In Indiana, the general statute of limitations for filing a truck accident claim is two years from the date the incident occurred. If you fail to initiate a lawsuit within this window, the courts will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to recover any compensation. This two-year limit applies to most private sector accidents, such as those involving commercial delivery vans or long-haul semi-trucks owned by private carriers.

However, the timeline changes if the truck involved was owned or operated by a government entity. For accidents involving city, county, or state-owned vehicles, you must first file a formal Tort Claim Notice. This notice serves as an official warning to the government that you intend to seek damages. 

• For claims against a city or county, this notice must be filed within 180 days of the accident. 
• If the claim is against the State of Indiana, the window is slightly longer at 270 days. 

For victims who were minors at the time of the crash, the two-year clock generally doesn’t begin to run until they reach their 18th birthday. Similarly, if a person is considered under a legal disability (such as being mentally incapacitated), the timeline may be paused until that disability is removed.