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Indiana · back & spine

Back & spine settlements
in Indiana.

By 6 min read

Indiana applies modified-51 comparative fault with a hard $1.8 million total recovery cap on medical malpractice, with the state's Patient's Compensation Fund paying any excess above the physician's $500,000 share. For back & spine claims specifically, the band is built from the state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps framework and then adjusted for Indiana's modified comparative — 51% bar and any applicable statutory cap.

Indiana applies modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. A back & spine claimant who is 50% at fault still recovers 50% of damages; one assigned 51% recovers nothing. This is slightly more claimant-friendly than the 50% bar applied in some neighbouring states, and it leaves room for negotiation in mixed-liability back & spine cases where the comparative-fault split is close to even.

Indiana's caps (medical malpractice cap) apply to the non-economic component of back & spine damages and can compress upper-tier verdicts. The exact application depends on the cause of action and the head of damage; the caps section on this page sets out each ceiling and the conditions under which it bites.

band · US federal frame
$80,000 – $400,000+
Back injury (severe, surgery)
Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end

The US band is the starting point. Indiana's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

IN · statute of limitations
2 years from date of injury

Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4

IN · fault rule
Modified comparative — 51% bar

Modified comparative — recovery barred at 51% claimant fault.

IN · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a back & spine settlement in Indiana.

back & spine severity tiers · US frame

How the band stratifies.

The state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps stratifies back & spine into the tiers below. Indiana courts apply the same tier structure, adjusted for state-specific factors.

Severity tierBandBasis
Back injury (moderate, no surgery)$30,000 – $100,000Reported decisions plus settlement aggregates
Back injury (severe, surgery)$80,000 – $400,000+Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end
back & spine · same region & fault regime

Compare to like jurisdictions.

How Indiana's fault rule and limitation period compare to jurisdictions in the same US region and to those running the same fault rule for back & spine claims.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitationBack & spine page
Indiana · you are hereModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injury
IowaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryIA · back & spine
KansasModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryKS · back & spine
MichiganModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryMI · back & spine
MinnesotaModified comparative — 51% bar6 years for personal injury (uncommonly long); 4 years for medical malpracticeMN · back & spine
MissouriPure comparative negligence5 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeMO · back & spine
NebraskaModified comparative — 50% bar4 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeNE · back & spine
MassachusettsModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryMA · back & spine
MontanaModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryMT · back & spine
NevadaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years for personal injury; 3 years for medical malpracticeNV · back & spine
New HampshireModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryNH · back & spine
KentuckyPure comparative negligence1 year for personal injury (one of the shortest in the US)KY · back & spine
LouisianaPure comparative negligence1 year (la prescription) — extended to 2 years by Act 423 (2024) for tort claims accruing on or after July 1, 2024LA · back & spine
IN · back & spine · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Indiana's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Indiana. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.