Highway Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis

If you’ve been injured in a highway collision, our car accident law firm can help you navigate complex auto accident claims and ensure the insurance company pays what you deserve. Our Indiana personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases where the at-fault driver lacks adequate coverage or when an insurance company refuses to provide fair compensation. Contact a car accident lawyer at Crossen Law Firm today for a free consultation and car accident case evaluation to learn how we can help you recover damages for a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence: 317-401-8626.

Why You Might Need an Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer

Highway accidents in Indianapolis can transform lives in seconds. When traveling at high speeds on I-65, I-70, or I-465, even minor collisions can have catastrophic consequences. If you’ve been involved in a car accident on Indiana’s busy highways, securing representation from an experienced injury lawyer should be your priority.

The aftermath of an Indiana car accident is overwhelming. While dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, lost wages, and insurance company adjusters pressing for quick settlements, having a knowledgeable Indianapolis car accident lawyer from Crossen Law Firm becomes invaluable. The insurance company typically offers lowball settlements that fail to cover the full extent of your damages, especially in high-speed highway collisions where injuries tend to be more severe. Crossen Law Firm handles all aspects of your case—from investigation through settlement negotiations or trial—allowing you to focus on recovery and medical treatment.

A highway accident lawyer in Indianapolis specializes in navigating these complex car accident cases. They understand that highway crashes involve unique factors like higher speeds, multiple vehicles, and sometimes commercial carriers. These elements can complicate your personal injury claim and require specialized knowledge of both federal and Indiana law, as well as common insurance company tactics.

When working with a Crossen Law Firm Indianapolis car accident attorney, they’ll handle all aspects of your car accident case while you focus on recovery. This includes investigating the car accident scene, gathering witness statements, reviewing the police report, and consulting with experts to determine exactly what happened and who was at fault. Your attorney will also compile documentation of your medical records and projected future costs.

The legal process following a highway accident can be complex. Indiana’s comparative negligence laws mean your compensation may be reduced if you’re found partially at fault by the insurance company for the car accident. Reviewing your insurance policy to understand your underinsured motorist coverage limits is one of the first steps we take when representing victims of accidents caused by drivers with insufficient insurance.

A skilled car accident lawyer will protect your rights and ensure fault is appropriately assigned, maximizing the fair compensation you receive. Contact Crossen Law Firm today for a free consultation: 317-401-8626.

Statistics About Indiana’s Most Dangerous Highways

Indiana’s extensive highway system has, unfortunately, earned a reputation for dangerous conditions and frequent motor vehicle accidents. According to recent data, there are approximately 200,000 traffic collisions annually in Indiana, with a significant percentage occurring on highways.

Interstate 65, running north-south through Indianapolis, consistently ranks among the most dangerous highways in Indiana, with nearly 1,500 accidents annually. I-70, crossing east-west through Indianapolis, reports similar accident rates, particularly in construction zones. But most notorious is I-465, the 53-mile beltway encircling Indianapolis, which witnesses approximately 2,000 car crashes each year.

Fatal accidents on Indiana highways show troubling patterns. Data indicates that approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities occur on interstates and state highways, despite these roads accounting for a smaller percentage of total roadways. The economic impact of these crashes is substantial, costing the state billions annually in medical bills, property damage, emergency response, and lost productivity.

Where These Accidents Are Occurring Most

While car accidents happen anywhere along Indiana’s highways, certain stretches have proven particularly dangerous. The section of I-65 between Indianapolis and Chicago has earned a reputation as one of the deadliest in the Midwest. Similarly, the portions of I-70 east and west of Indianapolis consistently report high accident rates, especially during winter months.

Within Indianapolis, the north side of I-465 between I-65 and I-69 experiences the highest concentration of accidents. This stretch combines heavy commuter traffic with frequent lane changes as drivers navigate multiple exits.

Construction zones pose another significant hazard, with approximately 700 crashes in highway work zones annually. Rural highways present their own dangers with limited lighting, higher speeds, and greater distances between emergency services, making a major accident on these stretches especially deadly.

Factors That Contribute to Highway Accidents

Highway accidents in Indianapolis rarely have a single cause but typically result from multiple factors creating dangerous conditions.

Road and Weather Conditions

Indiana’s variable climate poses significant challenges for highway safety. During winter months, highways can quickly become treacherous due to snow, ice, and freezing rain, dramatically reducing tire traction and increasing stopping distances. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, winter weather contributes to approximately 25% of all highway accidents annually.

Heavy rainfall presents another serious hazard, especially on high-speed interstates, when water accumulates and increases the risk of hydroplaning. Beyond weather, the physical condition of Indiana’s highways often contributes to accidents. Potholes, uneven pavement, improper drainage, and deteriorating guardrails can all play roles in causing or worsening crashes.

When road conditions contribute to a car accident, determining liability becomes more complex. Your Indianapolis car accident lawyer will investigate whether the state or contractors may share responsibility for failing to maintain safe roadway conditions.

Traffic and Congestion

Indianapolis highways experience substantial congestion, particularly during rush hours. This stop-and-go traffic creates prime conditions for rear-end collisions, which account for nearly 40% of all highway accidents in the metropolitan area. Merging areas where highways intersect are particularly prone to accidents, with the I-465 interchange with I-65 consistently ranking among the most dangerous in the state.

Poor Driving Habits

Human behavior remains the most significant factor in highway accidents. Distracted driving, particularly texting while driving, has emerged as one of the leading causes of highway collisions, contributing to approximately 30% of all highway accidents, according to Indiana law enforcement data.

Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases impact force, with Indiana State Police reporting speed as a contributing factor in nearly half of all fatal highway accidents. Impaired driving continues to plague Indiana highways, accounting for approximately 25% of all fatal highway accidents. Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating, frequent lane changes, and road rage incidents create dangerous situations, particularly during peak travel times.

For those involved in highway accidents, documenting these contributing factors is essential for car accident claims. An experienced car accident attorney will gather evidence from the accident scene, review police reports, and identify all factors that contributed to your crash.

How Semi-Trucks Contribute to the Increase of Highway Accidents

Indianapolis serves as a major transportation hub where multiple interstate highways converge, resulting in heavy commercial truck traffic. While essential to the economy, these massive vehicles present unique dangers on high-speed highways.

Size and Weight

The size and weight disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles creates inherently dangerous conditions. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, compared to the average passenger vehicle at roughly 4,000 pounds. This weight difference means that even minor collisions can result in catastrophic consequences for occupants of smaller vehicles. According to federal data, when car accident fatalities occur in truck-car collisions, approximately 97% of deaths are occupants of the passenger vehicles.

Semi-trucks have significant blind spots on all four sides, which is particularly dangerous on highways where vehicles frequently change lanes. Many car accident cases involving trucks occur when passenger vehicles travel in these blind spots. Stopping distance presents another serious hazard, as a fully loaded tractor-trailer requires nearly twice the stopping distance of a passenger car.

Driver and Vehicle Failures

Driver fatigue among truck operators continues to be a persistent problem despite regulations limiting hours of service. Improper loading and securing of cargo can cause trucks to become unstable at highway speeds, leading to jackknifing, rollovers, or spilled loads. Mechanical failures occur more frequently with commercial vehicles due to extreme demands placed on their components.

The complexity of accidents involving semi-trucks makes them particularly challenging legally. Multiple parties may share liability, including the driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, loading companies, and manufacturers of defective parts. Additionally, commercial carriers typically have substantial insurance company coverage with aggressive defense teams, making it essential to work with an Indianapolis car accident attorney who understands truck accident litigation.

How Lane Splitting Makes Highways More Dangerous

Lane splitting—the practice where motorcyclists ride between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic—creates significant hazards on Indianapolis highways and is a common cause of motor vehicle accidents.

While some states have legalized this practice, Indiana law strictly prohibits lane splitting, recognizing the substantial dangers it poses to all road users.

Indiana auto accident lawyers report that these crashes often result in serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and severe road rash when riders are thrown from their motorcycles. The insurance claims process becomes significantly more complex in these cases due to questions about comparative negligence, as the insurance company may argue that the motorcyclist’s illegal lane splitting caused or contributed to the accident.

Speed differential represents another critical danger factor. When a motorcyclist travels 15-20 mph faster than surrounding traffic while lane splitting, they dramatically reduce reaction time for both themselves and other drivers. The narrow space between vehicles leaves virtually no margin for error or evasive maneuvers when an unexpected situation arises.

From a legal perspective, lane splitting creates significant complications for car accident injury claims. Since the practice is explicitly prohibited under state law, motorcyclists who engage in lane splitting may face challenges recovering fair compensation for their injuries, even when another driver made an error. Your Crossen auto accident attorney must address the lane splitting as a potential factor in your accident case and develop strategies to maximize your recovery despite this complication.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident involving lane splitting—whether as a motorcyclist or vehicle driver—contacting an experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyer is essential.

These cases require a thorough investigation of the car accident scene, expert analysis of vehicle positions, and detailed knowledge of how Indiana courts interpret lane splitting violations in personal injury cases.

Severe Injuries That Can Result From a Highway Accident

Highway accidents in Indianapolis frequently result in more severe injuries than crashes on surface streets due to higher speeds. The full impact of highway accidents often extends beyond immediate medical bills. Many victims face long-term disabilities, ongoing medical treatment, reduced earning capacity, and significant non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Our experienced car accident lawyers work with experts to ensure that fair settlement amounts accurately reflect both current and future damages.

Understanding common types of serious injuries is essential when pursuing a personal injury case, as long-term implications significantly impact compensation.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the most devastating consequences of high-speed collisions. Even with modern safety features, sudden deceleration can cause the brain to impact the interior of the skull. Approximately 30% of all highway accident victims in Indiana suffer some form of head injury, with a significant percentage resulting in long-term disability requiring extensive medical treatment.

Spinal cord injuries represent another catastrophic outcome, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. Expenses associated with severe spinal injuries frequently exceed $1 million in the first year alone, with ongoing annual costs of $100,000 or more.

Internal injuries are particularly dangerous because they may not be immediately apparent. Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, or ruptures that become life-threatening if not promptly treated. This underscores the importance of seeking medical attention after any highway collision, even if you initially feel uninjured.

Bone fractures occur frequently in highway accidents. Complex fractures often necessitate multiple surgeries, metal implants, and months of physical therapy, significantly extending recovery time and increasing medical expenses. Severe burns can result when accidents lead to vehicle fires or exposure to caustic chemicals, often requiring specialized treatment at burn centers.

Neck injuries, particularly whiplash, occur frequently in highway rear-end collisions. While sometimes dismissed as minor, severe whiplash can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, and long-term disability. Psychological injuries, while less visible than physical trauma, can be equally debilitating, with many car accident victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression.

When pursuing a car accident injury claim, thorough documentation of all injuries is essential. Your attorney will work closely with your healthcare providers to obtain complete medical records documenting all injuries and treatments, which serve as critical evidence in your claim.

A Crossen car accident attorney will work with medical experts to fully assess long-term implications, ensuring any settlement accounts for both current and future medical expenses. For a free consultation: 317-401-8626.

Why Highway Accidents Are More Deadly

Highway accidents in Indianapolis present a significantly higher risk of fatality compared to crashes on surface streets due to multiple factors that create potentially deadly conditions.

Speed

The most obvious factor is speed. Interstate highways in Indiana have speed limits ranging from 55 to 70 mph, with actual travel speeds often exceeding these limits. The physics are unforgiving—the force of impact increases exponentially with speed. A collision at 65 mph generates approximately four times the energy of a crash at 30 mph, translating directly to more severe injuries and higher fatality likelihood.

Impact Angles

Impact angles on highways also contribute to increased fatality rates. Highway crashes often involve direct head-on or high-angle impacts as vehicles cross medians or collide during lane changes, directing maximum force toward vehicle occupants.

Vehicle Ejection

Vehicle ejection represents another deadly factor more common in highway accidents. The tremendous forces in high-speed collisions can cause occupants to be thrown from vehicles, particularly when seatbelts aren’t used. Indiana State Police state that approximately 75% of ejected occupants in highway crashes suffer fatal injuries.

Vehicle Types

The mix of vehicle types creates particularly hazardous conditions. When passenger cars share roadways with commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds, the physics of any collision overwhelmingly disadvantage the smaller vehicle. In fatal crashes involving large trucks and passenger vehicles, 97% of fatalities are occupants of the smaller vehicles.

Response Time

Emergency response time significantly impacts survival rates. While Indianapolis has excellent emergency services, highway locations can present access challenges, particularly during peak traffic hours or in construction zones. When a vehicle accident occurs in rural sections, response times lengthen considerably beyond the critical “golden hour” for medical intervention.

Time is critical following a highway accident. Evidence quickly disappears, witness memories fade, and video footage may be overwritten. Additionally, Indiana’s statute of limitations generally provides only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Our firm takes immediate action to preserve crucial evidence and ensure compliance with all filing deadlines.

For families who have lost loved ones in highway accidents, navigating the legal aftermath adds complexity to an already devastating situation. Wrongful death claims in Indiana must be filed within two years, typically by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate.

An experienced Indianapolis car accident attorney specializing in these claims can help families seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, medical costs before death, and emotional suffering.

How Indiana’s “Move Over Law” Helps Reduce Highway Accidents

Indiana’s “Move Over Law” represents a critical safety measure designed to protect emergency responders, highway workers, and motorists during roadside emergencies throughout the state. This important legislation creates specific legal obligations for drivers approaching stopped emergency vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles, or highway construction areas.

According to traffic laws, when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, recovery vehicle, or utility service vehicle with flashing lights, drivers must change lanes to provide a full lane buffer when possible, slow to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit if changing lanes isn’t possible, and proceed with caution. This law applies to all types of emergency vehicles, including police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, utility trucks, tow trucks, and highway maintenance vehicles.

From a legal perspective, violations of the Move Over Law have important implications for establishing liability in highway accident cases. When a driver fails to move over or slow down as required, this constitutes negligence per se—meaning the violation of the statute itself establishes negligence. For the injured person, this can significantly strengthen a personal injury lawsuit.

Penalties for Move Over Violations

Penalties for violating Indiana’s Move Over Law are substantial, with fines up to $1,000 for first offenses and increasing for subsequent violations. If a violation results in injury or death, drivers may face felony charges. These criminal penalties exist separately from any civil liability in personal injury claims or wrongful death suits.

The Move Over Law plays an important role in reducing secondary collisions—those that occur after an initial incident has already created a hazard. These secondary crashes account for approximately 20% of all highway fatalities in Indiana. By requiring drivers to slow down and provide space around existing incidents, the law creates buffer zones that significantly reduce the risk of chain-reaction collisions.

Importance of a Police Report After a Highway Accident

A police report serves as one of the most crucial documents following a highway accident in Indianapolis.

This official car accident report provides an objective third-party account of the automobile accident and collects critical information that can significantly impact car accident claims.

When car accidents happen on busy highways, law enforcement response is typically automatic for any collision involving injuries or significant property damage. Officers conduct a detailed investigation, documenting road conditions, vehicle positions, visible damage, statements from drivers and witnesses, and their professional assessment of how the car crash occurred.

One of the most significant aspects is the officer’s preliminary determination of fault. While not legally binding, this professional assessment carries substantial weight with insurance adjusters and courts. The responding officer will note any traffic violations that may have contributed to the car accident and indicate if impairment, distraction, or other driver behaviors played a role.

Preservation of Information

The car accident report also preserves critical information that might otherwise be lost or disputed later, including contact and insurance information for all involved parties, identities of witnesses, weather and road conditions, time of day, and visibility factors.

For car accident claims, the report often serves as the starting point for the insurance company’s claims process. Most insurers require a copy before processing claims related to highway accidents. Without this official documentation, insurance companies may delay processing your claim or attempt to shift blame to the injured party.

State law requires that accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 be reported to law enforcement. Failure to report such incidents can result in license suspension and other penalties.

When reviewing your report, pay careful attention to all details. If you identify inaccuracies, act quickly to request corrections. Your Indianapolis car accident lawyer will analyze the report as part of building your case, potentially working with accident reconstruction experts to challenge findings that don’t align with evidence or witness accounts.

The report also documents citations issued at the scene. Traffic citations related to the accident can significantly strengthen your car accident claim, as they establish legal violations that contributed to the crash.

Your Indiana car accident attorney can leverage these citations as evidence of negligence.

Comparative Negligence and Its Impact on the Damages You May Recover

Indiana’s approach to comparative negligence plays a crucial role in determining compensation following highway accidents. Understanding this legal principle is essential for anyone pursuing a car accident case in Indianapolis, as it directly affects the damages you may recover.

Indiana follows a “modified comparative fault” system, specifically the 51% rule. Under this approach, you can recover damages as long as you are found to be 50% or less responsible for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re determined to be 51% or more at fault, you become ineligible to recover any damages.

The practical application of comparative negligence is particularly relevant in highway accidents, which often involve complex scenarios with multiple contributing factors. For example, if you were exceeding the speed limit slightly when another driver made an improper lane change and struck your vehicle, both actions may be assigned partial fault. If the court determines the at-fault driver was 80% responsible and you were 20% at fault, your potential compensation would be reduced by 20%.

Indiana’s comparative negligence laws add complexity to highway accident claims. Insurance companies frequently employ comparative negligence principles as negotiation tactics, attempting to assign higher percentages of fault to injured parties to minimize settlement offers. This strategy underscores the importance of working with a car accident lawyer who can effectively counter such claims. Our attorneys anticipate these tactics and develop strategies to minimize or eliminate allegations of comparative fault, maximizing your compensation

The statute of limitations for personal injury suits in Indiana is generally two years from the date of the accident.

Given the complexity of establishing fault percentages in comparative negligence cases, it’s advisable to consult with a Crossen personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a highway accident.

How Safety Technology Failure Affects a Highway Accident Claim

Modern vehicles are equipped with advanced safety technologies designed to prevent accidents or mitigate their severity. When these systems fail to function as designed, they can contribute to a serious accident and create additional avenues for compensation in car accident claims.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become standard in many vehicles, including features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, blind spot detection, and adaptive cruise control. When these systems malfunction or fail to perform as advertised, manufacturers may bear liability for resulting accidents.

Product liability claims related to safety technology failures add a complex dimension to highway accident cases. These cases often involve sophisticated engineering analysis and may target manufacturers. Your experienced personal injury attorney must determine whether the technology failed due to design defects, manufacturing flaws, or inadequate warnings about system limitations.

Vehicle data recorders typically store information about system status and driver inputs leading up to a collision. Preserving this data requires specialized expertise and must be done promptly. An experienced accident law firm will take immediate steps to legally preserve this crucial evidence.

Insurance adjusters frequently attempt to shift blame to drivers in technology failure cases, arguing that over-reliance on automated systems constitutes comparative negligence. Your Indianapolis car accident lawyer will need to demonstrate that you used the technology as instructed and that its failure was the primary cause of the accident.

Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous

Safety technology failures affecting autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles present particularly complex legal questions. As these technologies become more prevalent on Indiana highways, courts are still developing frameworks for assigning liability when artificial intelligence systems make decisions that contribute to accidents.

When pursuing compensation for accidents involving safety technology failures, your experienced Indianapolis car accident attorney will explore multiple avenues of recovery. Beyond standard insurance claims, these may include product liability lawsuits against manufacturers, claims against software developers, and actions against dealerships or repair facilities that failed to properly maintain these systems.

Safety technology failure claims often result in more substantial settlements than typical auto accident cases due to the potential for punitive damages.

When manufacturers knowingly deploy flawed safety systems or fail to correct known defects, courts may award additional compensation to punish this conduct and deter similar behavior.

Contact a Highway Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis

Highway accidents differ substantially from typical car crashes on city streets. The higher speeds, multiple vehicles often involved, complex liability questions, and more severe injuries all demand specialized legal expertise. The experienced Indianapolis car accident attorneys at Crossen Law Firm have handled countless highway accident cases on I-465, I-65, I-70, and other major thoroughfares throughout Indiana.

Insurance companies have vast resources dedicated to minimizing payouts. Our Indiana car accident lawyers understand insurance company tactics and counter them effectively. We conduct thorough investigations, work with accident reconstruction experts, consult with medical specialists, and build compelling cases that insurance companies cannot easily dismiss.

When dealing with an insurance company after a highway accident, having experienced legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. The decision to hire an experienced lawyer following a highway accident shouldn’t be complicated by financial concerns.

If you’ve been injured in a highway accident in Indianapolis, contact Crossen Law Firm auto accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will provide a candid assessment of your case, explain the legal process, and outline how we can help you seek compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Remember that Indiana’s statute of limitations gives you only two years from the date of your accident to file a legal claim, making prompt action essential for preserving your rights.

Don’t face the aftermath of a serious accident alone—contact us today for a free consultation and to partner with auto accident attorneys who understand these complex cases and have a proven record of securing favorable outcomes for injured clients. Call Crossen Law Firm for a free case evaluation: 317-401-8626.