Hovde Dassow + Deets Personal Injury Trial Attorneys
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Hovde Dassow + Deets Personal Injury Trial Attorneys

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers

Last updated on April 3, 2025

A car accident that injures you or causes the loss of a loved one can leave you worrying about how to pay for medical bills or funeral costs. Thankfully, you can make the other party pay for your expenses if their negligence caused your injury or your loved one’s death. 

At Hovde Dassow + Deets, we have provided clients with personalized, one-on-one legal support for more than five decades. We offer caring and compassionate counsel for our clients throughout their personal injury cases. Our Indianapolis car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to help our clients secure the full and fair compensation they deserve – to date, we have recovered more than $300 million in settlements and verdicts. 

Find out how our Indianapolis car accident lawyers can help with your claim by calling 888-229-1778 or contacting us online for a free consultation.

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Why Choose Hovde Dassow + Deets?

At Hovde Dassow + Deets, we actively represent injured individuals and the families of those wrongfully killed throughout Indiana, a commitment we have upheld since 1967. Our Indianapolis accident attorneys have over a century of combined experience, including extensive trial and litigation experience. We know how to maximize our client’s claims and fight to secure their full, fair compensation. 

If a careless, negligent or reckless driver has injured you or caused the loss of a loved one, our Indianapolis car accident attorneys will provide you with the compassionate, personalized, and attentive legal service you deserve – reach out to us today. We are available 24/7 and only collect legal fees if/when we recover compensation for you.

Common Types Of Motor Vehicle Accidents We Represent

A motor vehicle accident is the most common occurrence that leads people to retain a personal injury lawyer. A motor vehicle accident can involve pedestrians, motorcycles, stationary objects and bicycles.

We handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including:

  • Semi and truck collisions: These accidents often result in severe injuries due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles.
  • Uninsured and underinsured claims: These cases involve accidents where the at-fault driver has insufficient or no insurance coverage.
  • Drunk drivers: Impaired driving accidents can lead to devastating consequences and may involve criminal charges.
  • Rear-end collisions: Common in traffic, these accidents can cause whiplash and other neck injuries.
  • Roll-overs: These accidents are particularly dangerous and often occur with SUVs or trucks
  • Motorcycle accidents: Often resulting in serious injuries due to the lack of protection for riders.
  • Bus accidents: These can involve multiple injured parties and complex liability issues. 
  • Bicycle accidents: Cyclists are vulnerable road users and can suffer severe injuries in collisions with vehicles
  • Ride-sharing accidents: These cases may involve complex insurance and liability issues specific to ride-sharing companies.

If someone else’s negligence has injured you or a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, consult a car accident attorney today.

Determining Liability After A Car Accident In Indiana

You must establish fault to determine who is liable for your injuries and damages. This typically involves demonstrating how the accident occurred and who was to blame. The at-fault party is usually liable for the injured party’s damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering.

Who Is At Fault For My Accident?

Indiana is one of many states to follow a traditional, fault-based car accident and insurance system. This means that, after an accident, you must prove that the other party was at fault to bring a claim against their insurance company. You can claim compensation from your auto insurance provider, depending on your insurance coverage. 

In some cases, determining fault for an accident is relatively simple. For example, if a drunk driver hits you while you are following all laws and acting responsibly, you have a strong case against them. However, more often than not, multiple parties usually share fault. If you share partial blame for the accident, you may still file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company, but your compensation might decrease.

What If I Share The Blame For The Accident?

Under Indiana’s modified comparative rule, you may recover financial compensation after an injury-causing accident if your degree of fault is equal to or less than that of the other driver(s) involved. In other words, you may be no more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. Additionally, if you are eligible to file a claim for compensation under the modified comparative rule, the amount you can recover will be directly affected by your percentage of fault. For example, if you share 30 percent of the fault for the crash, your recovery will decrease by 30 percent. In other words, you would only be able to recover up to 70 percent of the total amount you are seeking in compensation. 

Because insurance adjusters initially assign fault after an accident, you must work with an attorney who can protect your rights and pursue your full compensation. Often, these insurance adjusters will attempt to limit payouts by assigning more fault to injured victims. Our firm’s experienced Indianapolis car accident attorney can review your claim and fight against unjust insurance company practices.

How Different Types Of Insurance Affect Your Protection

Car accidents are the cause of death for nearly 1.3 million people each year, as well as 20 to 50 million injuries or disabilities. All but two states require drivers to have car insurance. Each state has different mandatory minimum requirements for each type of coverage, but other options are also available for drivers. 

Some of these options include: 

  • Liability coverage 
  • Property damage coverage 
  • Medical payment coverage 
  • Comprehensive coverage 

In the state of Indiana, if you own a motor vehicle and choose liability coverage, you must purchase a policy that provides at least $25,000/$50,000 in coverage, which means that the policy must cover $25,000 worth of expenses per person per accident and $50,000 for all persons injured in any one accident. You can add medical payment (MedPay) coverage to your liability insurance, which will pay you or any passenger injured in the accident the selected amount of coverage. 

If the at-fault party does not have insurance and you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, you may still be able to seek compensation. Consult our Indianapolis car accident attorney at Hovde Dassow + Deets, LLC, to learn more about your options.

What Are The Top Causes Of Car Accidents?

Most car accidents are the result of negligence. Examples include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting/using a handheld cellphone or device
  • Speeding
  • Driving too fast for the current conditions
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs
  • Unsafe or illegal turns
  • Unlawful passing
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Failure to check vehicle blind spots before merging
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Reckless and aggressive driving, including road rage
  • Fatigued driving

These and other forms of negligent driving can lead to serious accidents, which may result in catastrophic injuries and/or death. Victims often experience blunt force trauma, broken bones, amputation, back and spine injuries, whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and internal bleeding. This can lead to permanent disabilities as well as lasting physical and mental impairments. 

At Hovde Dassow + Deets, we actively pursue accountability for negligent drivers who cause devastating harm. If a careless, reckless or aggressive driver has injured you or caused the death of someone you love, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Indianapolis car accident lawyers.

What To Do After An Indiana Car Accident

Seek Immediate Medical Care

The first thing you should do after a car accident is to seek medical attention from a doctor or physician. Even if you believe your injuries are minor or will heal independently, you should always see a medical provider after an accident. A medical provider can diagnose your injuries and recommend treatment, as well as identify any underlying injuries or trauma you may have experienced. When you see a doctor after an accident, you also establish proof of your injuries through documented medical records. This can be extremely useful in proving your car accident case.

Report The Accident To The Police

You should also report the accident to the police as soon as possible. By law, you must report any accident in Indiana that results in bodily injury, death or property damage of more than $1,000. You may also need to report an accident based on the city where it occurs and your insurance requirements, regardless of whether one of the first three requirements was met. If a law enforcement officer had come to the crash scene, they would have filed an accident report on your behalf.

Contact A Skilled Accident Lawyer In Indiana

After your doctor’s visit and reporting the accident to the police, you will want to consult a car accident lawyer in Indianapolis to begin an investigative review of your accident and personal injury case. An attorney can gather applicable evidence and communicate with the insurance company on your behalf. You must provide your attorney with any information or evidence regarding the crash, such as the other driver’s name and insurance information, copies of the police report, copies of your medical records, pictures of the accident scene, your injuries and more. 

When you consult a lawyer, you will want to seek compensation for medical expenses and any loss you may suffer due to your injury. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, you will want to seek compensation for funeral expenses and other related losses. Call CALL to schedule your free consultation at our Indianapolis office, or fill out our online contact form.

Car Accident FAQs

Is Indiana a no-fault state?

Indiana is not a no-fault state. Instead, the state follows a traditional fault-based system for car accidents and insurance claims. If you wish to recover compensation from their insurance company, you must prove that the other person or party was at least partially at fault for the crash. You must also establish the other party’s fault if you wish to file a lawsuit.

How long do I have to sue a negligent driver after an accident?

In Indiana, you have two years from the date of a car accident, injury, or death to file a lawsuit. If the statute of limitations expires, meaning more than two years have passed since the accident or the date of your loved one’s death, the court will more than likely dismiss your case.

What are the common injuries resulting from a car accident?

Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

  • Whiplash: It occurs when the force of impact causes the neck to snap forward and backward in a rapid motion, straining the muscles and ligaments in the neck area.
  • Fractures: These can range from simple breaks to complex fractures, often affecting limbs, ribs, or the skull, and may require extensive medical treatment
  • Lacerations: They can range from minor cuts to more serious gashes and even amputations caused by shattered glass or flying debris.
  • Internal injuries: Since they are often not immediately apparent, they may not appear as potentially dangerous, so if you were injured in an accident, regardless of how severe it may seem to be at first glance, make sure to consult with your doctor as soon as possible and reach out to a lawyer who specializes in car crash claims for help.

These injuries are only the most common. You may suffer less common injuries that may be as severe or even more severe than those above. Remember that you can seek compensation for these injuries if you prove the other driver’s fault or negligence.

How long will my car accident case take in Indiana?

The duration of a car accident case varies significantly based on factors such as the complexity of the case, the severity of injuries, and whether attorneys can reach a settlement or must take the case to trial. Attorneys may resolve some cases in a few months, while others require a year or more. 

Should I accept the insurance company’s offer?

It is generally advisable to consult with a lawyer before accepting the initial offer from an insurance company. Insurance companies often try to settle quickly for less than your claim is worth. An experienced car accident lawyer can evaluate the offer and negotiate for fair compensation that covers all your damages, including future medical expenses and lost wages. 

What kind of compensation can I receive for injuries incurred during the accident?

Depending on the extent of your injuries and losses, the amount may vary based on the severity of the car accident and whether any medical bills or loss of wages come into play.

When Should I Hire An Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed, consult an Indianapolis car accident attorney. Even a relatively minor accident can quickly escalate into a nightmare when the insurance company disputes your injuries or resists your claim. Our attorneys at Hovde Dassow + Deets will stand up for you and your rights, actively working to secure your maximum settlement. We will handle all communications with the insurance company, allowing you to focus on your recovery. If necessary, we will represent you at trial.

If you suffer injuries in a car accident, contact our Indiana car accident lawyer today by calling us at CALL to initiate your case.