Omaha Car Accident Lawyer

Omaha Car Accident Attorney Wins Big Cases for Crash Victims

It goes without saying that cars are incredibly useful here in Nebraska as they are in many other states. But the average car weighs two tons and can be dangerous if not operated properly and cautiously. While we may sometimes be tempted to drive a little above the speed limit to reach our destination, the risks tend to greatly outweigh the benefits. For example, you could get pulled over, damage your car, or get in a life-changing car collision.

Bottlinger Law L.L.C. has been helping car accident victims in Omaha for over 15 years. Our personal injury law firm is highly rated by Avvo, and Jason Bottlinger belongs to the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Bottlinger Law L.L.C. handles all types of vehicle collision cases, including accidents involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and hit-and-runs. And we do all this on a contingency fee basis, which means you won't have to pay us anything unless we obtain a recovery for you.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, call our firm at (402) 505-8234 to schedule a free consultation with an Omaha car accident attorney.

When I was injured in a wreck Jason and his team was there for me and my family. They treated us with respect and dignity. They were very professional and prompt and helpful threw the whole process. Thank you for everything and God bless”
–Anonymous
  from Google

Steps to Take After Being Involved in an Omaha Car Accident

Immediately after a car accident, the priority is to check for injuries. Assess yourself and your passengers for any signs of harm. If anyone is injured, apply first aid, but do not attempt to move them unless there is an immediate danger, such as a fire. Even if the injuries seem minor, it is essential to have medical professionals assess the situation as symptoms of serious injuries, like internal bleeding or concussions, may not be immediately apparent.

After ensuring everyone's safety and calling 911, it's important to collect evidence and witness information at the accident scene. Start by taking clear photos of all vehicles involved, capturing different angles and visible damages. Documenting the road conditions, traffic signs, and skid marks can provide valuable context for understanding what happened.

Gather contact information from witnesses who saw the accident and exchange information with the other drivers involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and insurance details.

In the aftermath of a car accident, it's important to avoid admitting fault at the scene. Statements made immediately after an accident can be used against you in insurance claims or legal proceedings, potentially affecting the outcome of your case.

In the wake of a car accident, avoid discussing the incident on social media. Posts, comments, and photos shared online can be scrutinized by insurance companies and opposing lawyers, potentially harming your case. Even seemingly innocent updates can be misconstrued or taken out of context, weakening your position.

After addressing immediate medical needs, it's a good idea to consult with a car accident attorney. They can represent you in negotiations and take your case to court if necessary.

How to File a Car Accident Claim in Omaha

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.

If required, you should follow up with specialists 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 might be getting hounded by calls from them. But, instead of speaking to them, contact an experienced car accident attorney at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. Insurance companies like to prey on car accident victims when they are hurting and confused to convince them to accept lowball settlement offers. They may claim 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.

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 an Omaha Car 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 in recent years.

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 for property damage only, 11,649 resulting in injury crashes, and 218 where the accident was fatal. 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 help and guide people 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 our Omaha personal injury lawyer today.

Types of Driver Negligence That Leads to 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.

Over 33,000 traffic crashes have been reported in Nebraska in recent years, including truck and motorcycle accidents. The state assigned the following driver-contributing factors:

• Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way: 5,471 crashes in Nebraska. These infractions occur when drivers do not obey traffic signs, signals, or road markings, often leading to dangerous situations.
• Tailgating: 4,504 crashes. When drivers follow too closely, they reduce the time they have to react to sudden stops or changes in traffic flow. This lack of reaction time often leads to accidents, especially in high-traffic areas or during adverse weather conditions.
• Driver Inattention and Distraction: 4,402 crashes in Nebraska. Distractions may come in various forms, such as using a smartphone, eating, adjusting the radio, or conversing with passengers. Even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to catastrophic consequences.
• Disregarding Traffic Controls: 1895 crashes in Nebraska. Running a red light or ignoring a stop sign can result in severe T-bone or side-impact collisions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports running a red light or other traffic control is the most common cause of all urban crashes.
• Excessive Speed: 1,670 crashes in Nebraska. Speeding significantly contributes to the frequency and severity of car accidents. Traveling too fast reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the stopping distance required to avoid a collision. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), speeding was a factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities.
• Fatigued Driving or Asleep at Wheel: 312 crashes in Nebraska. Driving while drowsy dramatically impairs reaction times and decision-making abilities, making it comparable to driving under the influence.

Injuries That Result From 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 from accidents resulting from reckless driving:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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 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.

Your experienced lawyer at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. can advise you on the best way to proceed. We will work to ensure you receive proper medical treatment for your injuries and 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 percent at fault. However, if your case goes to trial, 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 percent at fault. But if you were speeding through a yellow light, you may be assigned 30 percent of the blame. If you are awarded $100,000 in a trial, it will be reduced by 30 percent 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.

Common Types of Car Accidents

• Rear-end crashes are among the most common types of car accidents and often result from following too closely or sudden stops. These collisions occur when one vehicle strikes the back of another, frequently leading to whiplash injuries and significant vehicle damage.
• T-bone collisions, also known as side-impact crashes, occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming a "T" shape. These accidents often happen at intersections when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way or run red lights. T-bone collisions can be particularly dangerous due to the limited protection offered by the side of vehicles, often resulting in severe injuries.
• Multi-vehicle pileups involve several cars and are often triggered by a single accident that causes a chain reaction. These collisions are most common on highways and can result in extensive damage and numerous injuries due to the high speeds and the number of vehicles involved. Poor weather conditions, low visibility, and heavy traffic can exacerbate the likelihood of multi-vehicle pileups.
• Intersection collisions are another prevalent cause of car accidents in Omaha. These collisions often occur due to drivers running red lights, failing to yield the right-of-way, or making improper turns.
• Blind spot accidents occur when drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes or merging. Blind spots are areas around the vehicle that are not visible in the rearview or side mirrors, making them critical zones for potential crashes. These incidents are particularly dangerous because the other vehicle is often unseen until it's too late to avoid a collision.
• Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of vehicle accidents, and they often occur due to a combination of factors. High-speed driving is a significant contributor, especially when navigating curves or making sharp turns. SUVs and trucks, with their higher center of gravity, are more susceptible to rollovers.
• Head-on collisions are one of the most deadly types of car crashes. They are often caused by distracted or intoxicated drivers who ignore traffic signs and enter a highway in the wrong direction.

Our Omaha Lawyer Can Help With Your Car Accident Case

At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we're on your side. We'll file a claim or a lawsuit against anyone whose negligent actions contributed to your injuries.

Call (402) 505-8234 to speak with our Omaha car accident attorney today. We offer a FREE consultation, and you won't owe us anything unless we win your case.

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

• How Does Age Affect Someone’s Driving Ability?
• When a Friend Causes an Accident, and You’re Hurt as Their Passenger
• The Role of Expert Witnesses in Car Accident Cases
• Nebraska Is a Comparative Fault State: What Does That Mean?
• Nebraska Crash Data
• Nebraska Official Department of Motor Vehicles