Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer

Trusted personal injury lawyers with over 80 years of combined experience serving Indianapolis and central Indiana.

If you have been injured in an accident in Indianapolis, the consequences extend well beyond the initial impact. Medical expenses accumulate quickly, lost wages create additional financial pressure, and insurance carriers are often more focused on minimizing their exposure than addressing the full scope of your losses.

Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers has represented injured people across Indiana for decades. Our Indianapolis, IN personal injury law firm has the knowledge and track record needed to pursue the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovering. Contact us for a free consultation.

Personal Injury Lawyer Indianapolis

What does a personal injury attorney do for someone who has been hurt?

A personal injury claim arises when a person suffers harm because of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct. That could mean a distracted driver running a red light on East Washington Street, a property owner ignoring a crumbling staircase, or a surgeon making an error during a routine procedure. Indiana law gives you the right to seek compensation for those losses.

An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer handles every phase of that process. From investigating what happened and identifying all liable parties, to negotiating with adjusters and preparing your case for trial, the goal stays the same: holding the at-fault party accountable and recovering compensation that reflects the real cost of your injuries.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Indianapolis

Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers represents clients across a wide range of injury cases in Indianapolis, IN, and throughout central Indiana. Every case is different, but our approach is consistent: thorough investigation, strong advocacy, and a commitment to recovering full and fair compensation.

• Car accidents. Collisions caused by distracted driving, speeding, and impaired motorists make up a significant share of injury claims filed in Marion County. We handle everything from rear-end crashes on I-465 to multi-vehicle pileups on I-70. According to NHTSA crash data, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of serious injury nationwide.
  
• Truck accidents. Commercial truck crashes often produce catastrophic injuries. These cases involve federal safety regulations, multiple liable parties, and aggressive insurance defense. We investigate trucking companies, review driver logs, and pursue every available source of recovery.
  
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders face bias from adjusters and juries alike. We work to overcome those assumptions and secure compensation for riders who were not at fault, including claims involving road hazards and driver inattention.
  
• Medical malpractice. When a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, the consequences can be permanent. Indiana’s medical malpractice framework adds complexity, including mandatory review panels that demand an attorney familiar with the process.
  
• Wrongful death. Families who lose a loved one to someone else’s negligence deserve accountability. We help surviving family members pursue claims for funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship under Indiana’s wrongful death statutes.
  
• Bicycle accidents. Cyclists struck by motor vehicles often sustain severe injuries even at relatively low speeds. We hold negligent drivers responsible when they fail to share the road safely.
  
• Pedestrian accidents. Busy corridors like Meridian Street and Michigan Road see frequent pedestrian-involved crashes. We pursue claims against drivers who fail to yield at crosswalks and intersections.
  
• Premises liability. Property owners in Indianapolis have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. Slip and fall injuries, inadequate security, and dangerous building conditions can all give rise to a premises liability claim.
  
• Brain injuries. According to CDC injury data, traumatic brain injuries cause approximately 190 deaths per day in the United States. For survivors, the effects can alter every aspect of daily life. We work with medical professionals to document the full scope of harm, including projected future care costs.
  
• Construction accidents. Falls from scaffolding, equipment failures, and electrocution are common hazards on Indianapolis job sites. Liability in these cases may extend to general contractors, subcontractors, and equipment manufacturers.
  

Why Choose Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers for Personal Injury in Indianapolis, IN?

Decades of Trial Experience in Indiana Courts

Donald W. Ward founded the firm and has been licensed in Indiana since 1954. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School and Hanover College, Don served as Deputy Trial Prosecutor for Marion County and later as Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis before dedicating his practice to representing injury victims. He is a Fellow of the Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, past President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and recipient of the Indiana Bar Foundation Legendary Lawyer Award. He also received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2005 and has been a member of the American Association for Justice since 1958.

Charles P. Ward graduated cum laude from Butler University and earned his J.D. from Indiana University in 1989. He clerked for Justice Richard M. Givan at the Indiana Supreme Court before joining the firm. Charles holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2005. He’s been named to Best Lawyers in America and designated a Top 25 Trial Lawyer by the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association.

Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers has helped clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury cases across Indianapolis and Indiana. The firm represents injured victims exclusively. We do not represent insurance companies.

Personal Injury Case Overview

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

Indiana personal injury law allows injured people to pursue several categories of damages. Understanding what you may be entitled to is an important first step.

Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses tied to your injury. These include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and out-of-pocket costs like transportation to medical appointments. Non-economic damages address losses that don’t carry a price tag but are just as real: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.

In rare circumstances involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages may be available. Indiana law caps punitive damages at the greater of $50,000 or three times the compensatory damages awarded. Seventy-five percent of any punitive award goes to the state.

Liability depends on proving that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a result. Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system under IC 34-51-2. If you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover. If your share of fault is 50 percent or less, your compensation is reduced proportionally.

Important Aspects in Your Personal Injury Case

Several factors can significantly affect the outcome of your injury claim. Keeping these in mind from the beginning protects your ability to recover full compensation.

• Seek medical treatment immediately after an accident, even if symptoms seem minor. Gaps in treatment give insurance adjusters a reason to minimize your claim.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company without speaking to an attorney first. Adjusters use these statements to reduce or deny claims.
• Preserve all evidence. Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and property damage are critical. So are witness contact information and copies of police reports.
• Stay off social media regarding your case. Insurance companies routinely monitor claimants’ accounts for posts that could be used to dispute injury severity.

Personal Injury Case Timeline

Every case moves at its own pace, but most personal injury claims in Indianapolis follow a general progression. Here is what you can expect.

• Medical treatment and maximum recovery. Your health comes first. No personal injury attorney should push you to settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
• Investigation and evidence gathering. This includes obtaining medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and any available surveillance or electronic data.
• Demand and negotiation. Once your medical situation has stabilized, your attorney sends a demand to the insurance company and negotiates toward a fair settlement.
• Filing a lawsuit. If the insurer refuses a reasonable offer, we file suit. Indiana’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of injury to file under IC 34-11-2-4.
• Discovery, mediation, and trial. Cases that don’t settle proceed through discovery, often through mediation, and ultimately to trial if necessary. Most cases resolve before reaching a jury, but our firm prepares every case as though it will go to trial.

The timeline from start to finish can range from several months to two or more years, depending on the severity of injuries, the number of parties involved, and whether the case goes to litigation. 

What to Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation

Being prepared for your first meeting with an Indianapolis injury attorney saves time and helps us evaluate your case more accurately.

• Any police or incident reports related to the accident
• Medical records and bills connected to your injuries
• Insurance policy information for all parties involved
• Photographs of the accident scene, injuries, and property damage
• Names and contact information for witnesses

During the consultation, we will review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and give you a candid assessment of what to expect. There is no charge for this initial meeting.

Indiana Legal Resources for Personal Injury

Indiana’s laws governing personal injury claims are spread across multiple sections of state code. The following resources may help you research the legal framework that applies to your case.

• The Indiana General Assembly publishes the full text of Title 34, which covers civil law and procedure, including statutes of limitations, comparative fault, and damages.
• The Indiana Judicial Branch provides information on court procedures, filing requirements, and local court rules for Marion County and other jurisdictions across the state.
• For personal injury cases specifically, IC 34-11-2-4 establishes a two-year statute of limitations. IC 34-51-2 governs Indiana’s comparative fault system, which bars recovery for any claimant found to bear more than 50 percent of the fault.
• Indiana does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, but the state does impose caps in medical malpractice claims under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act (IC 34-18).

Reach Out to Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

If you or a family member has been injured in an accident in Indianapolis, IN, Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options. We offer free consultations and represent injury victims on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact our personal injury law firm in Indianapolis today to get started.