In Indiana, a truck accident claim must generally be filed within 2 years of the crash, and the state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar). Federal FMCSA regulations govern the carrier's conduct, while Indiana law governs the injury claim itself — which is why the state your crash happened in changes what your case is worth and how long you have.
How fault works in Indiana
Indiana's Comparative Fault Act bars recovery above 50% fault. Note that the Act does not apply to claims against governmental entities, where Indiana retains contributory negligence — a trap worth knowing about.
This matters more than most people expect. The trucking company's insurer is not only arguing about how much you were hurt — it is arguing about what share of the crash was your responsibility, because every percentage point shifted onto you reduces what it pays. In Indiana, that pressure is constant throughout the claim. See who can be held liable.
Where truck crashes happen in Indiana
Indiana brands itself the Crossroads of America, and the description is literal — more interstate highways converge here per square mile than in almost any other state. Northwest Indiana, including Porter and Lake counties around Valparaiso, carries Chicago-bound freight on the Toll Road and I-94 simultaneously with steel and heavy industry traffic.
The corridors that carry the most commercial truck traffic:
- I-65 (Indianapolis–Louisville and Indianapolis–Gary)
- I-70 (Indianapolis east–west)
- I-69 (Evansville–Indianapolis–Fort Wayne)
- I-80/I-90 (the Indiana Toll Road)
- I-94 through the Calumet region
Crashes on these routes tend to involve interstate carriers, which means the federal safety regulations — hours-of-service limits, maintenance duties, drug and alcohol testing — apply alongside Indiana negligence law.
Indiana-specific issues worth knowing
Before you talk to an adjuster
- ⚠️ Indiana's comparative fault statute does not cover claims against governmental entities. In those cases contributory negligence still applies, meaning any fault on your part can bar recovery entirely.
- The Indiana Tort Claims Act requires notice within 180 days for political subdivisions and 270 days for state claims.
- Indiana does not cap compensatory damages in ordinary private personal injury actions, but caps apply to claims against governmental entities.
Federal rules do not change at the state line
Whatever state you were injured in, a carrier operating in interstate commerce answers to the same federal standard: at least $750,000 in liability coverage, hours-of-service limits under 49 CFR Part 395, and a six-month retention floor on driver duty records. What changes from state to state is the deadline, the fault rule, and any damages limits.
That combination is why the same crash can be worth substantially different amounts in two neighboring states — and why preserving the truck's data matters equally everywhere.
Areas served in Indiana
Attorneys in the referral network handle commercial truck cases throughout Indiana, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Valparaiso, Gary, South Bend, and Evansville. A free case review routes your request to an attorney licensed in the state where your crash happened.
Other states
See all states → or check filing deadlines for all 50 states.
Sources
- Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- SAFER Company Snapshot — carrier safety records — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Federal regulations and crash statistics are updated periodically. Figures cited on this page reflect the referenced publications at the time of writing; check the source for the current edition.