29109); disputed claims can be searched online. Board switchboard: (317) 233-3009. Confirm First Report Filing: https://wcbgateway.wcb.in.gov/WCBToolsAngular/filingconfirmation |
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
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.