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Omaha Car Accident Lawyer

Speak to an Omaha Car Accident Attorney After a Crash

Automobiles are incredibly useful, especially here in Nebraska. However, the average car weighs two tons and can be dangerous if not operated properly and with caution. While at times we may be tempted to drive a little above the speed limit to reach our destination, the risks tend to greatly outweigh the benefits. You could get pulled over, damage your car, or get in a life-changing car collision.

Our experienced car accident team at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. handles car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, hit-and-run accidents and all other types of vehicle collision cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay us anything unless we obtain a recovery for you. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash, call us at (402) 807-0116 to schedule a free consultation with an Omaha car accident attorney.

The Steps to an Omaha Car Accident Claim

Following an Omaha car accident, you may be confused about what steps you need to take to get compensation, and insurance companies do not make it easy. First and foremost, if you have not already done so, get medical treatment immediately. Early intervention can protect you from future injuries and speed up your recovery process. It can also prevent serious conditions from worsening, such as brain injuries, internal trauma, and spinal cord injuries.

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You should follow up with specialists if required and get the treatments they recommend, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and physical therapy, even if you are worried about paying for them. These costs can be included in your claim. In addition, getting these treatments proves that your injuries are serious and that you deserve compensation for a car accident.

During this period of early medical care, you may be tempted to call the other driver’s insurance company or may be getting hounded by calls from them. But, instead of speaking to them, contact the experienced car accident team at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. Insurance companies like to prey on car accident victims when they are hurting and confused in order to convince them to accept lowball settlement offers. They may claim that it is the best you can get, and you may be tempted to accept the money to cover your immediate costs.

However, if you reach out to us, we can advocate for the full cost of your injuries, including future medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs that insurance companies like to ignore. We can also handle all communications with the insurance company and the legal burdens of filing a claim, while you focus on recovering.

car with front-end damage

In order to support your claim, we will also launch an in-depth investigation to collect evidence, which can include:

  • Reviewing your car accident report
  • Collecting witness statements
  • Securing photos and videos of the accident
  • Speaking to medical experts about your injuries
  • Contacting accident reconstructionists

Taking on all of these tasks while healing is a monumental strain, which is why you should trust Bottlinger Law L.L.C. to handle it for you.

Legal Representation After a Collision

Unfortunately, car accidents are a fact of life in the United States. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), on average, 6,700 people were injured and 96 lost their lives in traffic crashes every day of a recent year.

As reported by the Department of Roads, in the state of Nebraska alone, there were 33,988 traffic crashes that same year. The various types of collisions that account for this number include:

  • 22,121
    Property
    Damage Only
  • 11,649
    Injury
    Crashes
  • 218
    Fatal
    Accidents

From those, 16,806 people were injured and 246 lost their lives on our state’s roadways in a single year. At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we provide help and guidance to people who are injured in car accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. We’re real people, and we understand how upsetting accidents can be. If you would like to discuss your claim, please speak with an Omaha personal injury lawyer today.

Types of Driver Negligence That Cause Car Accidents

With so many vehicles on the streets and highways, car accidents are bound to happen. While weather and road conditions can be contributing factors, most crashes are caused by driver negligence. Motorists on public roadways have a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm to others. Sadly, drivers often fail in that duty in a number of ways.

Of the 33,988 traffic crashes reported in Nebraska, including truck and motorcycle accidents, the state assigned the following driver-contributing factors:

Failure to yield the right-of-way:
5,471 crashes

Following too closely:
4,504 crashes

Driver inattention:
3,537 crashes

Operating vehicle in an erratic manner:
2,572 crashes

Disregarding traffic controls:
1,895 crashes

Leaving lane or running off road:
1,765 crashes

Excessive speed
1,670 crashes

Driver distraction:
865 crashes

Improper turns:
596 crashes

Swerving or avoiding:
513 crashes

Fatigued driving or asleep at wheel:
312 crashes

Defective equipment:
177 crashes

Other improper driver actions:
1471 crashes

Many Injuries Are Caused by Reckless Driving

Reckless driving crashes tend to be more severe, because the behavior that caused the crash usually involves speeding. Reckless driving is defined in Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,213: "Any person who drives any motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate an indifferent or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property shall be guilty of reckless driving." Here are the most common injuries we see after these wrecks:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: Any injury to the brain can cause lifelong damage, significant disabilities, and other complications. Swelling or bleeding in the brain can also be fatal.
  • Burn injuries: At extreme speeds, there is a greater danger of explosions and vehicle fires. If the victims are trapped inside the vehicle, the burns will be much worse.
  • Crush injuries: If the vehicles crumple in an accident, victims can be trapped inside and suffer horrifying injuries. They usually take major reconstructive surgery to fix and may require amputation to save the victim's life.
  • Neck and spinal cord injuries: Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are extremely common after most car crashes, and high speeds make it likely this damage will be more severe.
  • Lacerations: The impact of two or more vehicles can fling shattered glass and sheared metal into the victim. At these speeds, projectiles may do as much damage as a bullet would.
  • Broken bones: Legs, ribs, and arms are often shattered in a major crash. If the ribs are fractured, the organs in the abdominal cavity are at risk of being punctured as well.
Jason is a great attorney to work with. He is responsive, attentive, and personable. He genuinely cares about his clients, and we were able to get great results. I highly recommend him!”
- S.K.
  from Google

Recovering Damages in an Omaha Car Collision Claim

If you have been seriously injured in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, contact an Omaha car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Immediately after the collision, it’s critical to gather and preserve the evidence supporting your case.

Nebraska is an at-fault state for traffic accidents. If you have suffered injuries in a car wreck that was someone else’s fault, you have several options for recovering compensation:

  • File a claim with your own insurance company (which will seek reimbursement from the responsible party’s insurance company).
  • File a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
  • File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Our experienced car accident team in Omaha at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. can advise you of the best way to proceed. We will work to ensure you receive proper medical treatment for your injuries, as well as compensation for the full extent of your losses. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible to claim these damages:

  • Medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage
  • Lost future earnings
  • Pain and suffering

It is important to remember that Nebraska is a comparative fault state, meaning that you can file a claim even if you are partially at fault for an accident -- so long as you are less than 50% at fault. However, if your case goes to trial, then the total value of your claim may be reduced by the amount of fault a jury assigns you. For example, if a driver ran a red light and hit you in an intersection, you would assume that he was 100% at fault. But if you were speeding through a yellow light, then you may be assigned 30% of the blame. If you are awarded $100,000 in a trial, it will be reduced by 30% to $70,000.

But this only applies to jury trials, and a skilled Omaha car accident attorney can advocate for compensation through a settlement negotiation or minimize the amount of fault applied to you in a trial. Never forgo filing a claim because you think you are partially at fault. These cases can be complicated and require an experienced legal touch.


Car Accident Case Results

  • $500,000 Settlement - Non-Surgical Soft Tissue Injury, Pedestrian-motor Vehicle Collision
  • $430,000 Settlement - Rear End Collision, Soft Tissue Injuries (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
  • $365,000 Settlement - Disputed Liability Intersection Collision
  • $275,000 Settlement - Car Wreck (Policy Limits of Four Different Policies), Disputed Causation of Traumatic Atrial Fibrillation
  • $225,000 Settlement - Motor Vehicle Collision

Additional Information

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Membership in this group is restricted only to attorneys who have won multi-millions dollar verdicts for their clients.

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Jason Bottlinger has been named one of the Top 40 Lawyers under the age of 40 in the state by The National Trial Lawyers organization.

Our firm has a perfect A+ from the Better Business Bureau of Nebraska, which grades based on 13 different factors.

“Can’t recommend enough. Jason and his staff were professional, pleasant, and explained the whole trust/ will process thoroughly and in terms I could understand. Just a very positive experience with something I was admittedly far from excited to do.”
- D.T. from Google