Experienced Back And Spinal Injury Attorneys In Northwest Indiana

After a back or spine injury, fault matters under Indiana personal injury law. Proving how an injury happened and who caused it can decide whether you receive compensation or are left paying costs yourself.

At Harper and Harper, LLC, we have continued to stand with injured people since 1983. Our family-owned firm serves Valparaiso and clients across Porter, Lake, LaPorte and Jasper counties, as well as those traveling from nearby Chicago. With over 100 years of combined experience, our team knows how injury cases are built, challenged and won.

Common Causes Of Back And Spine Injuries

Back and spine injuries often happen when someone else fails to act with care. We regularly see these injuries caused by:

Even low-speed impacts can cause serious spinal damage. Pain may not appear right away, but the injury is often already there, and delays in care or reporting can be used against you later. Building the claim correctly from day one protects both your recovery and your right to compensation.

Types Of Back And Spine Injuries We Handle

“Back and spine injury” covers a wide range of conditions, from painful soft-tissue damage to life-altering harm to the spinal cord. We represent clients with:

Herniated and bulging discs, which can press on nerves and cause radiating pain, numbness or weakness
Spinal stenosis and other nerve-compression conditions
Vertebral fractures and dislocations
Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries to the neck and back
Nerve damage and radiculopathy (such as sciatica)
Spinal cord injuries, including partial and complete injuries that can cause paralysis

Each of these injuries carries different treatment, recovery and cost implications — and proving that severity is central to recovering full compensation.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious harms a person can suffer. Because the spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the body, damage to it can permanently affect movement and sensation below the point of injury.

Doctors generally describe these injuries as either incomplete — where some signals still reach below the injury and the person keeps some feeling or movement — or complete, where function below the injury is lost. The level of the injury along the spine matters just as much, because the higher the injury, the more of the body it tends to affect:

Cervical (neck) injuries are the most severe. They can cause tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia), affecting all four limbs, and the highest-level injuries can impair breathing.
Thoracic (upper- and mid-back) injuries typically affect the trunk and legs, often resulting in paraplegia.
Lumbar and sacral (lower-back) injuries generally affect the hips and legs and can disrupt bladder, bowel and sexual function.

Victims of these injuries often face a lifetime of medical care, assistive equipment, home and vehicle modifications, in-home help and lost earning capacity. We work closely with medical experts to document the full scope of these needs so that nothing is left out of your claim.

The Lifetime Cost Of A Serious Spinal Injury

A catastrophic spinal cord injury is one of the most expensive injuries a person can suffer. Between emergency and surgical care, rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, accessible housing and vehicles, attendant care and decades of lost earnings, lifetime costs can reach well into the millions of dollars — and insurers know it. That is exactly why they work to settle these claims quickly and cheaply, before the full picture is clear.

We take the opposite approach. We partner with treating physicians, life-care planners and economists to project what your injury will truly require over a lifetime, so your claim reflects future costs — not just the bills you have received so far.

How These Injuries Affect Your Life

Back and spine injuries can limit movement and cause ongoing pain. Many clients struggle to sit, stand or sleep. Some experience numbness, weakness or nerve damage that affects daily tasks and job performance.

Recovery plans vary. Some injuries respond to therapy and rest. Others require injections or surgery, and pain management is often ongoing. These costs add up quickly, and the medical record plays a major role in your claim — gaps in treatment or thin documentation can be used to dispute the seriousness of your injury. We help make sure your care is documented thoroughly and accurately from the start.

How Compensation Claims Work In Indiana

To pursue compensation, your injury must be clearly documented through medical records, accident reports and witness statements, and Indiana law requires proof that another party’s negligence caused your injury. Our firm conducts its own investigation, works with medical professionals, and develops the testimony needed to support every element of your claim.

Two Indiana rules are especially important to understand:

Modified comparative fault. You can recover compensation as long as you were not more than 50% at fault for the accident, though your award is reduced by your share of responsibility. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing — so how fault is investigated and argued can make or break a case.
The two-year deadline. Most Indiana injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury, and shorter notice deadlines apply when a government entity is involved. Acting promptly protects both the evidence and your legal rights.

Talk With Our Back And Spine Injury Attorneys Today

Now is the time to act. Call Harper and Harper, LLC, at 219-762-9538 or reach out online. We will review your case at no cost and help you start your recovery with a team that stands with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of accidents cause back and spine injuries?

Back and spine injuries are commonly caused by car and truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, unsafe property conditions, and work-related accidents. Even low-speed impacts can cause serious spinal damage, and pain may not appear right away.

How do back and spine injuries affect daily life?

These injuries can limit movement and cause ongoing pain. Many people struggle to sit, stand, or sleep. Some experience numbness, weakness, or nerve damage that affects daily tasks and job performance. Recovery may require therapy, injections, or surgery, with costs adding up quickly.

What do I need to prove in a back injury claim in Indiana?

To pursue compensation, your injury must be clearly documented through medical records, accident reports, and witness statements. Indiana law requires proof that another party caused your injury through negligence or failure to act with reasonable care.

How soon should I see a doctor after a back injury?

You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after any accident that may have caused a back or spine injury. Delays in care or reporting can be used against you later, and gaps in treatment or poor documentation can weaken your case.

What is the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?

In a complete spinal cord injury, the cord is so damaged that all feeling and ability to control movement are lost below the level of the injury. In an incomplete injury, some signals still pass through, so the person keeps some sensation or movement below the injury. The distinction has a major effect on a person's prognosis, treatment needs and the long-term cost of care -- all of which factor into the value of a claim.

Can a spinal cord injury affect the brain and nervous system?

The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system, and the spinal cord carries the signals between your brain and the rest of your body. While a spinal cord injury is medically distinct from a traumatic brain injury, the same violent impact often causes both, and damage to the cord can disrupt how the brain communicates with the body -- affecting movement, sensation and bodily functions below the injury. A doctor should evaluate any accident victim for both spinal and head injuries.

How much is a back or spine injury claim worth?

There is no single figure -- value depends on the severity of the injury, the treatment required (from physical therapy to surgery), how the injury limits your work and daily life, and your future medical and care needs. Serious injuries such as spinal cord damage and paralysis can support substantial claims. We work with medical professionals to document the full, long-term impact so your claim reflects what your recovery will actually cost.

How long do I have to file a back or spine injury claim in Indiana?

In most cases, Indiana's statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Shorter deadlines can apply -- for example, if a government entity is involved, the Indiana Tort Claims Act requires formal written notice within a much shorter window. Because evidence also fades over time, it is best to have your claim reviewed promptly.

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