317-488-5500
At Christie Bell & Marshall, we approach hit-and-run claims the same way we handle serious motor vehicle cases. We secure evidence immediately, track every deadline, and identify all available insurance coverage before adjusters control the narrative. With more than 40 years of experience, our Gary car accident lawyers know how to prove liability, document injuries, and hold insurers accountable when they try to use an “unknown driver” as an excuse to underpay.
Hit-and-run claims are not won by waiting to see what insurance does, but by treating the first few days like an active investigation, then turning that evidence into leverage when the insurer starts asking questions such as whether you really got hit or whether the crash was partly your fault. When you hire Christie Bell & Marshall, your lawyer will step in quickly to protect the case:
Our published case results include significant car crash recoveries, such as a $250,000 car accident settlement and a $750,000 settlement for an injured Uber passenger. These outcomes reflect a consistent approach: early investigation, deliberated evidence building, and pressure applied at the right time so insurers don’t speculate, delay, or undervalue the claim.
We invite you to schedule a free initial consultation to learn what to expect from your case.
Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500
What you do right after a hit-and-run accident can decide whether the case is successful. If you can do it safely, take these steps:
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A strong hit-and-run claim is built around proof that does not depend on the at-fault driver’s cooperation. Our approach typically includes:
Attorney Lee C. Christie regularly warns clients that the biggest mistake in hit-and-run cases is giving an insurer a clean timeline to attack, meaning gaps in medical care, missing documentation, or casual statements that sound harmless but get used later to argue you were not really hurt or not really struck. That is why our team focuses early on building a coherent record that matches the evidence, the injuries, and the policy language, so the claim is positioned to be paid at full value rather than negotiated down.
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Many people assume that if the driver is not identified, the case is over. In reality, the path often shifts to your own insurance coverage, and the outcome depends on how you present the claim, document your injuries, and how effectively you prevent the insurer from disputing the crash or minimizing your damages.
Depending on the policy and facts, compensation may come through:
Your hit and run attorney at CBM will show you the best options to pursue full compensation, even if the driver fled from the scene.
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault framework, meaning your recovery can be reduced by your share of fault, and you may be barred from recovery if you are more than 50% at fault. Timing also matters, as Indiana imposes strict deadlines on injury claims arising from motor vehicle crashes. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Although the statute of limitations can seem like ample time, delays often work against injured people. We recommend contacting an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after the incident, as missing the filing deadline (which can be shorter in some cases, such as when a government entity is involved) permanently ends your ability to pursue compensation, even if the driver is later identified or liability seems clear.
Additionally, from a practical standpoint, speed matters because the best evidence is often temporary: video overwrites, witnesses become harder to locate, memories fade, and vehicles get repaired before key damage details are documented. Moving quickly also helps your medical record tell the truth of what happened, because prompt evaluation and consistent care make it harder for insurers to argue that your symptoms came from something else.
Hit-and-run crashes are not rare, and the consequences can be severe. In a national traffic safety research note, NHTSA reported 2,932 fatalities in traffic crashes involving hit-and-run drivers in a year. When we value a claim, we look at the real-world cost of the crash, including the expenses you already paid, the care you still need, and the parts of your life the injury disrupted.
Depending on the specifics of the case, compensation can include:
Our goal is to document these losses in a way that is provable, credible, and hard for an insurer to dismiss.
If you were hit in Gary and the driver fled, you don’t have to navigate this alone. During a free consultation, a lawyer from our team can review what happened, identify the fastest ways to preserve evidence, evaluate which coverages apply, and explain what a strong next step looks like based on your injuries and the documentation available.
Contact us today to get started—there are no fees unless we win your case.
Yes. A missing plate changes how the case is built, but it does not automatically eliminate your claim, especially when the crash can be documented through a police report, physical damage evidence, witness statements, and coverage analysis that supports an uninsured motorist claim.
Partial fault arguments are common in hit-and-run cases. The most effective response is an evidence-based timeline that ties the scene, damage, and witness statements together clearly, then addresses any alleged fault with specifics.
You can notify your insurer promptly, but be careful about recorded statements and speculation. Adjusters often ask questions that sound routine but are designed to reduce the claim’s value, especially when the other driver is unknown.
Parking-lot hit-and-runs can still lead to legitimate claims. The key is documenting the scene, locating any available video quickly, and making sure the claim reflects the full extent of your losses and costs.
As soon as possible. Early involvement gives your attorney the best chance to preserve proof, structure the insurance claim correctly, and prevent avoidable mistakes that insurers later use to justify a low offer.
“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.”
“Tina Bell is the best. She continued to pursue the case resulting in an agreeable settlement.”
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
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