Our fee is only 25%* on motor vehicle accident cases, including truck crashes
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.
Indianapolis sits where I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74 meet the I-465 beltway, and freight moves through the city around the clock. Poynter & Bucheri’s main office is at 4202 Madison Ave on the south side, and semi and commercial truck crashes are a primary focus of our practice. If a tractor-trailer, box truck, or delivery truck hurt you in Indianapolis, call (317) 780-8000.
Where truck crashes happen in Indianapolis
- The I-465 beltway. Closely spaced interchanges mean semis and commuters merge and change lanes constantly. See our I-465 truck crash guide.
- Downtown. I-65 and I-70 share the inner loop around downtown, where through-trucks mix with local traffic and short merges.
- Warehouse and airport districts. The west and southwest sides, near Indianapolis International Airport and the distribution centers that stretch toward Plainfield, send a steady stream of trailers onto local roads and interchange ramps.
- City streets. Box trucks, delivery vans, garbage trucks, and construction vehicles make wide turns and frequent stops on arterials such as Washington Street, Madison Avenue, and Keystone Avenue. See box truck and delivery van crashes and wide-turn and blind-spot crashes.
Who investigates a truck crash in Indianapolis
On the interstates, the Indiana State Police commonly investigate, and its Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division may be involved with commercial vehicles. On most city streets, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responds. Several communities inside Marion County, including Speedway, Beech Grove, Lawrence, and Southport, have their own police departments. The crash report identifies the agency, and that agency is where you request the report.
Federal trucking rules that often matter
Interstate motor carriers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. In an Indianapolis truck case, these rules often help show what went wrong:
- Hours of service (49 CFR 395.3). A property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive after the 14th hour on duty, and needs a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Weekly limits are 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. See FMCSA hours-of-service rules.
- Electronic logging devices (49 CFR 395.8). Most carriers must have drivers record duty status on an ELD, with limited exceptions such as trucks with engines older than model year 2000.
- Driver qualification (49 CFR Part 391). Carriers must keep a qualification file for each driver, including licensing, driving record, and medical certification.
- Inspection and maintenance (49 CFR Part 396). Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles and keep records of that work.
- Minimum insurance (49 CFR 387.9). For-hire carriers hauling general freight interstate generally must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. See truck insurance minimums.
Who may be responsible
A truck crash can involve more than the driver. The motor carrier, the owner of the tractor or trailer, a shipper or loader, a freight broker, or a repair shop may share responsibility, depending on the facts. Learn more about who can be liable in an Indiana truck crash.
Evidence to protect early
Engine data, ELD records, dash-cam video, and dispatch messages can be overwritten on routine schedules. A written preservation demand should go out quickly. See truck black box and ELD evidence and what to do after an Indiana semi crash.
Where an Indianapolis truck case may be filed
Civil injury cases from Marion County are usually filed in Marion Superior Court in downtown Indianapolis. Because trucking companies are often based in other states, some cases are filed in or moved to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.
Indiana deadlines and fault rules
Most Indiana injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (IC 34-11-2-4). Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault law, your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred from recovery only if your fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone else who contributed to the harm (IC 34-51-2-5 and 34-51-2-6). If a city truck, such as a snowplow or a garbage truck, or a state vehicle is involved, written notice is due within 180 days for local governments and 270 days for the State (IC 34-13-3-8 and IC 34-13-3-6).
Our main office is at 4202 Madison Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227 · (317) 780-8000 · toll free 1-800-265-9881. See our Indianapolis office page and the Indiana truck accident lawyer page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is your Indianapolis office?
Our main office is at 4202 Madison Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227, phone (317) 780-8000. You can also call toll free at 1-800-265-9881.
Who investigates semi crashes in Indianapolis?
The Indiana State Police commonly investigate crashes on the interstates. IMPD usually handles crashes on Indianapolis city streets, and towns such as Speedway, Beech Grove, Lawrence, and Southport have their own police departments. The crash report names the investigating agency.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Indianapolis?
Most Indiana injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (IC 34-11-2-4). If a government vehicle is involved, written notice is due within 180 days for local governments and 270 days for the State.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the truck crash?
Possibly. Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault law, your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred only if your fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone else (IC 34-51-2-6).
Sources
- Indiana University Public Policy Institute, Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: 2024 County Profiles, Marion County (PDF page 112; 2024 data)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts: Large Trucks, 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816 (PDF)
- 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 34-51-2-5 — official heading: “Effect of contributory fault.” A claimant’s own fault reduces the damages awarded in proportion to that fault, but does not bar recovery except as provided in section 6.
- IC 34-13-3-8 — official heading: “Claims against political subdivisions; notice requirement.” A tort claim against a political subdivision (such as a city or county) is barred unless written notice is filed within 180 days after the loss occurs.
- IC 34-13-3-6 — official heading: “Notice to attorney general and state agency involved.” A tort claim against the State is barred unless written notice is filed within 270 days after the loss occurs.
- IC 34-51-2-6 — official heading: “Barring of recovery; degree of contributory fault.” A claimant cannot recover if the claimant’s fault is greater than the fault of all persons whose fault proximately contributed to the damages.
- 49 CFR 395.3 — official heading: “Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles.” Hours-of-service limits for property-carrying drivers: 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, no more than 11 hours of driving, no driving after the 14th hour on duty, a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and 60/70-hour limits over 7/8 days.
- 49 CFR 395.8 — official heading: “Driver's record of duty status.” Drivers must keep a record of duty status (logs), generally on an electronic logging device.
- 49 CFR 387.9 — official heading: “Financial responsibility, minimum levels.” Minimum insurance (financial responsibility) for motor carriers—for example, $750,000 for for-hire interstate carriers of non-hazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, and higher amounts for hazardous materials.
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.