Our fee is only 25%* on motor vehicle accident cases
At Poynter & Bucheri, our advertised fee is 25%* on motor vehicle accident cases, including car, truck, and motorcycle crashes. No fee and no costs unless we recover for you.
*Disclaimer: The 25% fee applies only to motor vehicle (car, truck, and motorcycle) accident cases settled prior to trial. If there is no recovery, the client owes no fee. Case costs and expenses paid by the firm are reimbursed from any settlement or recovery. This 25% fee is valid for 15 days after the date last advertised.
Indiana is an at-fault state: the driver who caused a crash—and that driver’s insurer—is responsible for the harm. That sounds simple, but after a collision you may be dealing with a busy adjuster, a quick settlement offer, mounting medical bills, and a car in the shop. Poynter & Bucheri helps people hurt in car accidents throughout Indiana.
Who pays after a car accident in Indiana?
Indiana is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash—and that driver’s insurer—is responsible for the harm. A lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the crash (IC 34-11-2-4), with shorter notice deadlines for claims against government entities. Read more: Is Indiana a no-fault state?
Common Indiana car crash claims
- Rear-end collisions, including “low-impact” crashes that still cause neck and back injuries
- T-bone and intersection crashes from red-light running and failure to yield
- Head-on and wrong-way crashes, often involving impaired drivers
- Distracted and aggressive driving
- Hit-and-run crashes, where your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply
- Rideshare crashes involving Uber or Lyft drivers, which can involve the rideshare company’s commercial policy
Insurance basics in Indiana
- Indiana’s minimum liability coverage is $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage (IC 9-25-4-5). Serious injuries often exceed those limits.
- Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which you may have unless you rejected it in writing. It can be critical when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance.
- Medical payments coverage on your own policy may help with early bills regardless of fault.
What to do after a car accident in Indiana
- Get medical care promptly, even if you feel “okay.” Some injuries show up later.
- Call police and get the crash report number.
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries; get witness names.
- Notify your own insurer, but be careful about recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer.
- Keep every bill, receipt, and record of missed work.
- Talk with a lawyer before you sign a release or accept a settlement.
Indiana law notes
- Deadline: generally two years from the crash to file a lawsuit (IC 34-11-2-4).
- Comparative fault: your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred if your fault is greater than everyone else’s combined (IC 34-51-2).
- Government vehicles: crashes with city, county, or state vehicles require Tort Claims Act notice within 180 days (local) or 270 days (State).
Results Poynter & Bucheri has published
- $410,000 Settlement · Car accidentRideshare driver caused an accident with injury.
- $180,000 Recovery · Car accidentLow-impact rear-end accident causing soft tissue injuries and pain.
- $150,000 Settlement · Car accidentRideshare driver injured while working recovered from his underinsured motorist policy.
See all case results published by Poynter & Bucheri
Results as published by Poynter & Bucheri on pb-law.com/our-results. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and the amount recovered depends on the facts, the injuries, the available insurance, and other factors. Amounts shown are gross amounts before attorney fees and costs unless stated otherwise.
Hit by a semi or commercial vehicle instead? Truck cases work differently—see our Indiana truck accident lawyer page.
Honest answers to hard questions: see Honest Answers About Indiana Injury Claims.
Frequently asked questions
Is Indiana a no-fault state?
No. Indiana is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who caused the crash and that driver’s insurer are generally responsible for the resulting damages.
What if the other driver has only the minimum $25,000 policy?
Your own underinsured motorist coverage may help, and there may be other responsible parties. A full review of available insurance is part of every case evaluation.
What does the 25% fee cover?
The 25% fee applies only to motor vehicle (car, truck, and motorcycle) accident cases settled prior to trial. If there is no recovery, the client owes no fee. Case costs and expenses paid by the firm are reimbursed from any settlement or recovery. This 25% fee is valid for 15 days after the date last advertised.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Indiana?
Generally two years from the crash under IC 34-11-2-4, with shorter notice deadlines for claims against government entities.
What is the average settlement for a car accident in Indiana?
There's no reliable "average." Each case depends on how badly you were hurt, lost wages, who was at fault and how much insurance is available. Be wary of anyone quoting a number before looking at your case. Past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Sources
- Indiana University Public Policy Institute (for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute), Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: Indiana Crash Facts 2024 (PDF; 2024 data from Indiana officer crash reports)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Proof of Financial Responsibility”
- IC 34-11-2-4 — official heading: “Injury or forfeiture of penalty actions.” An action for injury to a person or to personal property generally must be started within two years after the cause of action accrues.
- IC 9-25-4-5 — official heading: “Minimum amounts of financial responsibility.” Indiana’s minimum auto liability amounts (the BMV describes them as 25/50/25: $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000).
- IC 34-51-2 — official heading: “Chapter 2. Compensatory Damages: Comparative Fault.” Indiana’s comparative fault chapter: a claimant’s own fault reduces damages in proportion, and recovery is barred if the claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone whose fault contributed (sections 5 and 6).
Indiana Code links open the official chapter PDF from the Indiana General Assembly (2026 Code); federal rules link to the current eCFR text.
More official links: Indiana accident resources · Indiana crash statistics · How to get your crash report
General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.