Best Car Accident Lawyers Fort Wayne, IN Of 2024

Written By

Valerie Catalano, J.D.

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

As Indiana’s second-largest city, Fort Wayne experiences its fair share of motor vehicle accidents. When the worst happens and a car crash throws your life off track, finding the right legal representation can help you recover the compensation you need.

In this guide, you’ll find a list of the best car accident lawyers in Fort Wayne who can guide you through the legal process and fight for what you deserve. You’ll also discover essential information about Indiana’s laws for car drivers and tips on choosing the best lawyer for your car accident case.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor Legal

Auto Accidents

Show Summary

Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fort Wayne

Edward E. Beck

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1973

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

James C. Yankosky

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1995

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

John B. Powell

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1982

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Roger B. Finderson

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1993

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Dennis H. Geisleman

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1982

Law School Attended

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Jeffrey A. Clark

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1995

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

John O. Feighner

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1976

Law School Attended

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Thomas D. Blackburn

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1977

Law School Attended

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Dennis R. Brown

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1998

Law School Attended

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Thomas A. Manges

IN Bar Association Status

Active

Year Admitted to IN Bar

1992

Law School Attended

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Why They Made Our List

Practice Areas

Notable Facts and Recognitions

Compare Top Fort Wayne Car Accident Attorneys

LAWYER NAME IN BAR ASSOCIATION STATUS YEAR ADMITTED TO IN BAR LAW SCHOOL ATTENDED LEARN MORE

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Fort Wayne, IN

Filing an auto accident lawsuit in Fort Wayne can be an essential step when seeking damages. You could be entitled to economic damages for your accident-related expenses, such as medical bills and car damage, and noneconomic damages for the pain and suffering you experienced.

Indiana Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases

A crucial law Fort Wayne drivers need to be aware of is the Indiana statute of limitations. It determines how long after an accident you can file a claim. Indiana’s statute gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit and pursue damages from the at-fault party. If you miss this deadline, your case could be thrown out by a court, regardless of its merit.

Indiana Laws for Car Drivers

Knowing your rights and responsibilities under Indiana’s state laws is crucial, whether you’re involved in a head-on collision or an accident with an uninsured driver. Here’s a summary of the laws that could impact your case.

• Car insurance requirements. Indiana law requires all motorists to carry the following minimum liability insurance: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage and $25,000 for property damage.
• Damage caps. Indiana does not impose a general cap on car accident settlement amounts, with some exceptions. Punitive damages—intended to punish bad behavior rather than compensate for a loss—may not be more than three times the amount of the compensatory damages or $50,000. Recovery against the government is capped at $700,000 per person.
• Government immunity. Government entities and employees in Indiana are generally immune from lawsuits. However, despite some hurdles, you can still file a lawsuit if a government agency or employee negligently caused your car accident.
• Dram shop law. If a drunk driver causes your collision, Indiana’s Dram Shop Act could come into play. Under the law, you can hold an establishment liable if staff served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who later caused your accident.

Identifying Fault for Car Accidents in Indiana

Indiana is a fault state, meaning the party responsible for your crash in Fort Wayne—or their insurance company—is generally responsible for your damages. However, to qualify for compensation, you must prove the other driver’s fault. Determining fault depends on the specifics of a collision, but it usually involves examining evidence such as photos and videos of the crash scene, police reports, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements and medical reports.

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning anyone less than 51% responsible for an accident can pursue damages. However, your degree of fault will reduce the compensation amount you can seek. For instance, if you have $10,000 in damages but are deemed 40% responsible for the accident, you may recover only 60% of your damages ($6,000).

How Can An Attorney Help You?

If you’re unsure what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault in Fort Wayne, consulting a car accident attorney can be your next best step. Working with an attorney to protect your rights and help you recover compensation can be essential, especially if you or a loved one suffered severe injuries or fault for the crash is unclear.

An attorney can ensure you’re treated fairly and help you determine the value of your case. When an insurance company drags its heels and refuses to settle your claim, an attorney can step in and negotiate an adequate settlement. Should negotiations fail, they can take your case to court and present your case strongly to a judge or jury.

How To Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Fort Wayne, IN

Not all Fort Wayne car accident law firms and attorneys are the same. To find the best local lawyer for your case, look for the elements below.

• Proven track record. Choose an attorney who is experienced in handling car accident claims and has a track record proving their success.
• Excellent reputation. The best car accident lawyers have a strong reputation among peers and positive reviews from past clients.
• Resources. Choose a well-established attorney or law firm. They will have the resources to take your claim to court, if needed.
• Contingency fee agreement. Select an attorney offering to handle your case on a contingency basis. This way, you’ll pay attorney’s fees only if you win and receive compensation.

Our Methodology for Finding the Best Fort Wayne Car Accident Attorneys

Forbes Advisor ranked attorneys offering services in car accident law within a 50-mile radius of Fort Wayne, IN using data points across the categories of qualifications, experience, reputation, client experience and diversity and inclusivity. We pulled data for these categories from reliable, third-party resources such as state bar associations and individual firm websites. Data is accurate as of July 2024.

We evaluated attorneys based on the following metrics.

Qualifications (15%):

• Active business license
• Public records check
• Practice areas
• Overall reputation of law school

Experience (15%):

• Years of membership in state bar
• Ethics and bar disciplinary history

Reputation (30%):

• High regards in top legal publications
• Positive reviews
• Accolades from colleagues

Client Experience (25%):

• Free consultations

Diversity and Inclusivity (15%):

• Bilingual services

We considered only attorneys without disciplinary history who have been licensed for at least five years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Car Accidents in Fort Wayne

What should I look for in a Fort Wayne car accident attorney?

Can I get a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Fort Wayne?

How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim in Indiana?

How can I maximize my car accident compensation in Fort Wayne?

Do I have to go to court with a car accident claim in Fort Worth?

The information on this page does not constitute legal advice, nor does use of or access to this page create an attorney-client relationship between any parties. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for informational purposes only. Your legal situation is unique and the attorneys and services we rank may not be right for your circumstances. Consult with an attorney to obtain advice on your particular legal matter.

Next Up In Legal

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Advertising paid for by participating attorneys in a joint advertising program, including attorneys licensed to practice law only in California. A complete list of joint advertising attorneys can be found here.

Legal Writer

Tamara is a certified copywriter and editor with over four years of experience writing legal content for some of the U.S.' best-known law firms, marketing agencies and legal service providers. She has crafted thousands of practice pages, FAQs, blog posts, case studies and long-form articles on topics such as personal injury law, mass torts and criminal law.