People on foot and on bikes have the right to use Indiana’s roads and crosswalks safely. When a driver fails to yield, runs a light, or is distracted, the injuries to a pedestrian or cyclist are usually severe.
Indiana rules that protect pedestrians and cyclists
- Crosswalks: when traffic signals are not in place or not working, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk (IC 9-21-8-36).
- Drivers must use due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, including children and anyone who appears confused or incapacitated.
- Bicyclists riding on a roadway generally have the rights and duties that apply to drivers of vehicles (IC 9-21-11-2).
Common crash scenarios
- Drivers turning right or left through a crosswalk without looking
- Parking-lot and drive-through backing crashes
- Cyclists struck by passing vehicles or opened car doors
- Hit-and-run drivers, especially at night
- Large trucks making wide right turns at intersections
Insurance when you are on foot or on a bike
A pedestrian or cyclist can often make a claim against the driver’s liability policy. If the driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled, your own auto policy’s UM/UIM coverage may apply even though you were not in your car—check your policy and talk with a lawyer.
What to do
- Get medical care immediately.
- Call police; for a hit-and-run, report as many details as you can.
- Photograph the scene, crosswalk markings, signals, and your injuries.
- Keep your bike, helmet, and clothing.
- Ask nearby businesses about cameras quickly—footage is often overwritten.
Children and older pedestrians
Drivers are expected to take extra care around children, who may dart into the street, and around people who appear elderly, confused, or disabled. Claims for injured children may involve special rules for settlements, which often require court approval.
Parking lots and drive-throughs
Many pedestrians are hit in store parking lots, gas stations, and drive-through lanes by backing or turning drivers. Depending on the facts, poor lighting or layout may also be an issue for the property owner—see our parking lot injuries page.
Deadlines: generally two years to file suit (IC 34-11-2-4), and 180/270-day notice for government defendants. Comparative fault applies (IC 34-51-2).
Frequently asked questions
Do drivers have to stop for pedestrians in Indiana crosswalks?
When traffic signals are not in place or not in operation, Indiana requires drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk (IC 9-21-8-36).
Does my car insurance cover me if I’m hit while walking?
Often your UM/UIM and medical payments coverage can apply even when you were a pedestrian or cyclist, depending on your policy.
Can a cyclist be found partly at fault?
Yes. Cyclists have duties similar to drivers, and Indiana’s comparative fault rules apply.
Sources
- Indiana University Public Policy Institute (for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute), Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: Indiana Crash Facts 2024 (PDF; 2024 data from Indiana officer crash reports)
- IC 9-21-17-5 — official heading: “Walking or running into the path of a vehicle; prohibition.” A pedestrian may not suddenly walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is too close to yield.
- IC 9-21-11-2 — official heading: “Roadways; rights and duties.” Bicycle riders on a roadway have the rights and duties of drivers, with listed exceptions.
- IC 34-11-2-4 — official heading: “Injury or forfeiture of penalty actions.” An action for injury to a person or to personal property generally must be started within two years after the cause of action accrues.
- IC 34-51-2 — official heading: “Chapter 2. Compensatory Damages: Comparative Fault.” Indiana’s comparative fault chapter: a claimant’s own fault reduces damages in proportion, and recovery is barred if the claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone whose fault contributed (sections 5 and 6).
Indiana Code links open the official chapter PDF from the Indiana General Assembly (2026 Code); federal rules link to the current eCFR text.
More official links: Indiana accident resources · Indiana crash statistics · How to get your crash report
General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.