The Law Offices of David W. Holub represents people hurt in car accidents in Winfield, Indiana, one of the fastest-growing towns in Lake County. We serve Winfield and the rest of Lake County from our office in nearby Merrillville. Consultations are free. Call us at (219) 736-9700.
Car Accidents in Winfield
Winfield’s roads are trying to keep up with its growth. The town incorporated in 1993, largely to avoid being annexed by its larger neighbors, and it has grown from about 2,300 residents in 2000 to more than 7,000 by 2020, according to U.S. Census figures. NWI Times has reported Winfield as one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. New subdivisions keep going up, and each one adds more drivers to roads built for a much smaller town.
Randolph Street is Winfield’s main corridor, running past the town hall and through the center of town. It crosses both 109th Avenue and 117th Avenue, which carry a steady flow of local and commuter traffic. The intersection of 117th and Randolph has grown congested enough that the town’s own traffic study found individual lane groups operating well below an acceptable service level during peak hours. Winfield has planned a roundabout there, with construction expected around 2027, to help traffic move more safely. Until then, drivers should expect backups and sudden stops at that corner.
Where Crashes Happen in Winfield
109th Avenue has seen enough new home construction along its length that the town lowered the posted speed limit in parts of the corridor. Drivers used to the old, faster limit do not always adjust, which raises the risk of rear-end crashes when traffic slows for turning vehicles near the newer subdivisions.
U.S. 30 runs just south of town and pulls heavy retail and commuter traffic through the area. When U.S. 30 backs up, some of that traffic spills onto Winfield’s local streets, especially near subdivision entrances, where unfamiliar drivers and children playing near the road both add risk.
The crashes we see most from Winfield involve rear-end collisions on 109th Avenue near new construction, intersection crashes at 117th and Randolph, and crashes involving teen drivers who are new to roads in a town that has grown up quickly around them.
Indiana Law That Governs Your Winfield Claim
Indiana law gives you two years from the date of a crash to file a lawsuit. That rule comes from Indiana Code 34-11-2-4. Evidence and memories fade with time, so it is best to start the process well before that deadline.
Indiana follows a comparative fault system for most car accident claims. As long as you were not more than half at fault for the crash, you can still recover money for your injuries, though your award is reduced by your share of the fault. This comes from Indiana Code 34-51-2-6.
Different rules apply if a government vehicle, like a town truck or a school bus, was involved. Under Indiana Code 34-51-2-2, the comparative fault law does not apply to government defendants, so an older rule called contributory negligence controls instead, and any fault on your part can block your claim completely. The notice deadlines are shorter too, so it helps to talk with a lawyer quickly.
A claim against a town, city, or county requires written notice within as little as 180 days, under Indiana Code 34-13-3-8. A claim against the State of Indiana requires notice within 270 days, under Indiana Code 34-13-3-6.
Where Your Winfield Case Is Filed
Winfield has no court of its own, so injury lawsuits from a Winfield crash are filed in the Lake County court system. Most car accident cases go to the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, whose civil courtrooms sit in Hammond, Gary, and East Chicago. The Lake Circuit Court, which also hears civil cases, sits in nearby Crown Point, just a few miles west of Winfield, and many Winfield residents find it the more familiar courthouse.
Whichever courtroom handles your case, your lawyer takes care of the filing and scheduling. Most car accident claims settle before trial. For more on how nearby Crown Point crash claims proceed, see our Crown Point car accident page.
What To Do After a Crash in Winfield
Call 911 and stay at the scene if you can. A crash on Randolph Street or near the 117th Avenue intersection can back up traffic quickly, so move to a safe spot if possible. The responding officer will write a crash report that matters later.
Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine at first. Some injuries do not show symptoms for a day or two.
Photograph the vehicles, the roadway, and your injuries, and collect contact information from any witnesses, including neighbors from nearby subdivisions. Be careful with the other driver’s insurer. You do not have to give a recorded statement right away, and early offers rarely reflect the full cost of an injury. Our Merrillville car accident page walks through the claim process in more detail.
About the Law Offices of David W. Holub
David W. Holub and Katelyn Holub are Indiana attorneys who have handled personal injury cases in Northwest Indiana for decades, including cases for clients from Winfield and the surrounding Crown Point area. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome; each case depends on its facts.
We do not have an office in Winfield. Our office is at 8403 Merrillville Road, Merrillville, IN 46410, about a 15-minute drive from Winfield by way of U.S. 30. Clients from Winfield meet with us in Merrillville.
Winfield Car Accident FAQs
What causes most crashes at 109th and Randolph or 117th and Randolph in Winfield?
New subdivisions have added a lot of traffic to roads that were not built for this much growth. The 117th and Randolph intersection is congested enough during peak hours that the town has planned a roundabout there. Rear-end and turning crashes are common at both corners.
My teenager was in a car accident in Winfield. What should I do?
A parent can usually pursue a claim on behalf of an injured child, and the at-fault driver’s insurance typically applies. If your teen was driving, a probationary license can carry restrictions, but that does not automatically bar a claim if someone else hit your child.
Are school-zone crashes in Winfield treated differently?
The same Indiana laws on fault and deadlines apply. What changes is the evidence. School-zone crashes often have more witnesses, including staff and other parents, and reduced speed limits can make it easier to establish that a driver was not paying attention.
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.