When should you call a lawyer after an accident in Indiana? That’s the question Indiana crash victims ask us most — and the answer is more time-sensitive than most people realize. It’s time for today’s Keller Edge Legal Minute, sponsored by Keller & Keller. In this week’s video, managing partner Jim Keller breaks down exactly what he tells clients.
Deadline To Claim: Jim Keller’s Legal Minute
When to Call a Lawyer After an Accident: The Two-Month Rule
Jim is direct about the timeline: generally, it’s okay to wait one to two months after an accident before calling a lawyer. Beyond that window, though, you start losing the advantages that make a claim stronger. Witness memories fade, evidence disappears, and insurance adjusters get further ahead in building their side of the story.
Because of that, early legal advice is one of the simplest ways to protect a claim before it weakens. If you haven’t already, review the steps to take right after a car accident in Indiana.
Why Indiana’s Statute of Limitations Makes Timing Critical
Most people know this deadline as the statute of limitations. In Indiana, it isn’t just one rule — there are pages of statutes of limitations, plus case law that further defines them. In general, though, a statute of limitations sets a point in time, measured from the date of the accident, after which you’re legally barred from filing a claim against the person at fault.
Miss it, and the strength of your case stops mattering. That’s exactly why Jim recommends deciding when to call a lawyer after an accident sooner rather than later — see Indiana’s standard two-year filing deadline for the specifics.
The Six-Month Mark: When a Tort Claim Notice Can Be Blown
Here’s where it gets urgent. At around six months, claims against a government entity can be barred entirely if a required tort claim notice isn’t filed — a separate, faster clock than the standard two-year deadline. As a result, Indiana’s Tort Claims Act notice requirement can give you as little as 180 days depending on who’s at fault.
That’s the practical reason Jim gives the same advice every time: call within two months, not six.
Talk to a Keller & Keller Attorney Today
So, when to call a lawyer after an accident? Jim’s answer is simple — within two months, every time, to protect your claim before deadlines start working against you.
Reach Jim and the Keller & Keller team at 1-800-2KELLER or visit www.2keller.com to get started.
