Rear-End Accident Attorney - Christie Bell & Marshall

How We Build a Fort Wayne Rear-End Accident Claim

Rear-end crashes are the cases insurance companies think they can close quickly and cheaply. The adjuster calls within days, offers a number based on your first emergency room visit, and hopes you accept before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Most people do. That is how insurers save money on claims that are worth significantly more.

Personal injury is all we do, and we refuse to play that game. From the moment you partner with us, we will build your case on what matters by:

Securing the police report and crash data. The Fort Wayne Police Department creates official records that anchor the facts of your crash. We obtain these early and analyze them for errors before they affect your claim.
Gathering video from the scene. We act quickly to request footage before it is overwritten.
Locking in witness accounts. Passengers, bystanders, and other drivers who observed the crash provide accounts that often contradict the at-fault driver’s version before the insurance company has a chance to frame the narrative.
Documenting your injuries completely. Rear-end crashes routinely cause cervical and lumbar spine injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and soft-tissue damage that progresses over days and weeks. We work closely with your treating providers to make sure your records clearly tie your conditions to the crash rather than leaving gaps for an insurer to exploit.
Identifying all sources of coverage. Beyond the at-fault driver’s policy, we evaluate your own underinsured motorist coverage, any employer liability if the driver was working, and other policies that may apply.

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

Compensation You May Be Entitled To After a Head-on Collision

Indiana law allows rear-end accident victims to pursue full economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver. What you can recover depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical trajectory, and how clearly your losses are documented.

Economic damages include all medical expenses: Emergency care, hospitalization, physical therapy, specialist visits, prescription costs, and future treatment if your injuries require ongoing care. They also include wage loss during recovery and, where injuries affect your earning capacity long-term.

Non-economic damages address what the numbers do not fully capture, such as the pain and suffering of living with a serious injury, the anxiety and disruption to your daily routine, and the activities affected by your limitations. Insurers work hardest to minimize these, and having an experienced Fort Wayne head-on attorney who knows how to document and present non-economic harm changes the outcome.

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Get in Touch With a Fort Wayne Head-On Collision Attorney at Christie Bell & Marshall

We focus exclusively on serious injury cases. Rear-end crashes that cause real harm — injuries requiring surgery, extended recovery, missed work, lasting limitations — deserve lawyers who invest in full case development rather than pushing for quick settlements. When you hire Christie Bell & Marshall, you get direct attorney access, a team that investigates thoroughly, and representation built to hold up in negotiations and in court.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Head-On Accidents in Fort Wayne

What is Indiana’s following-distance law, and how does it apply to my case?

Indiana Code § 9-21-8-14 requires drivers to maintain a safe following distance based on speed, traffic, and road conditions. When someone rear-ends you, they are presumed to have violated this law. That presumption supports your claim, but the insurance company may still dispute fault by arguing you stopped suddenly or that road conditions made stopping impossible. An attorney helps you counter those arguments with evidence.

Can I still recover if I stopped suddenly before being hit?

Often yes. Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault but does not bar it unless you are found 51 percent or more responsible. A sudden stop does not automatically mean you bear significant fault — the following driver is expected to maintain enough distance to stop safely regardless of your brake behavior. We analyze the specific facts and fight to keep your assigned fault share as low as the evidence supports.

What if the insurance company says my injuries are pre-existing?

This is one of the most common tactics in rear-end cases. Insurers look for any prior neck, back, or head condition in your medical history and attempt to attribute your current symptoms to that history rather than the crash. We work with your treating providers to document exactly how the accident changed or worsened your condition, making the causal connection clear and difficult to dispute.

How long do I have to file a claim in Indiana?

Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline is firm — missing it eliminates your right to recovery. However, the investigation and evidence gathering should begin much sooner. Waiting diminishes the value of your case even before the legal deadline is reached.

Do I have to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company?

No. You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and doing so before you have legal representation is almost always a mistake. Adjusters ask questions designed to elicit statements about your awareness of the hazard, your speed, or the severity of your injuries — all of which can be used to reduce your recovery. Speak with an attorney first.

What if the driver who hit me had minimal insurance coverage?

If the at-fault driver’s policy limits are insufficient to cover your damages, your own underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. We evaluate all available policies and pursue every source of compensation available under the facts of your case.

Professional, very knowledgeable, and realistic.

“From my first telephone conference with Mr. Christie to the settlement of my case, I found Lee and his office staff to be professional, courteous, and extremely helpful. Mr. Christie is professional, very knowledgeable, thorough, and realistic.”

Debi W.-

Simply the best.

“Tina Bell is the best. She continued to pursue the case resulting in an agreeable settlement.”

J. Humphreys-

Truly kind and had best interest at heart.

“Lee Christie represented my parents after an auto accident and he was wonderful! He always answered any questions or concerns we had and I would recommend him to anyone!”

Susanne S.-

Very compassionate & caring in a stressful situation.

“Lee Christie and Jill DuVall were very compassionate and caring in a stressful situation. They always answered our questions promptly, sometimes very late in the evening.”

Cheryl W.-

I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulder.

“They were professional, yet very personally involved in our case. After hiring them, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulder so I concentrate on taking care of my husband.”

Former Client-

Fort Wayne Rear-End Accident Attorney