Carmel Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Your Attorney Moves Fast To Secure Justice

Building a strong drunk-driving injury case requires more than simply pointing to a BAC number or an OWI arrest. At Christie Bell & Marshall, we treat every impaired-driving crash as a multi-layered investigation — one that demands speed, precision, and an understanding of how evidence degrades or disappears if you wait too long. Our process is designed to move as quickly as the evidence requires:

• We obtain the police crash report and any OWI test results or refusals, which can indicate probable impairment even without a conviction.
• We request officer bodycam video and 911 dispatch recordings before they cycle out of the retention system, often within 30 to 90 days.
• We collect intersection and business-security footage, particularly near Keystone Parkway and Rangeline Road, where weekend and late-night collisions are common.
• Our team preserves vehicle EDR (“black box”) data showing braking force, speed, and throttle position seconds before impact.

This combination of digital and testimonial evidence lets us prove not only that the driver was impaired but also that their behavior — whether speeding through a yellow or drifting out of lane — directly caused the crash. When the evidence supports punitive damages, we document every aggravating factor to strengthen negotiation leverage from the start.

Our Accident Attorneys

Tina M. Bell

Partner

Meet Lee C. Christie

Partner

Laura J. Conyers, RN

Associate

Meet Kevin P. Farrell

Of Counsel

Meet Kathy A. Lee

Retired

Meet Kyle L. Christie

Partner

Katherine M. Marshall

Partner

Christopher D. Simpkins

Associate

Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500

Common Ways Impairment Harms Carmel Drivers

Most Carmel drunk-driving cases share patterns familiar to our firm: intersection failures, nighttime speeding, and disregard for basic traffic laws. Our car accident attorneys frequently see:

• Rear-end impacts near high-traffic lights where slowed traffic meets an impaired driver’s delayed reflexes.
• Red-light and failure-to-yield violations in commercial corridors such as 116th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway.
• High-speed lane departures on U.S. 31, often late at night when fatigue compounds intoxication.
• Hit-and-run crashes, where drivers flee to avoid OWI charges.

Even in poor weather, intoxicated motorists remain responsible for adjusting their speed and following distance.

When impairment is suspected but not immediately proven, we work with accident reconstructionists and toxicology experts to establish the driver’s condition at the time of impact. Our goal is to connect every piece of evidence, from erratic driving patterns to post-crash statements, so that liability is clear and insurers cannot minimize fault.

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How We Prove Liability in Drunk Driving Cases

When a drunk or drug-impaired driver causes a collision in Carmel, liability doesn’t stop with the person behind the wheel. Our attorneys trace every decision and every policy failure that led to the crash. That means evaluating whether an employer allowed unsafe driving on company time, if a vehicle owner negligently entrusted their car to someone impaired, or whether a bar or private host overserved alcohol before the wreck. Indiana’s dram shop laws, explained under Indiana Code § 7.1-5-10-15.5, make those third parties liable only under specific evidence — and we know how to find it.

We build that proof through OWI testing results, timestamped receipts, digital activity, and traffic camera data, often reconstructing the driver’s exact path before the collision. In one recent Carmel case, we combined BAC testing with local surveillance to establish intoxication even though the driver initially refused the test.

Those details matter — and we collect them before the defense can dispute them.

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Your Rights Under Indiana Law

Indiana’s legal framework provides specific protections and pathways for drunk driving injury victims. Understanding these rights helps you make informed decisions about your claim:

• Two-year statute of limitations — Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash date under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, though shorter deadlines apply to claims involving public entities or wrongful death.
• Modified comparative fault protection — You can recover compensation if you are less than 51% at fault, with your award reduced proportionally to your share of responsibility.
• Access to punitive damages — When a drunk driver’s conduct is extreme, Indiana law allows punitive damages under IC § 34-51-3-4, which can strengthen settlement negotiations.
• Right to full documentation — You are entitled to obtain police reports, OWI test results, and crash reconstruction evidence to support your claim.
• Protection from insurer tactics — Indiana law prohibits certain unfair settlement practices, giving you leverage when insurers attempt to minimize your claim.

These protections exist to level the playing field after a drunk driving crash. At Christie Bell & Marshall, we use every available legal tool to ensure your rights are preserved and your claim reflects the full scope of harm caused by the impaired driver.

What We Fight to Recover for Your Drunk Driving Accident Case in Carmel

The impact of an impaired driving crash isn’t limited to the ER bill — it affects employment, independence, and long-term health. Our approach to damages covers every measurable harm:

• Medical care for emergency transport, hospitalization, and post-surgical rehab.
• Future treatment, including pain management, therapy, or reconstructive procedures.
• Income loss and reduced earning capacity, evaluated with economic and vocational experts when permanent impairment is likely.
• Out-of-pocket costs, from transportation to household assistance during recovery.
• Non-economic damages such as pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Every claim is built around documentation. Your drunk driving accident attorney will track missed work days, verify wage loss, and coordinate treating specialists to create a comprehensive record that aligns with Indiana’s evidentiary standards.

Start Your Free Carmel Drunk Driving Case Review

If you or someone you love was injured by an impaired driver, the first step is simple — reach out. Christie Bell & Marshall will review your police report, medical documentation, and insurance communications to identify immediate strengths and weaknesses in your claim. You can start a conversation about your case anytime through our consultation form or by calling our office directly.

FAQs About Drunk Driving Accident Cases in Carmel

What should I do first after a drunk driving crash?

Get emergency medical care even if you think you feel fine — concussion, internal bleeding, or spinal injuries can appear hours later. While treatment is underway, try to preserve key proof: photos of the vehicles, the intersection, and visible injuries, plus contact information for witnesses. If the responding officer performed or requested OWI testing, that data becomes critical in your civil case, and our team can request those results directly through the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office or police records unit. Once your immediate safety is secured, contact a lawyer before speaking with any insurance representative.

Do I have a case if there was no OWI arrest or conviction?

Yes. Civil liability for negligence doesn’t depend on a criminal conviction. We often win cases even when an arrest didn’t occur because the burden of proof is lower in civil court. Our firm uses field sobriety data, witness descriptions, surveillance footage, and forensic crash reconstruction to show impairment and fault.

Can I recover damages if I’m partially at fault?

Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, you can still recover compensation if you are less than 51% at fault for the crash. Your recovery is reduced in proportion to your share of responsibility. For example, if a jury finds you 20% at fault because you were speeding but the drunk driver caused the impact, your compensation would be reduced by that amount.

Will my case go to trial?

Most drunk driving claims settle, but at Christie Bell & Marshall, we prepare every case as if trial were certain. That approach allows us to negotiate from strength because insurers know we’re ready to present evidence, witnesses, and expert testimony to a jury if settlement discussions stall. When punitive damages are justified — such as when a driver’s BAC far exceeds legal limits or when they’ve caused previous alcohol-related crashes — our firm moves aggressively to preserve that claim and use it to strengthen your overall compensation.