Hit-and-Run Accidents in Fort Wayne: Why Allen County Has One of Indiana’s Highest Rates and What Victims Need to Know

July 23, 2026

• Fort Wayne and Allen County have some of the highest rates of hit-and-run accidents in Indiana, nearly five times as high as neighboring counties. This can put you at greater risk of being in an accident where the other party illegally flees, leaving you alone.
• However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and any claim you might have after a hit-and-run, including gathering evidence, contacting the authorities, talking to witnesses, and consulting with an attorney.
• While you can still potentially file a successful claim even if the other party is never identified or convicted, you will be battling your own insurance company. For this reason, it’s important that you have a Fort Wayne car accident attorney who will fight for you.

When you’re in a car accident, your world can change in an instant. But, usually, there are a few things you can count on, like a speedy emergency response, exchanging information with the other driver, working with your insurance company and that of the other party. There is a normal rhythm to these abnormal events.

But if you are in a hit-and-run, even that certainty can be taken away. There’s no other driver, and you are on your own. It can make a scary, dangerous, and life-changing situation even worse.

Unfortunately, hit-and-runs are more common in Fort Wayne than nearly anywhere else in Indiana. Almost 20% of crashes in Allen County are hit-and-runs, leaving drivers frustrated and in a difficult spot. But knowing what to do in the event of a hit-and-run in Fort Wayne, as well as working with an experienced Fort Wayne car accident lawyer, can help you get to a better place and recover the funds you need to bring your life back to normal.

What You Should Know About Hit-and-Run Law in Indiana

You may think that hit-and-runs are relatively rare, but, according to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute’s 2024 Traffic Safety Facts book, they actually make up 13% of accidents in Indiana – more than any other collision type (by comparison, speeding accounts for 8% of accidents and impaired driving contributes to 5%). Not surprisingly, a hit-and-run compounds any legal liability.

Section 9-26-1-1.1 of the Indiana Code explicitly states that drivers have to remain at the scene of an accident at least long enough to:

• Give their names, addresses, and registration numbers
• Show proof of their licenses
• Provide reasonable assistance in the case of injury
• Give notice of the accident

Failing to do so is a Class B misdemeanor at the minimum. And that is if the accident is just a fender-bender. It doesn’t matter if there is very little damage. Leaving without satisfying the above requirements turns it into a crime.

Of course, these crimes are compounded in the case of injury or death. If the other driver leaves when there is an injury, it becomes a Level 6 felony. If there is a serious injury or a death, it moves up to a Level 3 felony, which carries a penalty under Indiana law of up to 16 years in prison, as well as a $10,000 fine.

Remember, though, that criminal and civil cases are different. Regardless of whether the other driver is eventually found guilty of a crime, or not found at all, your claim will not be impacted. You still have the right to civil compensation no matter the outcome or even the existence of a criminal case.

Clearly, Indiana takes these issues seriously, and so does Allen County.  And it should, since Allen County has a much higher rate of hit-and-accidents than nearly anywhere else in Indiana.

Why Allen County Has Such a High Hit-and-Run Rate

We know that driving in Fort Wayne and Allen County can be dangerous. There are unique risks on all sides of town, from construction-related accidents near the new Google data center to the challenges of driving around horse-and-buggies in the outlying Amish communities.

In addition to those more specific concerns, Fort Wayne has some of the most accident-heavy roads in Indiana, including I-69. Like many areas of Indiana with the deadliest car crashes, the mix of urban and rural roadways presents clear dangers due to changing speed limits and driving habits.

With over 270,000 residents, there are a lot of drivers. And those drivers are moving through high-traffic areas. Think of the intersection where 30/930/Coliseum Boulevard intersects with 27, just south of the cloverleaf at 69. That location has heavy traffic at practically any time of the day, and it isn’t the only one.

The volume of traffic increases the volume of accidents, which means the chances of someone pulling a hit-and-run are greater. That helps explain why Allen County has a much higher rate of hit-and-runs than the state as a whole. At 19.4%, it trails only Lake County (19.2%) and Marion County (19.1%). In context, nearby counties such as Adams (7.0%), Wells (4.3%), and DeKalb (4.3%) are considerably lower.

There are other explanations besides traffic volume, of course. Some of these include:

• More anonymity (in smaller communities, there is more of a chance that a witness will actually know the driver)
• More uninsured drivers (who flee to avoid the punishment for not having insurance)
• More drivers with outstanding warrants (who flee to avoid interactions with authorities)
• Impairment (driving impaired is obviously not limited to urban areas but it can lead to compounding bad decisions in conjunction with any of the above factors)

Fort Wayne, to be clear, is not uniquely dangerous. But that is small comfort when dealing with an accident in which the other driver leaves. What can be comforting, however, is knowing what to do right after.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Fort Wayne

In many ways, the steps you take after a hit-and-run are very similar to what you should do after any Indiana traffic accident:

• Get to safety. This is the most important step. If possible, get your car out of traffic. If not, don’t try to force it.
• Contact 911. You will want the Fort Wayne Police Department on the scene as soon as possible to make a report. It is crucial that the officers know right away that the other driver has fled the scene.
• Get as much information as you can. While it is hard in the moment of an accident to see what’s happening, try to remember whatever you can. The vehicle’s make, its model, its color, maybe even a partial plate. Recalling what direction the vehicle was traveling in or if there were any unusual features can be incredibly helpful too.
• Document everything. Take pictures of your car, its damages, your own injuries, and any other relevant details at the scene. In particular, make sure you take pictures of any debris that the other car might have left behind, since this could allow you to make a match down the road.
• Talk to witnesses. In Fort Wayne, there are potentially a lot of witnesses. Bystanders and other drivers are crucial: these witnesses might have seen more of the other car and driver and not have been in as much shock. Also talk to nearby businesses to see if there are any security cameras. Many intersections have traffic safety cameras as well.
• Seek medical attention. You might feel okay, but you are going to want documentation of any injuries for the sake of your case. Frequently, soft tissue or internal damage might not be quick to show up, so it is important not to delay getting checked out by medical professionals.
• Notify your own insurance company. You’ll need to let your insurer know what happened, but try to avoid making a recorded statement. When you don’t know who the other driver is, your insurance company could be responsible for reimbursing you for your damages, and it might not want to.

The Importance of Contacting an Attorney

You’ll probably feel comfortable with some of the steps above, but most people don’t really know how to make sure that an evidence trail is preserved. How do you stop businesses from overwriting their security footage? How do you request footage from traffic cameras? How do you avoid giving statements to your insurance company?

But while you might not know how to handle all of these steps after a hit-and-run, a Fort Wayne car accident lawyer will. An attorney can send evidence preservation requests immediately, make sure that you have what you need, and help you deal with the insurance company, whether the other driver is ever found or not.

You Can Still Recover Compensation Even if the Other Driver Is Never Found

The surprising news is that hit-and-run drivers are caught more often than you might guess, thanks to widespread surveillance technology, witness tips, and the ubiquity of license plate readers. Fort Wayne police officers take these cases seriously, especially when major injuries or fatalities are involved. And when the driver is caught, you can file a claim against his or her insurance.  Moreover, a conviction for a hit-and-run can be evidence in your civil claim, but your claim doesn’t depend on a conviction.

And the good news is that, while it is ideal (for many reasons) for the other driver to be caught, you might still be able to file a claim with your own insurance if that doesn’t occur.

That’s because Indiana law requires insurance companies to offer Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage in case you are in an accident with someone without insurance. A hit-and-run accident often counts as one of these incidents (if there is a physical collision; it may be more difficult to file a successful UM claim if you are run off the road, though not impossible if you have witnesses and/or video footage).

As such, UM coverage can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, even if a driver is never identified, provided of course that you have coverage like this on your vehicle,. Nonetheless, your insurance company may not be so eager to pay out for all of your damages at this point, which is another reason why it is important to contact an attorney.

Note for Fort Wayne Pedestrians and Cyclists

A hit-and-run when you are walking or biking can be far more damaging and dangerous. And even if you have UM auto insurance, your first thought might be that you’re out of luck because you weren’t in a car. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t file an Underinsured Motorist claim, which is something that most people don’t know – and something that your insurance company may not want to tell you.

But it is something that a seasoned Fort Wayne car accident lawyer can help you with.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Fort Wayne Car Accident Attorneys

Being in a hit-and-run can make you feel like you’re alone. But you’re not. The Fort Wayne car accident lawyers who will be there for you are at Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998.

Simply call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Fort Wayne car accident attorney.