Vaughn Wamsley and his team bring knowledge of Indiana rideshare crash law, insurance protocols, and courtroom strategy. As your Carmel car accident lawyer, we act decisively on your behalf when an Uber wreck or Lyft accident occurs. We stand ready to guide you through Indiana’s legal standards to secure the compensation you deserve.
Rideshare crashes in Carmel demand focused attention, precise legal guidance, and authoritative advocacy. We bring all three. When you entrust us as your car wreck lawyer in Indiana, we bring local insight, technical understanding of Uber and Lyft policy periods, and more than a decade of experience in seeking justice for injured victims.
We evaluate every legal angle—from fault to coverage to Indiana’s comparative fault law—to build a strong case for you.
Carmel Rideshare Car Accident Lawyer: Coverage & Liability Under Indiana Law
Indiana drivers must carry at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. That minimum may not be sufficient. Big rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft step in depending on the driver’s status at the time. If the driver is offline, no rideshare coverage applies; only the personal policy is in effect.
If logged into the app but without a passenger, Uber/Lyft provides contingent liability: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage. If carrying a passenger or en route to pick up, $1 million liability applies, plus uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage of $1 million.
As your Uber wreck attorney in Carmel, we analyze the app status, request logs, trip requests, and local rules to determine which layer of coverage applies. We identify liable parties—rideshare driver, the company, a third-party motorist, or even vehicle or parts manufacturers if defects contributed to the crash.
Carmel Lyft Accident Lawyer: Building a Solid Claim
If you were riding with Lyft and injured, our team pursues compensation from Lyft’s policy when applicable, as well as from any at-fault driver’s insurer. We gather documentary proof: app data, police reports, medical records, income loss, and more. We understand that insurers will often offer lowball settlements.
As your Carmel Lyft accident lawyer, we reject insufficient offers and pursue full recovery, including future medical care, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage costs.
We prepare to litigate if necessary, using expert witness testimony, ride-share records, accident reconstruction, and other key evidence to build a compelling case.
Auto Accident Attorney in Carmel, IN: Statistics & Indiana Law Insights
Indiana sees roughly 200,000 car crashes annually. Between 2019 and 2022, Indiana averaged approximately 202,323 traffic crashes per year—about 554 accidents per day, or 23 per hour. In 2022, there were 206,936 crashes and 964 deaths, the highest in a decade. Non-fatal injuries averaged about 44,660 per year.
In 2024, Indiana reported approximately 200,176 crashes with nearly 926 traffic deaths and more than 3,281 serious injuries—the fatality rate was around 1.10 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Rideshare service growth has contributed to a 2–3% increase in urban collisions, according to studies, with rear-end crashes being prevalent among rideshare drivers.
As your accident attorney in Carmel, we utilize these statewide trends and local crash patterns to inform evidence collection, identify standard injury mechanisms, and pinpoint liability.
Car Wreck Lawyer in Indiana: What to Do After a Rideshare Crash
If you are hurt in a rideshare crash in Carmel, here’s what we recommend:
- Call 911 immediately and request emergency medical attention, even if the injuries seem minor—hidden injuries often become apparent later.
- Report the accident within the app (Uber or Lyft) to begin triggering the insurance response.
- Don’t admit fault or give recorded statements to insurers without us.
- Document the scene: take photos of the damage, road conditions, app screens, and gather witness information.
- Seek medical evaluation within 24 hours—this helps prove causation later.
- Get law enforcement to prepare a crash report—Indiana law requires reporting where injury or property damage exceeds $1,000.
- Contact us promptly—Indiana law allows only two years from the date of the crash under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4 to file a lawsuit.
As your auto accident attorney in Carmel, IN, we move fast to preserve evidence, meet all deadlines, and build your case before insurers can push low offers.
Accident Attorney in Carmel: Recoverable Compensation
We fight to recover for you:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost income and earning potential
- Pain, suffering, emotional trauma
- Property damage, vehicle replacement or repairs
- Rehabilitation, therapy, or home adjustments
We value both economic and non‑economic damages. We monitor Indiana precedent in Uber/Lyft crash verdicts and settlements to set realistic expectations and create persuasive strategies.
Comparative Fault in Indiana
Indiana applies a modified comparative fault rule: your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, unless you’re more than 50 % at fault—then you recover nothing. For example, a $100,000 verdict is reduced to $80,000 if you bear 20 % fault. We challenge unfair attributions of fault using expert testimony, accident reconstruction, app data timestamps, and witness statements.
Case Types We Handle
We handle a full range of scenarios:
- Passengers injured during an Uber or Lyft ride
- Other motorists hit by rideshare vehicles during pick‑up or en route
- Pedestrians or bicyclists injured by rideshare drivers
- Rideshare drivers injured while waiting for a ride (app on)
- Claims involving vehicle defects or maintenance failures
In each situation, we identify the applicable insurance layers, reconstruct the fault precisely, negotiate with insurers, and litigate if insurance companies stall or deny a fair recovery.
Why Choose Vaughn Wamsley as Your Car Wreck Lawyer in Indiana?
- Experience in Carmel: Local court procedures, opposing counsels, and road characteristics make a difference.
- Proven reconstruction ability: We work with top accident reconstruction specialists and ride-share data analysts.
- Experienced negotiators: We take on strong insurers like Uber and Lyft, demanding proper value.
- No upfront costs: We work on contingency—if we don’t win, you don’t pay.
- Clear communication: We keep you informed every step of the way.
- Authority on rideshare law: Our firm understands Indiana’s statutes, insurance thresholds, liability zones, and evidence requirements.
Rideshare Safety & Prevention Tips
Frequently, we advise clients (and communities) on prevention:
- Before entering a ride, verify that the license plate and name match your app.
- Wait indoors or in well-lit areas.
- Share ride details with someone you trust in advance.
- Use the app to report safety concerns promptly.
- After a crash, don’t delay—act to document and report correctly.
These best practices support legal protection after a crash too—not just personal safety.
Our Case Process for You
- We gather all relevant records: app dispatch logs, police and medical reports, photos, and witness details.
- We determine coverage layers: personal, contingent, or $1 million corporate rideshare insurance.
- We analyze fault, not only the rideshare driver, but also other parties and vehicle-related issues.
- We deliver an honest case evaluation and explain realistic compensation ranges.
- We demand compensation through negotiation, and if necessary, we will pursue litigation.
- We guide your medical care, meet all legal deadlines, and communicate transparently throughout.
We Can Help You Recover Compensation
At our firm, Vaughn Wamsley and our team focus exclusively on rideshare-related accidents in Carmel and central Indiana. Our in-depth understanding of Indiana’s comparative fault rules, insurance coverage thresholds, crash trends, and legal timelines makes a significant difference.
We invite you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency basis—no fee unless we win. Let us put our deep experience to work for you.
