Minors: the clock waits for 18
Under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 and related provisions, the statute of limitations for a minor's injury claim generally does not begin running until the minor turns 18. The minor then has two years from that birthday to file — giving a child injured well before adulthood a genuine opportunity to pursue the claim once they're legally able to act on their own behalf.
Fraudulent concealment: when the defendant hides their own fault
Indiana recognizes a genuinely important tolling rule for situations where the person responsible for an injury actively takes steps to prevent the injured party from discovering their involvement. Under Ind. Code § 34-11-5-1, where this kind of concealment occurs, the claimant generally has two years to file from the date that the responsible party's involvement is actually revealed — not from the date of the original injury. This protects someone from losing their right to sue simply because the wrongdoer successfully hid their role for an extended period.
Legal incapacity: the clock waits for competency
Under Ind. Code § 34-11-6-1, someone who is under a legal disability at the time of the injury — a recognized form of incapacity that affects their ability to manage their own legal affairs — generally has two years to file from the date that disability ends, rather than from the date of the original injury.
Where discovery genuinely matters
For most ordinary injury claims, Indiana's two-year clock starts on the date of the injury itself. The asbestos exposure rule is a real, specific exception: there, the clock instead starts when the person knew, or reasonably should have known, they suffered an asbestos-related injury, which can be many years after the actual exposure.
What doesn't pause the clock
A genuinely common and costly misunderstanding: actively negotiating a settlement with an insurance company does not toll or pause Indiana's filing deadline. The clock keeps running the entire time talks are ongoing, regardless of how close the parties seem to a resolution.