Atty. Michael Phelps
Michael “Mike” Phelps is a personal injury and wrongful death litigation attorney at Hankey Marks & Crider, representing clients with catastrophic injuries and the families of victims of wrongful death negligence in the fields of general personal injury, interstate trucking, defective products, and medical malpractice. Mike has tried well over 100 jury trials as lead counsel and co-counsel in both State and Federal Courts across Indiana.
Personal Injury & More Attorney · Serving Indianapolis, IN · 28+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Michael Phelps at a Glance
Michael Phelps is an Attorney based in Indianapolis, Indiana, practicing at Hankey Marks & Crider. They have 28+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1998. Their practice focuses on wrongful death and personal injury. Admitted to practice in Indiana (1998), United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (1998), United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (1998), and United States Supreme Court (2005). Educated at Capital University Law School (J.D., 1998) and Indiana University (B.A. Political, 1995). Active member of Indiana State Bar Association Indiana Trial Lawyers Association American Trial Lawyers Association. Serves clients in Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Michael Phelps in Indianapolis
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About Michael Phelps
- Michael “Mike” Phelps is a personal injury and wrongful death litigation attorney at Hankey Marks & Crider, representing clients with catastrophic injuries and the families of victims of wrongful death negligence in the fields of general personal injury, interstate trucking, defective products, and medical malpractice
- Mike has tried well over 100 jury trials as lead counsel and co-counsel in both State and Federal Courts across Indiana
- Some of Mike’s notable verdicts include a wrongful death verdict of $157,000,000
- auto negligence verdicts of $26,000,000, $5,600,000, $3,000,000 and $1,250,000
- a products liability verdict of $8,000,000
- and recent slip-and-fall verdicts of $4,000,000 and $800,000
- These represent just a small sampling of cases Mike has litigated over the course of his career
- Of particular note, he was lead counsel at trial and argued the seminal cases of Stanley v
- Walker, Humphrey v
- U.S
- Xpress Trucking and Reese v
- Tyson Fresh Meats before the Indiana Supreme Court
- Mike has also handled dozens of other reported appellate cases
- Mike is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, with degrees in Sociology and Political Science
- He graduated from law school in 1998 and earned his J.D., with honors, in only 2 ½ years from The Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio
- Prior to joining Hankey Marks & Crider in 2022, Mike’s legal career spanned 24 years in the personal injury and wrongful death arenas
- He began his legal career in 1998 defending various types of negligence and product liability cases until he switched sides in 2005
- A heart wrenching story about Mike “switching sides” was published in The Indiana Lawyer in 2011
- He was also featured in a 2009 Forbes article called “Legal Movers and Shakers,” following a successful trial in Lafayette involving a tragic, avoidable incident where a man was killed by a needlessly defective product
- Mike has also appeared on numerous local news stations, and even on Good Morning America, regarding his cases
- Mike has presented dozens of topics at many legal seminars, ranging from voir dire, closing arguments, calculating damages and the trial process
- For the past 9 years, he has presented the torts section at the Annual Indiana Law Survey, presented by the Indiana Supreme Court and Indiana Courts of Appeals
- Mike is active in the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association as a Sustaining Member and is on their Board of Directors, ITLA College of Fellows, the American Association for Justice, and The Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums
- Mike has been voted an Indianapolis Monthly Super Lawyer every year since 2012
- Mike was born and raised in Richmond, Indiana, and was a three-sport athlete growing up
- Mike and his wife Tina, of 27 years, are avid dog lovers, are active in the ASPCA, and they love to travel
- Mike is also a professional poker player, playing in various tournaments in Las Vegas annually and occasionally the World Series of Poker, calendar permitting
Practice Areas Explained
Michael Phelps's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Phelps handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Indianapolis.
Wrongful Death in Indianapolis
Michael Phelps is one of 30,932 wrongful death attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wrongful death attorneys in Indiana →
Personal Injury in Indianapolis
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Michael Phelps is one of 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Indiana →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Indianapolis
Practicing law in Indiana. Legal matters in Indiana are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Indianapolis are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Indiana state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Indiana brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Indiana courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Indianapolis Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Indianapolis-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Indiana attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Indianapolis or all attorneys in Indiana.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Michael Phelps
Where is Michael Phelps's law office located?
What practice areas does Michael Phelps handle?
How long has Michael Phelps practiced law?
Where did Michael Phelps go to law school?
How can I contact Michael Phelps for a consultation?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Indianapolis Choose Michael Phelps
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Michael Phelps's practice in the field of wrongful death and personal injury.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Michael Phelps brings 28+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Indiana, United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Michael Phelps can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering wrongful death and personal injury, Michael Phelps can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Indianapolis
A Indianapolis-based practice means Michael Phelps attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Michael Phelps Handles in Indianapolis
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Michael Phelps has experience with under Indiana law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Michael Phelps directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Search Reference
How People Find Michael Phelps Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Indianapolis commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Michael Phelps.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Michael Phelps directly.
Michael Phelps's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Michael Phelps
No reviews yet.