When you are hurt in a car accident in Northwest Indiana, the decisions you make in the days and weeks that follow can shape the rest of your recovery. You need more than just a lawyer. You need the best car accident lawyer in Northwest Indiana, one with the experience, the local knowledge, and the trial readiness t o fight for everything you deserve.
At Schafer & Schafer, we have been standing up for injured people throughout Northwest Indiana for decades. We know how insurance companies operate in this region, we know Indiana law inside and out, and we know what it takes to win. Contact our personal injury lawyers today at 219-947-1911 for a free consultation.
Reach Out to Our Experienced Northwest Indiana Car Accident Lawyers
You do not have to navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. The experienced car accident attorneys at Schafer & Schafer Law are available to review your case, explain your rights, and outline a clear path forward at no cost to you. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Injured in a Car Accident in Northwest Indiana?
If you were injured in a crash anywhere in Northwest Indiana, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to protect their bottom line. You deserve someone with equal determination and expertise fighting for yours.
The car accident attorneys at Schafer & Schafer have helped injury victims throughout Lake County, Porter County, and the surrounding communities recover the compensation they need to move forward.
Why Choosing the Best Car Accident Lawyer Matters
Not all car accident lawyers are the same, and when you are searching for the best, you are right to be selective. The attorney you choose will influence whether you receive a fair settlement or are pressured into accepting less than your case is worth. They will determine whether critical evidence is preserved or lost. They will shape how aggressively your claim is pursued and whether the insurance company takes your case seriously.
Choosing the best car accident lawyer in Northwest Indiana means choosing someone with a deep understanding of Indiana personal injury law, genuine trial experience, a track record of results for clients in situations like yours, and a commitment to treating you as a person rather than a case number.
Experience, Results, and Trial Readiness
At Schafer & Schafer, we bring decades of combined experience handling car accident cases throughout Northwest Indiana. We have recovered substantial compensation for clients injured in rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving crashes, and more. Our attorneys are not just skilled negotiators. We are trial lawyers who are fully prepared to take a case to court when the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.
Insurance companies know which law firms will push back and which ones will settle for whatever is offered. When you hire Schafer & Schafer, you are hiring a firm with a reputation for going the distance. That reputation alone changes how insurers approach your claim, and it translates directly into better outcomes for our clients. Call us today at 219-947-1911 and let us put our experience to work for you.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Northwest Indiana
Car accidents in Northwest Indiana happen for a wide range of reasons, but certain causes appear repeatedly in the cases we handle. Understanding what caused your crash is an important first step in building a successful claim.
Distracted Driving and Speeding
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents throughout Indiana and across the country. Drivers who are texting, adjusting navigation, eating, or simply not paying attention to the road cause thousands of preventable crashes every year. In Northwest Indiana's congested corridors, a split second of inattention at highway speeds can be catastrophic.
Speeding is equally pervasive. Whether on Interstate 65, along U.S. 41, or on local roads through Merrillville or Schererville, drivers who exceed posted speed limits or drive too fast for road conditions dramatically increase the risk and severity of crashes.
Other common causes of car accidents in Northwest Indiana include:
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Improper lane changes and unsafe merging
- Tailgating and aggressive driving
- Fatigued driving, particularly among commercial drivers on I-80 and I-90
- Poor road conditions and inadequate signage
- Defective vehicle components
In every case, identifying the precise cause of the crash and documenting the at-fault driver's negligence is essential to a successful claim. Our attorneys begin that process from the moment you contact us.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Schafer & Schafer `handles the full spectrum of car accident cases throughout Northwest Indiana. No matter how your accident happened or how serious your injuries are, our team has the experience to handle your claim effectively.
Rear-End and Intersection Accidents
Rear-end collisions are among the most common crashes on Northwest Indiana roadways, particularly on the heavily traveled interstates and commercial corridors. While they are often assumed to be straightforward, rear-end accidents can cause serious injuries and involve contested liability in some circumstances. Intersection accidents are similarly common and can be among the most complex to litigate, particularly when multiple parties claim the right of way.
We also handle:
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Multi-vehicle and pile-up crashes
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles and semi-trucks
- Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers
- Accidents caused by road hazards or defective traffic controls
- Motorcycle accidents involving cars and trucks
- Crashes involving commercial trucks and 18-wheelers
Regardless of the type of accident, our approach is the same: thorough investigation, aggressive advocacy, and a relentless focus on maximizing your recovery.
Common Injuries After Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor soft tissue strains to catastrophic, life-altering trauma. The severity of your injuries is one of the primary factors that determines the value of your claim, and it is essential that all of your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented from the start.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are among the most serious and most misunderstood injuries that result from car accidents. Even crashes that do not involve a direct blow to the head can cause the brain to shift violently within the skull, resulting in concussions, contusions, or more severe damage.
Symptoms of TBI can include:
- Headaches
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood changes
- Sleep disturbances
- In severe cases, permanent cognitive impairment
TBI cases are particularly challenging because symptoms are not always immediately apparent, standard imaging does not always reveal the full extent of the injury, and insurance companies frequently dispute their severity. Our attorneys work with medical experts to properly document traumatic brain injuries and present compelling evidence of their long-term impact on our clients' lives.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, and permanent loss of function that affects every aspect of a person's life. The costs associated with a serious spinal cord injury, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, and long-term care, can reach into the millions of dollars over a lifetime. Pursuing full compensation requires not just documenting current losses but projecting the full scope of future needs.
Other common injuries in Northwest Indiana car accident cases include:
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries to the neck and back
- Broken bones and fractures
- Rib injuries and internal organ damage
- Facial injuries and lacerations
- Knee, shoulder, and hip injuries
- Burns from fires or chemical exposure
- Psychological injuries including PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Wrongful death in fatal crashes
No matter the nature of your injuries, prompt medical evaluation and consistent follow-up care are critical to both your health and your legal claim. Gaps in treatment are one of the most common ways insurance companies reduce the value of car accident settlements.
How Liability Is Determined in Indiana
Liability is established through evidence gathered in the investigation of your accident. That evidence includes the police accident report, witness statements, photographs and video from the scene, traffic camera footage, cell phone records, vehicle data recorders, accident reconstruction analysis, and medical records connecting your injuries to the crash.
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system, which means that more than one party can share responsibility for an accident. Under Indiana Code 34-51-2-6, an injured person can still recover compensation as long as their share of the fault does not exceed 50%. However, their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
After a car accident in Northwest Indiana, you will almost certainly hear from the at-fault driver's insurance company quickly. Do not mistake that approach for genuine concern about your wellbeing. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and their adjusters are trained to minimize the amount paid on every claim.
Insurance Company Tactics
Common tactics used by car accident insurers in Northwest Indiana include:
- Contacting you before you have spoken with an attorney and asking for a recorded statement designed to capture admissions that can be used to reduce your claim
- Offering a fast, lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries or understand what your case is worth
- Disputing the severity of your injuries by pointing to pre-existing conditions, gaps in medical treatment, or inconclusive imaging
- Arguing that you were partially at fault for the accident in order to reduce their liability under Indiana's comparative fault rules
- Delaying the claims process to create financial pressure that pushes you toward accepting less
- Using your social media posts or public activity to contradict your claimed injuries
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Indiana law allows car accident victims to recover compensation for the full range of losses caused by the crash, both economic and non-economic.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries have permanently affected your ability to work
- Property damage, including the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury, such as transportation to medical appointments or home care costs
Non-economic damages cover the intangible but very real human losses caused by the accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium, which addresses the impact of your injuries on your relationship with a spouse
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, such as a drunk driving crash or deliberate disregard for safety, punitive damages may also be available. These are designed to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior, and they can substantially increase the total value of a case.
The value of any individual car accident claim depends on the specific facts, the nature and severity of injuries, the clarity of liability, and the available insurance coverage. Our attorneys will carefully evaluate every element of your damages to ensure that no loss goes uncompensated.
How a Car Accident Claim Works
Here is how a typical car accident case proceeds when you work with Schafer & Schafer Law:
- Free consultation: You contact our office, describe what happened, and our attorneys evaluate your case at no cost to you. We explain your rights and outline the most effective path forward.
- Investigation: We immediately begin gathering evidence, including the police report, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, and any available vehicle data. We work with accident reconstruction experts when needed to establish exactly how the crash occurred and who was responsible.
- Medical documentation: We help ensure that your injuries are thoroughly documented and that you are receiving appropriate care. Proper medical documentation is the foundation of a strong damages case.
- Demand and negotiation: Once you have reached maximum medical improvement or your treatment plan is clearly established, we prepare a comprehensive demand package and submit it to the insurance company. We negotiate aggressively for a settlement that reflects the full value of your claim.
- Litigation if necessary: If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we file a lawsuit and pursue your case through the Indiana court system. We are trial lawyers, and we are fully prepared to take your case in front of a jury.
- Resolution: Whether through settlement or verdict, we work to achieve the best possible outcome for you and ensure that the resolution accounts for all of your past, present, and future losses.
Throughout this process, we keep you informed and involved. You will always know where your case stands and what is happening next.
Contact the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Northwest Indiana Today
When you are hurt in a car accident, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a team that is exclusively focused on personal injury law, that has been fighting for injured people in Northwest Indiana for generations, and that treats your case with the same care and commitment they would give a member of their own family.
We have recovered several million dollars for injury victims throughout Lake County, Porter County, and the surrounding communities. Insurance companies have lawyers working to protect their bottom line from the moment a claim is filed. You deserve the same level of dedicated, experienced advocacy on your side.
If you were injured in a car accident in Northwest Indiana, contact Schafer & Schafer today or call 219-947-1911 for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the best car accident lawyer in Northwest Indiana?
Look for an attorney with specific Indiana experience, genuine trial readiness, and a focus on personal injury rather than a general practice. Avoid firms that settle cases quickly just to move volume. At Schafer & Schafer, we practice exclusively in personal injury law, bring over 100 years of combined experience, and are fully prepared to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to get you a fair result.
How much is my car accident case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work, the clarity of liability, and available insurance coverage. Minor injury cases may settle for a few thousand dollars while serious or permanent injury cases can be worth significantly more. Call us at 219-947-1911 for a free case review and a realistic assessment of what your claim may be worth.
What if I was partially at fault?
Indiana's modified comparative fault law allows you to recover compensation as long as your share of the fault does not exceed 50%, though your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your share of blame to reduce what they owe, which is one of the most important reasons to have an experienced attorney handling your claim.
How long do I have to file a claim in Indiana?
Indiana's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4. Claims involving government entities may have shorter notice deadlines. Missing the filing deadline almost always means losing your right to recover anything, so do not wait to speak with an attorney.
Hear What Our Clients Say About Schafer & Schafer LLP
"They handled the truck accident case for me. They are hands-down, the best in the state of Indiana."
“Schafer and Schafer LLP are the best attorneys hands down!! They are all winners!! The time they put into their research for their clients is why they are the best. We are lucky to have them in our community!”
“Working with Todd Schafer was truly a positive experience. His legal expertise was beyond top-notch and he knew exactly how to handle our situation and navigated every detail with skill and precision. But what really stood out the most was his genuine attitude. He listened, he cared, and treated us like more than just a case. It’s rare to find that combination of deep knowledge and authentic care. We felt supported and truly confident every step of the way. If you’re looking for the best lawyers, Schafer and Schafer is who you want.”"We were passengers in the backseat of a sedan that was t-boned by a woman who drove through a red light speeding and texting. My husband and I were seriously injured. I almost lost my husband twice, once during the accident, and then when he had an emergency craniotomy surgery 6 weeks later for a huge subdural hematoma. Our lives were changed forever in a heartbeat. - We were fortunate to find Attorney Tim Schafer who is knowledgeable, professional, determined, dedicated and kind who fought diligently for justice for us, as if we were his family. We put our well deserved trust in him. He was faithful in communicating with us, and responded immediately to any questions. He stood firm and honest with us always, and he got a very generous settlement for us. We are forever thankful for all he did. We highly recommend his services."
