The Law Offices of David W. Holub represents people injured in car accidents in DeMotte, Indiana. We serve DeMotte and the rest of Jasper County from our office in Merrillville. Consultations are free. Call us at (219) 736-9700.
Car Accidents in DeMotte
DeMotte sits in Jasper County, where U.S. Route 231 and State Road 10 run together on the same stretch of road through the middle of town. That concurrency carries local traffic, farm trucks, and drivers passing through on their way between the Lafayette area and Lake County. Because two routes share the same pavement, a driver following one route’s signals may not expect turning traffic timed for the other, and rear-end crashes cluster near the downtown intersections where local streets feed in.
Where Crashes Happen in DeMotte
East of town, State Road 10 leads to Interstate 65 at Exit 230, an interchange most people in the area simply call the DeMotte exit. Truckers pull off here for fuel and food, and travelers heading toward Indianapolis or Chicago merge on and off at highway speed. The ramps see their share of merging crashes and rear-end collisions when traffic backs up at the top of the ramp during holiday weekends or bad weather.
Where Crashes Happen in DeMotte
DeMotte also sits at the edge of open farmland, and the county roads surrounding town carry a mix of commuter cars and farm equipment moving between fields. A driver rounding a curve behind a slow-moving tractor can misjudge the closing speed, especially at dusk, and that combination produces some of the more serious crashes in the area.
Drivers who live in DeMotte but work in Crown Point, Merrillville, or elsewhere in Lake County use US-231 and SR-10 as their main route out of town, so traffic builds in the early morning and late afternoon. Seasonal travelers passing through toward the Indiana Dunes add another layer of unfamiliar drivers to those same routes.
The crashes we see most often near DeMotte are rear-end collisions on the US-231/SR-10 concurrency downtown, merging crashes near the I-65 ramps at Exit 230, and collisions involving slow-moving farm equipment on the county roads outside town.
Indiana Law That Governs Your DeMotte Claim
Indiana gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. The rule is Indiana Code 34-11-2-4. Evidence fades fast, so it helps to start early.
Indiana uses a comparative fault system. You can recover as long as you were not more than half at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of the fault (Indiana Code 34-51-2-6).
Different, stricter fault rules apply when a government vehicle is involved. The Comparative Fault Act does not cover government defendants (Indiana Code 34-51-2-2), so the older contributory negligence rule applies instead, and any fault on your part can bar recovery completely. It helps to talk to a lawyer quickly in these cases.
Notice deadlines for government claims are short: as short as 180 days for a town, county, or other political subdivision (Indiana Code 34-13-3-8), and 270 days for a claim against the State (Indiana Code 34-13-3-6). US-231, SR-10, and I-65 near DeMotte are state-maintained routes, so this shorter deadline can apply.
Where Your DeMotte Case Is Filed
DeMotte has no court of its own for injury lawsuits. Jasper County’s Circuit Court and Superior Court both sit in the same courthouse, at 115 W Washington Street in Rensselaer, about 20 miles south of DeMotte. Most of the work happens through filings and negotiation long before anyone sets foot in a courtroom. See our page on car accident cases in Jasper County for more on how claims move through the county system.
What To Do After a Crash in DeMotte
Call the police and stay safe. A crash on the US-231/SR-10 concurrency downtown can back up traffic fast, so move to the shoulder if you can. Local police or the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department will write a report.
Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. A merging crash near the Exit 230 ramps often does not show symptoms for a day or two. Franciscan Health Rensselaer serves the DeMotte area.
Photograph the scene and your injuries, and get witness contact information. Be careful with the other driver’s insurer; an early offer rarely covers the full cost. Our Merrillville car accident page explains the claim process in more detail.
About the Law Offices of David W. Holub
Attorney David W. Holub has practiced personal injury law in Northwest Indiana for decades. He and attorney Katelyn Holub are licensed in Indiana and handle car accident claims from across Jasper County. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome; each case depends on its facts.
The Law Offices of David W. Holub serves all of Northwest Indiana from our office at 8403 Merrillville Road, Merrillville, IN 46410, about 35 minutes north of DeMotte via I-65. We do not have an office in DeMotte. Your first consultation can happen by phone, with video or in-person meetings in Merrillville when you are ready to move forward.
DeMotte Car Accident FAQs
What if I’m hurt in a crash near the I-65 exit by DeMotte?
Exit 230 sees a mix of highway speed and merging traffic, and fault often comes down to who had the right of way on the ramp. The crash report, along with any dashcam or witness footage, usually helps sort out what happened.
The other driver isn’t from Jasper County. Does that change my claim?
No. A crash in DeMotte is governed by Indiana law no matter where the other driver lives or where their insurer is based. An out-of-county insurer can slow communication, so it helps to have someone tracking the claim.
I was hit by a semi-truck near DeMotte. Is that different from a regular car accident claim?
Yes, in some ways. Commercial trucks carry added federal safety rules, and the trucking company’s insurance is usually involved early. These claims often turn on evidence like driver logs, so it helps to preserve that evidence quickly.
What does a car accident lawyer cost?
Consultations are free. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, so the fee comes out of any recovery. No recovery means no fee.
Talk With Our Office
If you have questions about your situation, you can contact our office to discuss it. Call (219) 736-9700 or send a message through our contact page.