10 Questions Indianapolis Residents Ask After a Car Accident – Answered

April 25, 2026

A car accident is a sudden shock. Even if you aren’t injured, it can be hard to think clearly. What comes after can be even more confusing. You will be wading through a thicket of legal obstacles and red tape from insurance companies in order to advance your claim.

There are a lot of questions Indianapolis residents ask after a car accident, both in the first few moments and in the days and months ahead.

The more answers you have at the beginning of the process, the easier it will be for you to make the right decisions because what you do directly after an Indianapolis car accident makes a difference, and taking the first step correctly makes every step even easier.

Do I have to call the police after a crash in Indianapolis?

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: you are required to call the police after an Indianapolis car crash in the case of injury, death, or damage over $1000. However, it is good to call the police after just about any accident, for a few reasons:

• The extent of the damage isn’t always apparent
• The injuries don’t always emerge immediately
• Leaving an accident could be used against you (and is often criminal)

Police can take statements and gather evidence. You should also take pictures and talk to witnesses, but having an official police report is often crucial to getting your claim resolved in a fair manner.

How do I get my police report in Indianapolis?

The police report is a document written by police officers detailing a crime or incident. This is used to help the insurance companies determine who was at fault for an accident (which could be multiple parties with differing degrees of liability). Accidents can be complicated, and memory is not always reliable, so a police report is crucial.

There are two ways to obtain a copy of your police report in Indianapolis. The quickest is through buycrash.com, which costs $12.

The other is to go to 50 N. Alabama St., E100 in downtown Indianapolis. You’ll need to provide the date, time, and location of the accident, as well as the name of the reporting officer (if possible).

I was hit by an IndyGo bus — what’s different about my claim?

While you can sue a government entity for an IndyGo bus accident in Indianapolis, your case will differ from a claim against a non-government defendant since Indiana’s Tort Claims Act applies.

This means a few things:

• A Notice of Claim has to be filed within 180 days for an Indianapolis claim. This gives the state a chance to conduct an investigation and possibly settle.
• There is a 90-day investigation period.
• You will still need to file your lawsuit within two years of the accident.
• Damages are capped at $700,000 per person.

The upshot of the limited filing timeframe is that if you are in an accident involving an IndyGo bus, you need to contact an experienced bus accident attorney sooner rather than later.

I was in a hit-and-run — what can I do if the other driver fled?

The other driver fleeing adds complication to frustration and insult to injury. However, you are not without recourse. Call the police immediately. Note down any details you can, including the make, model, and color of the car and the license plate if possible.

If there are any witnesses, talk to them. See if they can corroborate anything you saw.

Having the police come out is crucial, and the information you provide could help them find the other driver. There could be cameras on stores, crosswalks, or private houses that could help you do this too.

Remember, Indiana law gives you two years to file a claim. Don’t lose hope.

My accident happened on I-465 — is that different?

When you are taking the outer ring, you’re going to be driving through a lot of traffic. We’ve all seen people get confused where I-465 and I-65 merge near Eagle Creek Park. It is a hairy spot that’s pretty ripe for accidents. If you are on an accident on I-465, the primary difference is that state police will be handling your claim, as opposed to the Indianapolis Police Department (this is the same as the car accident rules on I-65).

You will also be able to obtain a copy of your police report from the Indiana State Police.

Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

Short answer: no.

Longer answer: absolutely not.

There is no reason to talk to the other driver’s insurance company unless you are working with your own attorney. Dealing with insurance adjusters can be tricky. Their job is to try to get you to admit fault or otherwise throw doubt on your claim so that they can deny it. This is true of your own insurance, and doubly true for that of the other driver.

I feel fine — do I still need to see a doctor?

It is recommended that you see a doctor even if you feel fine after your accident. For one thing, injuries could take a while to show up and can become worse over time. A doctor might be able to see injuries or damage that you don’t notice or are ignoring.

Remember, the damages you can recover from a personal injury claim should include coverage for all medical bills as well as harder-to-calculate pain and suffering. Having the stamp of a doctor helps solidify those claims.

What if the city road / pothole caused my accident?

If the city road or a pothole caused the accident, then Indianapolis could potentially be one of the defendants in your case. Specifically, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works would be the most direct government entity responsible.

Remember that this isn’t an either/or: Indiana law allows for multiple parties to be at fault with comparative degrees of negligence. The other driver might have been reckless, but that recklessness could have been exacerbated by the poor condition of the road.

It gets complicated. That’s why having experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyers is so important.

The other driver was from out of state — does Indiana law still apply?

Yes, Indiana law applies in Indianapolis. As an “at-fault” state, the legal system will be looking to assign negligence to the party or parties responsible, no matter where they are from.

The tricky part is working with insurance companies from the drivers’ home state, since different laws and regulations may apply to them. This is another reason why having the right representation matters.

How long do I actually have to file a claim?

How long you have to file a claim depends on who is at fault.  Generally, it’s:

• Private driver: two years
• State of Indiana: 270 days to file the Notice of Claim; two years for the actual suit
• Indianapolis: 180 days to file the Notice of Claim; two years for the actual suit

But remember, multiple parties could be at fault. Negligence could be partly on another driver, partly on a state road, partly on an IndyGo bus, etc. That’s why it is important that you act quickly and work with a legal team who can help determine responsibility for your Indianapolis car accident so you can get your case started.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys

When you get into a car accident in Indianapolis, you’ll need someone who can answer your questions and help you get what you deserve, like the lawyers 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 Indianapolis car accident attorney.