Laura Kuhl is a content editor, writer and social media manager with ten years of experience in the legal, finance, and insurance fields. She started her career as a movie review writer in Wilmington, NC, after earning her M.A. at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a featured legal and business writer on Free Advice and PotNetwork News.
Laura Kuhl
Laura Kuhl is a content editor, writer and social media manager with ten years of experience in the legal, finance, and insurance fields. She started her career as a movie review writer in Wilmington, NC, after earning her M.A. at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a featured legal and business writer on Free Advice and PotNetwork News.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Reviewed
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Nebraska is one of the safest states for drivers, with less than 250 car accident deaths in the past five years. However, since they live in the biggest city in the state, Omaha drivers see more collisions than other Cornhuskers. And a third of these accidents result in serious injury, from broken bones and loss of limb to severe brain and spinal trauma.
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you want an attorney on your side. The best car accident lawyers in Omaha understand the unique circumstances of your injuries and are familiar with the state’s comparative fault model to determine settlements.
We compared local law firms to find the top ten car accident attorneys in Omaha so you can get the settlement you deserve.
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Best Car Accident Attorneys in Omaha, NE
Compare Top Car Accident Attorneys in Omaha
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Omaha, NE
There are some limitations to filing an auto accident lawsuit in Omaha. You may only have a few years to file a claim, or your compensation could be reduced due to comparative fault.
We explain common state auto laws below, but you should speak with a car accident attorney in Omaha to better understand how these laws affect your case.
Nebraska Statute of Limitations
You have up to four years to file a personal injury car accident lawsuit in Omaha. This statute of limitations shortens to one year if you’re in an accident with city officials or property. If you wait to file your lawsuit until the statute of limitations expires, your claim is time-barred and will be dismissed.
Omaha Car Accident Laws
You must report all auto accidents in Nebraska when someone is injured or damages are more than $1,500. However, if police aren’t called to the scene of the crash, you must report the collision to the DMV within 10 days. You can do this through your insurance carrier, through the police department, through the DMV website or by calling the DMV directly. Include the crash date, location, county and time of the accident, as well as your name and the names of other drivers involved.
Nebraska law requires drivers to carry $25,000 in bodily injury coverage, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident and $25,000 in property damage coverage as a minimum. You face hefty fines and could lose your license if caught driving without it. And if you’re at fault for an accident without proper insurance, you’ll be responsible for paying medical bills and other damages with your own money.
Any drivers involved in an accident on Omaha roads must immediately stop and exchange information. Nebraska state law requires drivers to share their names, addresses, phone numbers and driver’s license numbers after an accident.
If you hit a parked car or another piece of property, you must leave this information where the property owner can find it. Leaving the scene without exchanging contact information is a Class II Misdemeanor, and you will lose your license for at least one year.
Identifying Fault in an Automobile Accident
Nebraska is a fault state. This means you have the right to pursue damages from at-fault drivers in court. However, Omaha courts will still consider your percentage of fault compared to the at-fault driver.
For example, if you were speeding when the other driver struck you, you could be considered 30% responsible for the collision. Therefore, state comparative fault law reduces your car accident settlement amount by 30%. This also applies to your Omaha insurance claims—your insurer covers 70% while you pay the remainder out of pocket.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
Speak with an attorney if you disagree with the fault determination or fail to get a fair car accident settlement from your insurance company.
Omaha attorneys are familiar with Nebraska comparative fault laws and can negotiate with the insurers. They will file the necessary paperwork and speak directly with adjusters and insurance lawyers so that you can focus on recovery.
Car accident lawyers in Omaha can also fight to secure pain and suffering settlements. These types of damages are hard to prove, but an experienced attorney will understand the true value of your case and negotiate a settlement that covers all of your injuries, not just physical damages.
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Omaha
Car accidents are expensive. Beyond the vehicle repairs and medical bills, you may have lost wages to consider, along with the mental and physical anguish of recovering from your injuries.
A car accident attorney can help you recover some or all of your costs. As you compare law firms, look for these three traits to ensure you get the best car accident lawyer in Omaha:
- Attentive. Someone who is on top of your case will do everything possible to speed up the auto accident settlement timeline, so find an attorney who returns your calls or emails within 48 hours.
- Experienced. Look for a lawyer with multiple car accident settlements in their portfolio because they are more likely to understand your injuries and insurance coverage.
- Confident. A confident attorney will know precisely what they’re up against and discuss various strategies to win your settlement. They will not hesitate to go to trial when necessary.
Methodology
To come up with the best car accident lawyers in Omaha, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are most lawyer fees after a car accident in Omaha?
Most car accident lawyers in Omaha will charge a fee only if they win your case. Traditionally, lawyers take a third of the winning settlement. So if you win $1 million, your attorney will likely charge around $330,000.
Is Nebraska an at-fault state?
Nebraska is an at-fault state but operates under comparative fault law, meaning drivers are responsible for their share of the accident.
When is it too late to get a lawyer for a car accident?
You should hire an Omaha car accident lawyer as soon as possible to help you navigate collection of evidence and settlement negotiation.
