Car Accidents

Nebraska Has New Child Passenger Laws

By Jason Bottlinger on January 30, 2019

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of child injury in the United States. Over 100,000 children were hurt and over 1,000 killed in car accidents in 2015. That’s an average of three children killed and nearly 500 injured every day.

We’re sad to say that in 2017, five children under the age of 15 were killed and 1,284 more were injured in Nebraska alone. Though more than 97% of Nebraskan children are buckled into safety seats as of the latest survey taken by the Department of Transportation, they are more vulnerable in car crashes, especially when it comes to spinal cord or head injuries. To combat this, the State took action.
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After Graduation: Stay Safe on the Road

By Jason Bottlinger on June 15, 2018

Graduating from high school is a significant accomplishment, and we at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. want to congratulate our local Omaha scholars for all their hard work and dedication. Now that you’re coming to the end of your secondary school career, we know that you probably want to relax and celebrate, and some planned activities probably include day trips or visiting friends. However, spending time on the road is one of the biggest dangers teen drivers face in the summer.
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Safe Driving Tips for Winter Weather

By Jason Bottlinger on February 5, 2018

It’s no secret that winter hits Nebraska hard, and those conditions can make for treacherous roads and hazardous driving. With a little caution and preparation, you can reduce your chances of a collision and keep yourself safe on the road.

That said, always remember: sometimes it’s just not worth going outside. If there are serious whiteout conditions or a blizzard, stay home. Make sure you have enough food and other supplies before a big winter storm hits, so you can wait it out if the weather is really bad. But if you have to venture out, please:
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Essential Supplies for Winter Driving

By Jason Bottlinger on January 24, 2018

Every year, people get trapped in their vehicles in serious winter storms; sometimes just for a few hours, sometimes for several days.

This has led to some horrifying stories, like the woman buried for three days in Maryland, or the family of four trapped in their car for two days in New Mexico. They were all safely rescued, but not every story has such a happy ending.
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Dangers of Speeding in a Residential Neighborhood

By Jason Bottlinger on December 27, 2017

If you speed through a residential neighborhood and hit someone with your vehicle, is it really an “accident”? Sure, you didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but you were, in fact, breaking the law, and driving dangerously. Children can come out of nowhere. When you were a child, did you think about “safety first” when playing in your front yard?
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Driving in Bad Weather? Check Your Shoes!

By Jason Bottlinger on November 2, 2017

While your shoes may not be the first thing you think about before driving into a rainstorm or snowstorm, they can have a big impact on the safety of your driving.
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Help! I Was in an Accident in Someone Else’s Car!

By Jason Bottlinger on October 27, 2017

Getting into a car wreck is already scary enough, but the questions and confusion that arise if you were in someone else’s car make it worse.

In Nebraska, coverage comes down, in large part, to the specifics of each person’s insurance policies. With that in mind, as long as you have insurance, the vehicle itself is insured, and the other driver and vehicle are insured, then everything should be handled pretty smoothly. (If you have any legal questions, feel free to speak to our Omaha car accident lawyer at (402) 505-8234.)
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Honey, I Hit the Herd

By Jason Bottlinger on October 15, 2017

On a chilly January evening in 1985, the Bennett family traveled to a small town in Southwest Nebraska to attend the funeral of the family matriarch. Jim, the father, drove his large, beloved 1983 Lincoln Mark VI with the radio playing quietly. His son, Billy, and Billy’s pregnant wife, Tammy, sat in the bench seat next to him; in the backseat were Jim’s wife, Paula, daughter Wendy, and 8-year-old David.
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What Happens When a Car Hits Your House?

By Jason Bottlinger on October 4, 2017

Imagine: you’re sitting in your comfortable Omaha home, perhaps watching the news or playing a board game with your family. Suddenly, you hear a thud and feel the house shake. You head to the front door to see if a tree fell, or if there was some weather-related incident, and instead find the front end of a vehicle crashed into your living room.
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Multitasking and Driving Don’t Mix

By Jason Bottlinger on August 18, 2017

Although we know the potential dangers that come with talking and texting while driving, some drivers still see nothing wrong with doing so. Their excuse? Being able to “multitask.”

Many people boast about how great their multitasking skills are, and they attribute distracted driving accidents to the fact that the person wasn’t an effective multitasker! Not true. Below are some little-known facts about multitasking that can save you some trouble in the long run.
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