Carmel Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident changes everything in seconds. You’re driving through Carmel, heading to work or running errands, and suddenly—impact. Now you’re dealing with injuries, a damaged vehicle, and insurance adjusters who seem more interested in protecting their bottom line than helping you recover.

It’s overwhelming. The medical bills start arriving before you’ve even processed what happened. You might be missing work. And those insurance calls? They start almost immediately, often with offers that sound way too low.

At Pavlack Law, we’ve represented car accident victims throughout Carmel and Hamilton County for decades. We know Indiana’s traffic laws inside and out. We understand how insurance companies operate, and frankly, we’ve seen every trick they try to pull. We’ve secured millions in compensation for clients injured in crashes on Keystone Parkway, at 116th Street, on I-465, and throughout Hamilton County. Whatever happened to you, we’re here to help you get what you’re owed.

Why Choose Pavlack Law for Your Carmel Car Accident Case

After a crash, decisions come at you fast. Choosing the right attorney might be the most critical one. Here’s what makes us different:

Deep Understanding of Indiana Traffic Law: Attorney Eric Pavlack has been practicing personal injury law in Indiana since 1999. That’s over two decades of experience with the state’s modified comparative fault rules, local court procedures, and how Hamilton County Superior Court handles vehicle collision cases. He’s built relationships with judges and court personnel—relationships that matter when you’re fighting for fair compensation.

Proven Results in Vehicle Collision Cases: We don’t just talk about getting results. We’ve actually done it. 

We Handle Everything: The moment you hire us, we take over. All insurance company communications? We handle them. Evidence gathering? We’re on it. Accident reconstruction experts? We know who to call. Paperwork and legal filings? Done. You get regular updates, but your main job is healing—we’ll handle fighting for your compensation.

No Upfront Costs: We work on contingency. That means you pay nothing unless we win. Zero consultation fees. No retainers sitting on our desk. No hourly bills adding up. We advance all case costs ourselves, so there’s literally no financial risk in getting legal representation.

Trial-Ready Representation: Look, most car accident cases settle. But insurance companies know we’re not bluffing when we say we’ll take a case to trial. We’re admitted to practice in all Indiana state courts and federal courts. That flexibility matters when you’re pursuing maximum compensation.

Understanding Car Accidents in Carmel, Indiana

Carmel’s growth has been remarkable. The city’s prosperity and excellent quality of life attract new residents and businesses constantly. But that growth comes with a price—increased traffic density throughout the city. With roughly 102,000 residents and thousands of daily commuters passing through, vehicle collision rates in Hamilton County are significant. The latest Indiana Crash Facts data shows over 14,600 people involved in transportation-related crashes in Hamilton County alone.

Common Accident Locations in Carmel

We’ve represented clients injured at these high-traffic spots so many times that we know them intimately:

Keystone Parkway and 116th Street – This intersection is notorious. Heavy traffic all day long. The road configuration is complex, speeds are high, and honestly, it’s a recipe for accidents. We’ve seen everything from rear-end collisions to serious T-bone crashes here.

U.S. Route 31 Corridor – The main north-south artery through Carmel. Rush hour here can be brutal. Rear-end collisions are common when traffic suddenly slows. Sideswipe accidents happen when drivers try to change lanes aggressively.

I-465 Exits and Entrances – The beltway connects to several Carmel roadways, and the merging zones are particularly dangerous. High-speed collisions occur when drivers misjudge distances or speeds.

State Road 32 (136th Street) – This busy east-west route crosses multiple major intersections. T-bone accidents at these intersections can be devastating because of the limited side-impact protection in vehicles.

Carmel Roundabouts – Carmel’s famous for its roundabouts. They’re supposed to improve traffic flow, but they confuse a lot of drivers, especially visitors unfamiliar with how to navigate them properly. We’ve handled numerous cases involving roundabout collisions.

Range Line Road – Connects residential neighborhoods with commercial areas. Heavy daily traffic means frequent accidents, particularly at intersections and in parking lot entrances.

Understanding where accidents commonly occur helps us investigate cases more effectively. We know which intersections have visibility issues, inadequate signage, or problematic traffic patterns that may have contributed to your crash.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Every car accident has its own unique circumstances. But certain collision types occur more frequently in Carmel, and we’ve developed deep expertise handling them.

Rear-End Collisions

These are probably the most common accidents we see. Someone’s distracted, following too closely, or just doesn’t brake in time. Insurance companies love to downplay rear-end accidents as “minor fender-benders.” Don’t believe it. These crashes often cause serious neck and back injuries—whiplash, herniated discs, and spinal damage that can affect you for years.

Intersection Accidents

T-bone collisions and side-impact crashes at intersections are particularly dangerous. The side of your vehicle provides far less protection than the front or rear. We’ve seen catastrophic injuries from intersection accidents—broken bones, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries. These cases frequently involve drivers running red lights, making illegal turns, or failing to yield right-of-way. Proving fault requires careful analysis of traffic signals, witness statements, and sometimes video footage.

Head-On Collisions

Less common but often catastrophic. Head-on crashes typically occur when a driver crosses the center line because they’re distracted, impaired, or fell asleep at the wheel. These accidents demand thorough investigation to establish liability and often involve multiple experts.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Chain-reaction accidents involving three or more vehicles get legally complex fast. Who caused the initial impact? Did other drivers have time to avoid the collision? How did each person’s actions contribute to the overall crash? We work with accident reconstruction experts to establish the sequence of events and identify all liable parties.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Getting hit by a driver who flees the scene adds insult to injury—literally. It’s incredibly frustrating. But even if the at-fault driver isn’t found, you’re not out of options. We help you pursue compensation through your own insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. These claims require careful handling because you’re essentially pursuing a claim against your own insurance company.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Smartphones have made this epidemic. Texting while driving. GPS navigation. Eating. Putting on makeup. Talking on the phone. Unintended distractions can negatively affect drivers in ways that cause serious accidents. We obtain phone records, witness statements, and other evidence to prove distraction was a factor in your crash.

Impaired Driving Crashes

Drunk drivers and drugged drivers continue to cause devastating accidents on Indiana roads. When an impaired driver causes a crash, we pursue maximum compensation. In many cases, we also seek punitive damages to hold them accountable for such reckless, dangerous behavior.

Weather-Related Accidents

Indiana weather is notoriously unpredictable. Snow, ice, heavy rain, dense fog—they all create hazardous driving conditions. Now, weather may be a contributing factor, but drivers still have a legal duty to adjust their driving to road conditions. Proper tires are critical in Indiana, and we investigate whether inadequate tires or failure to drive safely for conditions caused the crash.

Common Injuries from Car Accidents

The forces involved in vehicle collisions are violent. Even crashes that seem relatively minor can cause serious injuries. We’ve represented clients suffering from:

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries: Super common in rear-end collisions. Insurance companies try to downplay these neck and back injuries constantly. “It’s just whiplash,” they’ll say dismissively. But anyone who’s dealt with chronic pain from whiplash knows it’s no joke. These injuries can require months or years of treatment.

Traumatic Brain Injuries: Head injuries from car accidents range from mild concussions to severe TBIs causing permanent cognitive impairment. The scary thing? These injuries may not show immediate symptoms after a crash. You might feel fine at first, then symptoms appear days or weeks later.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Common causes of spinal cord injuries include severe vehicle collisions. These catastrophic injuries often result in partial or complete paralysis. The medical costs alone can be staggering, not to mention the life-changing impact.

Broken Bones and Fractures: The impact of a collision frequently causes fractures—arms, legs, ribs, pelvis. Some breaks heal with casting. Others require surgery with plates, screws, or rods, followed by extensive rehabilitation.

Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and other life-threatening injuries that aren’t immediately visible. This is exactly why you need medical evaluation even if you think you’re fine after a crash.

Lacerations and Scarring: Broken glass, deployed airbags, impact with dashboards or steering wheels—all can cause serious cuts and permanent scarring. Facial scars particularly can have lasting emotional and psychological impacts.

Psychological Trauma: Many accident victims develop PTSD, anxiety, and depression following a crash. Some people develop a fear of driving or being in vehicles. These psychological injuries are real, they’re compensable under Indiana law, and they deserve to be taken seriously.

Whatever injuries you’ve suffered, we work with medical experts to document everything. The full extent of your damages needs to be clear—both current and future medical needs—before we’ll even consider settling your case.

What Your Case Is Worth

This is usually one of the first questions clients ask: “What’s my car accident case worth?” It’s a fair question. But the honest answer is—it depends on the specific factors of your situation. Indiana law allows you to recover both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages Include:

• Medical Expenses: Every dollar spent treating your injuries counts. Emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment, future medical care. All of it.
• Lost Wages: Income you’ve missed because you couldn’t work while recovering from your injuries
• Lost Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your ability to earn income in the future, that’s compensable
• Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the crash
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications if you’re disabled, household help you need during recovery—these expenses add up

Non-Economic Damages Include:

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain you’ve endured and will continue to experience
• Emotional Distress: Mental anguish, anxiety, depression, PTSD resulting from the accident
• Loss of Quality of Life: Not being able to enjoy activities and hobbies you participated in before the crash
• Disfigurement and Scarring: Permanent physical changes affecting your appearance
• Loss of Consortium: For your spouse, the loss of companionship and marital relations

During your free consultation, we’ll evaluate your specific circumstances. We’ll be honest with you about what your case might be worth based on our decades of experience handling similar cases.

Indiana’s Modified Comparative Fault Law

Understanding Indiana’s fault system is absolutely critical to your case. Under Indiana Code § 34-51-2-6, the state follows modified comparative fault. This means you can still recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. But there’s a crucial limitation.

You can only recover if you’re 50% or less at fault. Hit 51% or more? You get nothing.

Here’s a practical example. Let’s say you were making a left turn when another driver ran a red light and T-boned you. Seems straightforward, right? But the insurance company argues you should have seen them coming and waited. A jury eventually determines you’re 20% at fault and the other driver is 80% at fault. If your total damages are $100,000, you’d recover $80,000—reduced by your 20% share of fault.

Now here’s why this matters so much: insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to shift as much blame onto you as possible. They want to either reduce their payout or eliminate it entirely by pushing your fault percentage over 50%. It’s strategic. It’s calculated. And it’s exactly why you need experienced legal representation.

We build strong cases that accurately establish who caused the accident. We gather evidence from the crash scene, interview witnesses, obtain police reports, review traffic camera footage when available, and consult with accident reconstruction experts when necessary. Our goal is proving the other driver’s negligence while aggressively pushing back against any attempts to unfairly blame you.

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Crash

After a car accident, insurance adjusters will contact you quickly. Sometimes within hours. They’ll seem friendly, helpful, concerned about your well-being. They want to “help you through this difficult time.” They’ll use phrases like “we’re all on the same team here.”

Don’t buy it. These adjusters work for profit-driven companies whose primary goal is paying you as little as possible. That’s not cynicism—it’s reality. Their entire job performance is measured on how much money they save their company.

Common Insurance Company Tactics

Recorded Statements: Adjusters will ask for a recorded statement about how the accident happened. They’ll make it seem routine, just paperwork. What they’re really doing is trying to get you to say something they can twist and use against you later. Here’s the thing: you have zero legal obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.

Quick Settlement Offers: They’ll make an early, lowball offer hoping you’ll accept before you fully understand the extent of your injuries. They’re counting on you not knowing what your case is actually worth. Once you accept and sign that release, it’s over. You can’t come back for more money later even if your injuries turn out to be far worse than you initially thought.

Delaying Tactics: Sometimes they play the opposite game and drag out the claims process indefinitely. They’ll “need more documentation.” They’ll “have to review it with the committee.” They’re hoping you’ll get frustrated, desperate for money, and accept less than you deserve. Or just give up entirely.

Minimizing Your Injuries: Adjusters constantly argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim. Or that they’re unrelated to the accident. They’ll dig through your medical history looking for pre-existing conditions they can blame instead. “That back pain? Oh, you hurt your back five years ago, so this accident didn’t cause it.”

Social Media Surveillance: Insurance companies routinely monitor claimants’ social media accounts. They’re looking for that one photo of you smiling at a family gathering that they can take completely out of context. “She says she’s in pain, but look—here she is smiling on Facebook!” Never mind that you forced yourself to attend your daughter’s birthday party despite being in agony.

This is exactly why you shouldn’t accept the first insurance offer. Those initial offers almost never reflect the true value of your claim. They’re testing to see if you’ll take the bait.

How We Handle Insurance Companies

When you hire Pavlack Law, all communication with insurance companies goes through us. Period. We know their playbook because we’ve been fighting them for decades. We handle all negotiations while you focus on recovering. If they refuse to make a fair settlement offer? We’re fully prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. And they know it.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Carmel

What you do immediately after a crash can dramatically impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Here’s what you need to do:

At the Accident Scene:

1. Check for Injuries: Make sure everyone is okay. Call 911 immediately if anyone needs medical attention.
2. Contact Police: Call the Carmel Police Department at 317-571-2500 to report the accident. Get an officer to the scene to create an official report.
3. Document Everything: Use your phone to photograph all vehicles involved, damage to your car, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks, and any visible injuries. Take lots of photos from multiple angles.
4. Exchange Information: Get the other driver’s full name, contact information, insurance details, and license plate number. Don’t engage in arguments or heated discussions—just exchange information.
5. Identify Witnesses: If anyone witnessed the accident, get their names and phone numbers. Independent witness testimony can be crucial.
6. Don’t Admit Fault: Be polite and cooperative, but don’t apologize or say anything that could be interpreted as accepting blame. Even saying “I’m sorry” can be used against you.
7. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you think you’re fine, get evaluated by a doctor. Some injuries—particularly head injuries and internal injuries—don’t show symptoms immediately.

In the Days Following the Accident:

1. Follow Medical Advice: Attend every appointment and follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue you’re not really hurt.
2. Keep Detailed Records: Save every medical bill, every receipt, pay stubs showing lost wages. Document how your injuries affect your daily life—things you can’t do anymore, pain levels, sleep disruption, everything.
3. Avoid Social Media: Don’t post about the accident or your injuries on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, anywhere. Just stay off social media entirely until your case is resolved.
4. Don’t Sign Anything: Don’t sign any documents or accept any settlement offers from insurance companies without consulting an attorney first. Once you sign, it’s too late.
5. Contact a Car Accident Lawyer: The sooner you have legal representation, the better we can protect your rights and start building your case.

The Legal Process for Car Accident Cases

Understanding what to expect can reduce some of the anxiety about the legal process. Here’s how car accident cases typically unfold:

Step 1: Free Consultation

Your first meeting with us costs you nothing. We’ll sit down and really listen to your account of what happened. We’ll review whatever documentation you’ve got—police reports, medical records, photos, insurance correspondence. We’ll answer your questions honestly. And we’ll give you a realistic assessment of your case’s strengths and potential challenges.

We can meet at our office, talk by phone, or come to your home or the hospital if you’re unable to travel due to your injuries.

Step 2: Investigation and Evidence Gathering

Once you hire us, we jump right into building your case:

• Obtain the official police report (sometimes there are details in these reports that aren’t immediately obvious)
• Collect all your medical records and billing statements
• Photograph your vehicle damage thoroughly
• Interview witnesses before their memories fade
• Review traffic camera footage if available
• Obtain phone records if we suspect distracted driving played a role
• Consult with accident reconstruction experts when necessary
• Identify all potentially liable parties and available insurance coverage

Step 3: Medical Treatment and Documentation

While we’re investigating, you continue receiving medical treatment. We stay in close contact with your healthcare providers to understand the full extent of your injuries and what your prognosis looks like. It’s absolutely critical that you either reach maximum medical improvement or that we have a crystal-clear understanding of your future medical needs before we even think about settling your case.

Step 4: Demand and Negotiation

Once we’ve fully documented your damages, we calculate what your case is genuinely worth. Then we put together a comprehensive demand package for the insurance company that includes:

• Detailed narrative of how the accident occurred and why their insured is at fault
• Complete medical records and expert medical opinions about your injuries
• Documentation of wage losses and impact on earning capacity
• Photos and video evidence from the scene
• Witness statements
• Specific demand for compensation

Then we negotiate. Our decades of experience and solid reputation provide real leverage in these negotiations. Insurance companies know we’re not bluffing when we say we’ll take a case to trial.

Step 5: Litigation (If Necessary)

If negotiations fail to produce a fair settlement offer, we file a lawsuit in Hamilton County Superior Court. The litigation process includes:

• Filing the complaint and serving the defendant
• Discovery phase (both sides exchange information and documents)
• Depositions of parties, witnesses, and experts
• Expert witness preparation and reports
• Mediation attempts (court-ordered alternative dispute resolution)
• Trial preparation
• Trial if necessary

Most cases settle even after a lawsuit is filed. But we prepare every single case as if it’s going to trial. That preparation is exactly what gives us leverage to negotiate better settlements.

Step 6: Resolution and Recovery

Whether through settlement or trial verdict, once we’ve secured compensation for you, we handle all the final details. Resolving any medical liens or outstanding bills. Making sure all costs are properly accounted for. Getting you your money as quickly as possible so you can move forward with your life.

Indiana’s Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases

You have a limited window to file a car accident lawsuit in Indiana. The statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident. This deadline is strictly enforced by the courts. Miss it and your right to pursue compensation disappears forever—it doesn’t matter how serious your injuries are or how obviously the other driver was at fault.

There are a few exceptions worth knowing about:

• If you were under 18 when the accident occurred, the clock doesn’t start ticking until you turn 18
• If the accident involved a government vehicle or government employee, you must file a tort claim notice within 180 days for local government entities or 270 days for state agencies

Don’t wait and hope the insurance company will eventually do the right thing. They won’t. Evidence disappears. Witnesses’ memories fade. You may inadvertently say something to insurance adjusters that damages your case. The sooner you contact us, the better we can protect your interests.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carmel Car Accident Cases

How much does a car accident lawyer cost?

We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Zero upfront fees. No retainers. No hourly bills ticking away while we’re working. Our fee is calculated as a percentage of your recovery, which means our interests are completely aligned with yours—the more we recover for you, the more we earn. If we don’t win? You owe us nothing.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

You’re not out of luck. You can pursue compensation through your own insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. We help clients navigate these claims regularly. They can get complicated because you’re essentially making a claim against your own insurance company, but we protect your interests throughout the process.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

You can still recover compensation as long as you’re 50% or less at fault under Indiana’s modified comparative fault system. Your recovery will be reduced by whatever percentage of fault you carry, but you can still get substantial compensation for your injuries.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Almost never accept the first offer without at least consulting an attorney. Initial offers typically fall substantially short of what your claim is actually worth. Insurance companies are betting you don’t understand your case’s true value. Let us review any offer before you even consider accepting it. That consultation costs you nothing.

How long will my case take?

Every case is different, honestly. Some resolve within a few months. Others take longer, especially if we need to file a lawsuit. The timeline depends on factors like how seriously you’re injured, how long treatment takes, whether liability is disputed, and court scheduling. We work as efficiently as possible while ensuring we build the strongest case possible.

What if my injuries didn’t appear right away?

This happens more often than you’d think with car accident injuries. Whiplash, soft tissue damage, even some traumatic brain injuries don’t always show symptoms immediately. Adrenaline can mask pain right after a crash. Seek medical attention the moment symptoms develop, and make absolutely sure you tell your doctor these symptoms are related to the accident. As long as you file within the two-year statute of limitations and can establish medical causation, you can still pursue full compensation.

Will my case go to trial?

Most car accident cases settle without ever going to trial. However, we prepare every case as though a jury will hear it. This thorough preparation is what gives us real leverage in settlement negotiations. Insurance companies know we’re experienced trial attorneys who won’t back down. If we can’t negotiate a fair settlement? We won’t hesitate to take your case to court.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Time is genuinely critical after a car accident. Here’s why:

Evidence Disappears Fast: Skid marks fade within days. Debris gets cleared. Vehicles get repaired or totaled and crushed. The sooner we can investigate the scene and preserve evidence, the stronger your case will be.

Witnesses Forget: People’s memories of what they saw fade remarkably quickly. We need to interview witnesses while the accident is still fresh in their minds and before their recollection gets hazy or contaminated by other information.

Medical Documentation Matters: Seeking immediate medical care creates a solid record directly linking your injuries to the accident. Any delay in treatment hands insurance companies a weapon to argue your injuries either aren’t serious or aren’t related to the crash.

Insurance Company Tactics Begin Immediately: Adjusters move fast to contact accident victims before they’ve talked to attorneys. They want those recorded statements and quick settlements before you understand your rights or the full extent of your injuries.

Statute of Limitations: While you technically have two years to file a lawsuit, waiting too long can seriously jeopardize your case for all the reasons above.

Don’t delay. Contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, no cost, and it could make all the difference in your case.

About Pavlack Law

Attorney Eric Pavlack has devoted his entire legal career to representing people who’ve been injured throughout Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Biology in 1996, then earned his Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1999.

Eric’s been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Super Lawyer consistently from 2009 through 2025. He’s admitted to practice in all Indiana state courts, both U.S. District Courts (Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

His legal work has been featured in major media outlets including IndyStar, WRTV Indianapolis, WFYI Public Media, Chicago Tribune, and FOX59 Indianapolis. These aren’t just mentions—his cases have tackled significant legal issues that affect real people’s lives.

While we’re known for our car accident work, our firm handles all types of personal injury cases in Carmel, including truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, and wrongful death cases. With 50 years of combined experience across our three attorneys, we bring substantial expertise to every case we handle.

Eric and his wife Lorrie are proud parents of two college students. When he’s not in court or working on cases, Eric enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, tackling home improvement projects and woodworking, playing sports, and jamming on guitar in bands.

This personal touch extends throughout how we run the firm. We treat every client with genuine respect and attention because we understand that behind every case file is a real person dealing with real pain, real financial stress, and real uncertainty about what comes next.

Contact Pavlack Law Today

If you’ve been injured in a car accident anywhere in Carmel or Hamilton County, don’t try to face the insurance companies on your own. You need an experienced car accident lawyer who will fight for your rights and work tirelessly to get you maximum compensation.

At Pavlack Law, we offer:

• Free consultations with absolutely no obligation
• No upfront costs—we only get paid when you win
• Decades of hands-on experience handling car accident cases
• Proven results with millions recovered for car accident victims
• Direct access to experienced attorneys—not just support staff
• Genuine trial experience in Indiana courts

You have nothing to lose by calling us. We’ll give you straight, honest answers about your case and help you understand all your legal options.

Call Us 24/7 at: 317-733-5171

We’re available around the clock for emergencies. If you can’t travel because of your injuries, we’ll come to you—home, hospital, wherever you need us.

Don’t let insurance companies minimize what you deserve. Don’t settle for inadequate compensation. Don’t miss your window to hold negligent drivers accountable for what they’ve done.

Contact Pavlack Law today for your free consultation. Let us handle the legal fight while you focus on recovering from your injuries and getting your life back.

Remember: You pay nothing unless we win your case. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.