Indianapolis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Were you struck by a vehicle while walking in Indianapolis?
At Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, we help injured pedestrians in Indianapolis understand their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.
Forty-one pedestrians and cyclists were killed in Indianapolis in 2024. That number prompted the city to adopt a Vision Zero plan with the stated goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2035. But policy timelines do not help the person who was struck last week crossing East Washington Street, or the family still paying for a surgery that a distracted driver caused six months ago. Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers represents pedestrians injured by negligent drivers across Indianapolis, and we have been doing this work for over 37 years. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe nothing unless we recover money for you. Schedule a free consultation with an Indianapolis, IN pedestrian accident lawyer today.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Indianapolis, IN
A pedestrian accident, for legal purposes, is any collision between a motor vehicle and a person who is on foot. Walking, jogging, crossing the street, waiting at a bus stop. The injuries are almost always serious because a human body has no structural protection against a 4,000-pound vehicle traveling even at moderate speed. Nationally, NHTSA reported 7,080 pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads in 2024. Indiana moved in the wrong direction during that same period. Statewide pedestrian fatalities climbed 26 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the year before, even as the national trend showed a slight decline.
A pedestrian accident attorney in Indianapolis works to identify what the driver did wrong, establish liability, and pursue compensation from the responsible parties. These cases often involve disputes over who had the right of way, whether the pedestrian was visible, and how fast the driver was traveling. Indiana’s comparative fault rules mean that even if the pedestrian shares some responsibility, recovery may still be possible.
Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Indianapolis
Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers takes pedestrian injury cases across Indianapolis and Marion County. The circumstances vary, but the injuries are consistently among the most severe in any personal injury category.
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Crosswalk and intersection crashes. Indianapolis has hundreds of high-traffic intersections where turning vehicles and pedestrians share signal cycles. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked, violate Indiana law and bear liability for the resulting injuries.
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Hit-and-run accidents. A driver who strikes a pedestrian and leaves the scene commits a criminal act, but the victim still has civil options. Uninsured motorist coverage, surveillance footage, and law enforcement investigation can help identify the driver or provide an alternative path to compensation.
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Distracted driver collisions. Texting, phone calls, navigation apps, dashboard screens. The list of things that pull a driver’s attention from the road keeps growing, and pedestrians bear the consequences. We obtain phone records and digital evidence to prove the driver was not paying attention when they should have been.
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Wrongful death. When a pedestrian dies from injuries sustained in a collision, Indiana law allows the surviving family to file a wrongful death claim. These actions seek funeral expenses, lost future income, and compensation for the loss of the deceased’s companionship and support.
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Brain injuries. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle frequently suffers a traumatic brain injury from the initial impact or from striking the pavement. These injuries can cause permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, and a need for long-term rehabilitation.
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Spinal cord injuries. The force of a vehicle-pedestrian collision can fracture vertebrae, herniate discs, or sever the spinal cord entirely. Partial or complete paralysis is a real possibility, and the lifetime cost of treatment and care can reach millions of dollars.
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Impaired driver crashes. Alcohol and drugs reduce reaction time and judgment. When an impaired driver strikes a pedestrian, Indiana law may allow punitive damages on top of compensatory recovery.
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Backing and parking lot accidents. Large vehicles with poor rear visibility strike pedestrians in lots, driveways, and loading areas more often than most people realize. Children and older adults are disproportionately affected.
Indianapolis Pedestrian Accident Infographic
Why Choose Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers as My Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis, IN?
A Firm Built on Plaintiff-Side Trial Work
Donald W. Ward has been practicing in Indiana since 1954. He spent years as a Deputy Trial Prosecutor for Marion County before dedicating his career entirely to plaintiff-side civil work. He went on to serve as President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and received the Indiana Bar Foundation Legendary Lawyer Award in 2015.
Charles P. Ward graduated cum laude from Butler University and earned his J.D. from Indiana University in 1989. He has been named to Super Lawyers every year since 2005 and is listed among the Best Lawyers in America. Both attorneys hold AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, and both are recognized by the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association.
That is the kind of track record you want from a personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, IN. Ward & Ward has helped clients recover millions of dollars in injury cases. We handle every pedestrian accident claim on contingency.
What Is Important to Understand About a Pedestrian Accident Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Cases
Pedestrian injuries are expensive. The medical bills alone can be staggering, and for many victims the financial impact extends years beyond the accident itself. Indiana law allows recovery in several categories.
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Medical expenses. Emergency transport, trauma surgery, hospitalization, follow-up procedures, physical therapy, occupational therapy, prescription medications, and assistive devices.
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Lost wages and earning capacity. Income lost during recovery and, for victims with permanent injuries, the wages they would have earned over the rest of their career.
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Pain and suffering. The physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and diminished quality of life that follow a serious pedestrian injury.
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Wrongful death damages. If the pedestrian dies, the family may recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and damages for the relationship they lost.
Liability depends on fault. Indiana follows a modified comparative fault standard under Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6. If the pedestrian is partially at fault, the award is reduced proportionally. But if the pedestrian’s fault exceeds 50 percent, recovery is barred entirely. Insurers know this rule well, and they will look for any reason to assign fault to the pedestrian. Jaywalking, dark clothing, failure to use a crosswalk. A good attorney understands these tactics and knows how to counter them with evidence.
What Are Important Aspects of a Pedestrian Accident Case?
Pedestrian cases involve a set of issues that distinguish them from standard vehicle-on-vehicle collisions.
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Severity of injuries. The absence of any protective barrier means that even a low-speed impact can produce fractures, internal bleeding, or head trauma. These cases often involve higher medical costs and longer recovery timelines than other types of motor vehicle claims.
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Establishing driver negligence. The central question is whether the driver was paying attention, obeying the speed limit, and yielding as required. We collect police reports, traffic camera footage, cell phone records, dashcam video, and witness statements to answer it.
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Insurance company strategy. Adjusters frequently argue that the pedestrian contributed to the collision by crossing outside of a crosswalk, wearing dark clothing at night, or being intoxicated. Building a factual record early is the best defense against these arguments.
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Statute of limitations. Indiana gives pedestrian accident victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4. Wrongful death claims carry a separate two-year deadline measured from the date of death.
What Is the Pedestrian Accident Case Timeline?
Every case is different, but most pedestrian injury claims in Indianapolis follow a recognizable progression. According to Indiana traffic data, pedestrian and cyclist crash volumes remain high across the state, and courts in Marion County carry substantial caseloads.
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Medical treatment and stabilization. The injured person focuses on recovery while the legal team preserves evidence and documents treatment.
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Investigation. The attorney collects police reports, surveillance footage, witness contacts, and electronic data from the vehicle.
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Demand and negotiation. A demand is sent to the at-fault driver’s insurer. Many cases resolve during this phase.
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Lawsuit filing. If the insurer refuses fair compensation, a lawsuit is filed.
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Trial preparation and resolution. Ward & Ward prepares every case with the assumption that it may go to trial.
What Should You Bring to Your Pedestrian Accident Consultation?
The faster you can provide these materials, the sooner your attorney can evaluate the case and begin building it.
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The police report or incident number
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Medical records and bills from all treatment related to the accident
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Photographs of the scene, your injuries, and any road or weather conditions
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Names and contact information for witnesses
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Any communications from the at-fault driver’s insurance company
Your consultation with Ward & Ward is free and confidential.
Most Dangerous Locations for Pedestrian Accidents in Indianapolis
Indianapolis recorded 41 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in 2024. The city’s wide, high-speed corridors and lack of pedestrian infrastructure in many neighborhoods create conditions where collisions are foreseeable. The CDC has noted that pedestrian fatality rates in the United States rose 50 percent between 2013 and 2022, and Indianapolis mirrors that national trend.
Dangerous streets:
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East Washington Street (US-40), a high-speed commercial corridor where pedestrian crossings are far apart, and drivers regularly exceed posted limits
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38th Street between Guion Road and Keystone Avenue, with heavy foot traffic near retail and transit stops
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Michigan Street through the near east side, where narrow sidewalks and fast traffic leave pedestrians exposed
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Rockville Road on the west side, site of multiple fatal pedestrian hit-and-run crashes
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South Meridian Street near the downtown sports district, where foot traffic surges before and after events
Dangerous highways:
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US-31 (Meridian Street), which transitions from a high-speed arterial to a congested commercial road as it enters the metro, creating hazardous crossings
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US-36 (Rockville Road / Pendleton Pike), a commercial corridor with limited pedestrian infrastructure
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Interstate 465 interchange areas, where pedestrians navigate ramp traffic with minimal sidewalk access
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State Road 37, a high-speed route through the southeast side with growing pedestrian activity
Reach Out to Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Indianapolis, IN and across Indiana. Contact us to schedule a free case review with our Indianapolis pedestrian accident attorney.
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