Indiana Car Accident Laws: Your Legal Duty After an Accident

Discover your legal duties after a car crash in Indiana, including exchanging information, rendering aid, and reporting the accident.

If you are involved in an auto accident in Indiana, it’s important to understand the laws and your legal duties. There can be serious consequences if you fail to comply with your responsibilities after a car crash.

This article will provide an overview of key Indiana car accident laws and what you need to do after a collision. To learn more, you can also review Article 26 of the Indiana Motor Vehicle Code.

1. Indiana Driver Exchange of Information Law

If you are involved in an accident, Indiana law requires you to exchange information with the other people involved. First, you must stop your vehicle at the scene, taking care not to obstruct more traffic than is necessary.

Once stopped, you must remain at the scene until you provide your name, address, and vehicle registration number to any person involved in the accident. You must also exhibit your driver’s license to any person involved who asks to see it.

The operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately stop the operator’s motor vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible in a manner that does not obstruct traffic more than is necessary.

The operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident shall remain at the scene of the accident until the operator does the following:

  • Gives the operator’s name and address and the registration number of the motor vehicle the operator was driving to any person involved in the accident.
  • Exhibits the operator’s driver’s license to any person involved in the accident or occupant of or any person attending to any vehicle involved in the accident.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

2. Indiana Car Accident Injury Law: Duty to Render Aid

In Indiana, you must render aid if you’re involved in a car accident that injures or kills someone. This means that you must provide reasonable assistance to an injured person if an officer, medical personnel, or a 911 telephone operator instructs you to. You must also assist anyone who was trapped by the accident if directed to do so.

If the accident results in the injury or death of another person, the operator shall provide reasonable assistance to each person injured in or entrapped by the accident, as directed by a law enforcement officer, medical personnel, or a 911 telephone operator.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

3. Indiana Law on Reporting a Car Accident to Police

Indiana law says that if you get into an accident causing injury or death, you must notify local law enforcement or ask someone else to. You can fulfill your obligation by contacting a local police department, county sheriff’s office, state police post, or 911 operator as soon as possible.

If the accident results in the injury or death of another person, the operator shall, as soon as possible after the accident, immediately give notice of the accident, or ensure that another person gives notice of the accident, by the quickest means of communication to one of the following:

  • The local police department, if the accident occurs within a municipality.
  • The office of the county sheriff or the nearest state police post, if the accident occurs outside a municipality.
  • A 911 telephone operator.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

What if I Fail to Report an Accident in Indiana?

In Indiana, it is generally a Class B misdemeanor to fail to comply with your duties after an accident. However, if you fail to report an injury accident, it is a Class A misdemeanor. Likewise, you can be charged with a felony if you don’t report an accident causing moderate, serious, or catastrophic injury or death.

An operator of a motor vehicle who knowingly or intentionally fails to comply commits leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor.

However, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the accident results in bodily injury to another person; a Level 6 felony if the accident results in moderate or serious bodily injury to another person; a Level 4 felony if the accident results in the death or catastrophic injury of another person; and a Level 3 felony if the operator fails to comply after operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, death, or catastrophic injury.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

4. Indiana Car Accidents With No Injuries: Your Legal Duty

Under Indiana law, when you are involved in an accident with no injuries, you must move your vehicle off the highway, if possible. However, you must only do so if you are certain that the accident did not hurt or kill anyone.

Once you move your vehicle, you must remain on the scene and exchange information with the other driver.

The operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately stop the operator’s motor vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible in a manner that does not obstruct traffic more than is necessary.

The operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident shall remain at the scene of the accident until the operator does the following:

  • Gives the operator’s name and address and the registration number of the motor vehicle the operator was driving to any person involved in the accident.
  • Exhibits the operator’s driver’s license to any person involved in the accident or occupant of or any person attending to any vehicle involved in the accident.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

If, after an operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident, the operator’s motor vehicle comes to a stop in the traveled portion of a highway, the operator shall, as soon as safely possible, move the motor vehicle off the traveled portion of the highway and to a location as close to the accident as possible.

However, the operator shall not move the motor vehicle if the accident involves the transportation of hazardous materials; or results in injury or death of a person or the entrapment of a person in a vehicle.

IC 9-26-1-1.2

5. What if I Hit a Parked Car in Indiana?

When you hit a parked car in Indiana, the law requires you to take “reasonable steps” to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the damaged vehicle. If you are unable to find the owner, you must contact a law enforcement officer or agency to report the accident.

If the accident involves a collision with an unattended vehicle, the operator shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the damaged vehicle; and if after reasonable inquiry the operator cannot find the owner or person in charge of the damaged vehicle, the operator must contact a law enforcement officer or agency.

IC 9-26-1-1.1

In the event of a car accident, it is important to know what Indiana law requires of you. Failing to fulfill your legal duties can result in penalties and even jail time. By understanding your obligations under Indiana law, you can protect yourself from these consequences after a collision.