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.
I-465 is the 50-plus-mile beltway around Indianapolis. Every major interstate that reaches the city—I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74—connects to it, and I-74 runs along it for miles. The result is constant merging, weaving, and lane changes by semis and commuters together.
Hit by a semi on I-465: what to do at the scene
- Call 911. Ask for police and an ambulance if anyone is hurt. Give the nearest exit number or mile marker so responders can find you on the loop.
- Get out of live lanes only if it is safe. Indiana law requires drivers in a crash to stop in a way that blocks traffic no more than necessary (IC 9-26-1-1.1). If your car cannot be moved or you are hurt, stay belted in with hazard lights on.
- Photograph the truck’s identity. The motor carrier’s name and USDOT number are usually on the cab door. Also photograph the trailer number, both license plates, and any company name on the trailer.
- Photograph the scene. Lane positions, debris, skid marks, construction signs, and the nearest exit sign help place the crash on a busy interchange.
- Get names. Witnesses, other drivers, and the officer’s name and agency. On I-465, the Indiana State Police commonly investigate.
- Get medical care the same day. Tell the provider you were hit by a commercial truck.
- Don’t give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement before you get advice.
- Call a lawyer about preserving evidence at (317) 780-8000.
For more detail, see what to do after an Indiana semi crash.
The trucking records to preserve, and how long carriers must keep them
Federal rules require interstate carriers to keep certain records, but some retention periods are short. A written preservation demand should go out quickly:
- Hours-of-service and ELD records, plus supporting documents: at least 6 months (49 CFR 395.8(k)).
- Driver vehicle inspection reports: 3 months (49 CFR 396.11).
- Inspection, repair, and maintenance records: 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained, and 6 months after the vehicle leaves the carrier’s control (49 CFR 396.3(c)).
- Driver qualification file: for as long as the driver is employed and 3 years after (49 CFR 391.51).
- Accident register: 3 years after each crash (49 CFR 390.15).
- Post-accident drug and alcohol tests, when required: alcohol within 8 hours and drugs within 32 hours (49 CFR 382.303).
Engine data, dash-cam video, and telematics can be lost even sooner under a fleet’s own settings. See truck black box and ELD evidence.
Federal FMCSA rules that often come up in I-465 crashes
- Hours of service (49 CFR 395.3). Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive after the 14th hour on duty, and need a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. See FMCSA hours-of-service rules.
- Electronic logging devices (49 CFR 395.8). Most carriers must have drivers record duty status on an ELD, which can show whether a driver was over the limits.
- Driver qualification (49 CFR Part 391). Licensing, driving history, and medical certification records.
- Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396). Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their trucks, which matters when brakes, tires, or lights are at issue.
The route
The loop circles Indianapolis almost entirely within Marion County, passing the west side near Speedway and the airport, the south side near Southport and Beech Grove, the east side near Lawrence, and the north side between Indianapolis and Carmel. Major interchanges include I-65 (north and south), I-69 on the northeast and southwest, I-70 (east and west), I-74, and I-865 on the northwest.
Truck crash risks on this corridor
- Weaving where trucks and cars enter and exit at closely spaced interchanges.
- Blind-spot crashes when semis change lanes across multiple lanes of traffic.
- Rush-hour congestion and sudden slowdowns that lead to rear-end crashes.
- Frequent construction and interchange rebuilding.
- Heavy logistics traffic on the west and southwest sides near the airport and warehouse districts.
What we look at after a crash here
We review lane-change and blind-spot evidence, dash-cam video, and engine data, and we identify which carriers and vehicles were involved. Many I-465 crashes involve several vehicles, so a careful reconstruction matters.
Where a case may be handled
Most I-465 crashes occur in Marion County, so cases are often filed in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis or in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis). Our main office is at 4202 Madison Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227 · (317) 780-8000, and our Speedway office is just inside the west side of the loop. See also our Indianapolis truck accident page.
Indiana’s general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the crash (IC 34-11-2-4), and Indiana’s modified comparative fault rules apply (IC 34-51-2): your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred only if your fault is greater than everyone else’s combined. If a government vehicle or a road or work-zone condition may be involved, written notice deadlines are much shorter—180 days for local governments and 270 days for the State. For a full overview, read our Indiana truck accident lawyer page and our page on work zone truck crashes.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a semi hits me on I-465?
Call 911 and give the nearest exit or mile marker, get out of live lanes only if it is safe, photograph the truck’s company name, USDOT number, trailer number, and plates, get witness names, and get medical care the same day. Don’t give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement before getting advice, and call (317) 780-8000 about preserving evidence.
How long does a trucking company have to keep its logs?
Federal rules require carriers to keep hours-of-service records and supporting documents for at least six months (49 CFR 395.8(k)). Driver vehicle inspection reports are kept for only three months (49 CFR 396.11).
Who investigates truck crashes on I-465?
Crashes on Indiana interstates are commonly investigated by the Indiana State Police, sometimes with local police or sheriff’s deputies. The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division may also be involved with commercial vehicles. The crash report usually identifies the investigating agency.
How long do I have to bring a claim for a truck crash on I-465?
For most injury claims in Indiana, a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the crash (IC 34-11-2-4). Claims involving government entities require written notice within 180 days (local) or 270 days (State).
Can Poynter & Bucheri help if I live outside Indiana but crashed on I-465?
Yes, we can review crashes that happened in Indiana even if you live in another state. Where a case is filed can depend on where the crash happened and where the defendants are located.
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 9-26-1-1.1 — official heading: “Duties of driver of motor vehicle involved in accident; sentencing.” Duties of a driver involved in a crash, such as stopping and giving information and aid.
- 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 — 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).
- 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 396.11 — official heading: “Driver vehicle inspection report(s).” Driver vehicle inspection reports on the vehicle’s condition.
- 49 CFR 396.3 — official heading: “Inspection, repair, and maintenance.” Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles and keep maintenance records.
- 49 CFR 391.51 — official heading: “General requirements for driver qualification files.” The driver qualification file a carrier must keep for each driver.
- 49 CFR 390.15 — official heading: “Assistance in investigations and special studies.” Carriers must assist in crash investigations and keep an accident register.
- 49 CFR 382.303 — official heading: “Post-accident testing.” When a commercial driver must be tested for alcohol and drugs after a crash.
- 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.
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.