Common Causes of Car Accidents in Huntington, Indiana: Understanding Your Personal Injury Rights

 

Motor vehicle accidents in Huntington, Indiana often stem from a combination of environmental factors and driver behaviors that can lead to serious injuries and complex legal claims. The city's mix of rural roads, busy commercial areas along Jefferson Street, and high-traffic corridors near Huntington University creates unique accident risks. Common causes include distracted driving, particularly around busy intersections like West Park Drive and North Jefferson Street, weather-related incidents during harsh Indiana winters, and speeding on rural county roads. These accidents can result in devastating consequences, from traumatic brain injuries to spinal cord damage, leading to substantial medical expenses and lost wages. When these accidents occur due to another driver's negligence, victims may have grounds for personal injury claims to recover damages and ensure accountability.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Indiana operates under a modified comparative fault system, following the 51% rule, which significantly impacts accident victims' ability to recover damages. Under Indiana Code § 34-51-2-6, you can pursue compensation as long as you're found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident. The state mandates minimum liability insurance coverage of 25/50/25 ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage). Victims must file personal injury claims within Indiana's two-year statute of limitations from the accident date. Compensation may include economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress). In cases involving commercial vehicles or government entities, additional regulations and shorter filing deadlines may apply. An experienced Huntington personal injury lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Types of car accident lawyers in Huntington include:

Based on general traffic safety data and patterns typical for small Indiana cities like Huntington, here are 10 common causes of car crashes:

  1. Distracted driving, particularly texting while driving on major routes like Jefferson Street and Broadway Street
  2. Failure to adjust driving for winter weather conditions, especially during heavy snowfall that's common in northern Indiana
  3. Running stop signs or red lights, particularly at busy intersections like Jefferson Street and Cherry Street
  4. Speeding, especially on State Road 5 and US Highway 24 where drivers often exceed posted limits
  5. Drunk driving incidents, which tend to increase during local events and weekends
  6. Rear-end collisions due to tailgating, commonly occurring in downtown Huntington during rush hour
  7. Failure to yield right-of-way, particularly at the numerous four-way stops throughout residential areas
  8. Poor visibility during early morning fog or severe weather, which is common in the region
  9. Driver fatigue, especially on longer stretches of highways connecting to Fort Wayne
  10. Unsafe lane changes, particularly near shopping areas and commercial districts along North Jefferson Street

Related Resources

Local Courts

  • Huntington County Circuit Court
    • 201 N Jefferson St, Huntington, IN 46750
    • (260) 358-4812
  • Huntington County Superior Court
    • 201 N Jefferson St, Huntington, IN 46750
    • (260) 358-4814

Support Services

  • Huntington Police Department Accident Reports Division
    • 300 Cherry Street, Huntington, IN 46750
    • (260) 356-7110
  • Parkview Huntington Hospital Trauma Services
    • 2001 Stults Road, Huntington, IN 46750
    • (260) 355-3000
  • Huntington County Victim Assistance Program
    • (260) 358-4825

Official Resources

Most recent accident reports

In the early morning hours of Thursday, a weather-related crash on County Road 17 in DeKalb County, Indiana resulted in injuries to two drivers.

Date: 
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Roadway: 
County Road 17
Type: Car Accident

 

A serious single-vehicle accident occurred Wednesday evening near Homestead High School in Allen County, Indiana, leaving the driver in critical condit

Date: 
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Type: Car Accident

A bicyclist was transported to the hospital following a collision with a vehicle during the evening hours of Monday in New Haven, Indiana.

Date: 
Monday, December 30, 2024
Roadway: 
Green Road

 

In a tragic early morning incident on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, a man lost his life in a single-vehicle rollover crash on West Washington Center Road in Fort

Date: 
Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash Claims Two Young Lives on County Road 300 W in Wabash County, Indiana

A tragic early morning crash on Sunday in Wabash County, Indiana r

Date: 
Sunday, December 15, 2024
City: 
Wabash, IN
Type: Car Accident

A significant collision between a Citilink public transit bus and another vehicle occurred at the intersection of Lafayette Street and East Lewis Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Date: 
Friday, December 6, 2024
Type: Bus Accident

A pedestrian was killed in a collision that occurred just before 6 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of State Boulevard and Crescent Avenue in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Date: 
Thursday, December 5, 2024

 

A tragic discovery was made Wednesday morning when construction workers found a fatal crash scene in a wooded area off Yohne Road near Fox Island County Park in

Date: 
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Roadway: 
Yohne Road
Type: Car Accident

Single-Vehicle DUI Crash Injures Man and Child on County Road 43 in DeKalb County, Indiana

Date: 
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Roadway: 
County Road 43
City: 
Auburn, IN

Fatal I-69 Rollover Crash in Allen County Claims Two Lives, Including Child

On Saturday evening, a devastating single-vehicle crash on Interstate 69 in Allen Count

Date: 
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Roadway: 
Interstate 69

Vehicle Crashes into Fort Wayne Home on Knollridge Drive, Driver Taken into Custody

In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 16, 2024, a residential proper

Date: 
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Type: Car Accident

Fatal I-69 Crash in DeKalb County Claims Life of Indianapolis Woman

A devastating collision on Interstate 69 in DeKalb County claimed the life of 22-year-old Mia S

Date: 
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Roadway: 
Interstate 69
Type: Car Accident

Fatal Head-On Collision Claims Life of Ohio Man on U.S. 20 Near Angola, Indiana

A devastating head-on collision on U.S.

Date: 
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Roadway: 
U.S. 20
City: 
Angola, IN