{"id":373198,"date":"2016-10-04T17:04:50","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T22:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-car-accident-compensation-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-09-10T13:47:43","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T18:47:43","slug":"indiana-car-accident-compensation-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-car-accident-compensation-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Indiana Car Accident Compensation Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Indiana Car Accident Compensation Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In car accident cases where there are serious injuries, the victims often have a right to compensation. Some will get payment directly from the insurance company. Others will have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.<\/p>\r\n

Either way, you must understand Indiana’s car accident laws and rules on compensation. This will help you and your Indiana car accident lawyer optimize your recovery against an insurance company or at-fault driver.<\/p>\r\n

This article offers a brief overview of car accident compensation laws in Indiana. It discusses compensation limits and the statute of limitations, even if your accident didn’t happen in Indianapolis.<\/p>\r\n

Indiana Car Accident Compensation Laws: Chart<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Car accidents are very common. Most don’t result in personal injury but vehicle damage. Either way, drivers must file a car accident claim.<\/p>\r\n

Below is a table outlining Indiana’s car accident compensation laws, including limits on damages and the statute of limitations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statute of limitations<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Limits on damages<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

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  • For causes of action that arose before Jan. 1, 2006, Indiana law limits total damages to $300,000.<\/li>\r\n
  • For causes of action that arose on or after Jan. 1, 2006, and before Jan. 1, 2008, the limit on damages is $500,000.<\/li>\r\n
  • For all car accident cases arising on or after Jan. 1, 2008, the limit on economic and non-economic damages is $700,000, and the cap on wrongful death damages is $5,000,000.<\/li>\r\n
  • Punitive damages are limited to three times compensatory damages or $50,000 (but the courts do not award punitive damages in cases involving government employees acting within the scope of their employment).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Other limits<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Modified comparative negligence (Indiana Code \u00a7 34-51-2-5 et seq.<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n