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Nebraska Truck Accident Lawyer

The effects of an accident with a commercial truck can be disastrous. The Nebraska Advocates will be by your side throughout your entire recovery.

A Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case

A collision with a semi-truck can leave you feeling hopeless, in pain, and unsure of what to do next. Many times, when a passenger vehicle collides with a large truck, the result is catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. The Advocates are experienced truck accident lawyers, and we are prepared to assist you in your recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a semi-truck, The Advocates are here for you. Our legal team of skilled negotiators and litigators represent truck accident victims in Omaha, Lincoln, and all over Nebraska.

The Next Steps In Your Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Property Damage

Get any property damage assessed and repaired

Treatment Completed

Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Truck Accident Questions

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the semi-truck accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a specialized semi-truck accident lawyer. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.

Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney who specializes in truck accidents. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your truck accident case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates’ truck accident attorneys.

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to truck accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.

In general, cases involving truck accidents can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your semi-truck accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Truck Accident Specialists on Your Case

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their truck accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you. 

We can help you:

  • Investigate your accident
  • Build your case
  • Negotiate with insurance companies
  • Fight for your settlement in court if necessary

You only pay if we win your case!

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Nebraska Truck Accident Statistics

sign for I-80 in Nebraska

Where do truck deaths occur?

  • Nationwide, more than 4,000 people are killed in truck accidents each year. More than 50 of these fatalities occur in Nebraska
  • In fatal truck accidents, most victims are the occupants of passenger vehicles
  • Around 60% of fatal truck accidents happen in rural areas
  • Most truck accidents, fatal or not, occur on weekdays
  • More than half of truck accident fatalities occur in multiple-vehicle crashes
  • I-80, which connects Omaha to Denver, is one of the most dangerous roads for truckers in the state of Nebraska

Nebraska state truck accident statistics  

  • Accidents involving semi-trucks are less common than other types of car accidents, but they are more likely to result in serious injury or death
  • According to the Nebraska DOT, there are more than 2,000 accidents involving heavy trucks in the state each year
  • The large majority of truck accident victims are male, because there are very few female truck drivers
  • Although most accidents occur in rural areas, Omaha accounts for more than 300 heavy truck accidents each year, and Lincoln sees around 150
  • Most truck accidents occur in the months between June and October
  • The majority of truck accidents occur on weekdays during the daytime
  • Nationwide, 87% of truck accidents are due to driver error. An additional 10% are caused by problems with the vehicle
2,000 accidents every year involving trucks in Nebraska
Truck driver talking on his cell phone

Common causes of truck accidents

  • Driver fatigue: Truckers work long hours, often driving on long stretches of rural road. It is easy to become tired, and it is crucial that truck drivers take breaks when they begin to feel fatigued
  • Distracted driving: Cell phone use is the most common type of distracted driving, but any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road in front of them is dangerous
  • Impaired driving: A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a danger to everyone on the road
  • Mechanical failure: One of the most common causes of truck accidents is faulty equipment on the big rig, particularly the tires and brakes. These issues can cause a truck to jackknife, leading to a single- or multiple-vehicle accident
  • Improper passing or turning: Commercial vehicles have a much larger stopping distance than passenger cars. If a truck is cut off by a car, it may be difficult for the driver to avoid an accident
  • Bad weather: While most truck crashes occur on clear days, ice, snow, or fog can all contribute to motor vehicle accidents, particularly if motorists are not driving safely for the road conditions
  • Speeding: Motorists who are moving faster than is safe have less time to react to hazards. Speeding also makes an accident more likely to result in serious injury or death

Common truck accident injuries 

Truck accidents often cause serious injuries, particularly for occupants of smaller vehicles. Some common types of truck accident injuries are:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Broken bones
  • Whiplash
  • Ligament tears or strains
  • Lacerations and bruising
Common injuries from Truck accidents

Nebraska Semi Truck Laws

This is considered a commercial truck in Nebraska

What is a “truck” under Nebraska law?

A vehicle is considered a “commercial truck” if it meets one of the following criteria:

  • Has a gross vehicle weight of at least 26,000 pounds, with a trailer weighing at least 10,000 pounds
  • Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers
  • Is designed to transport hazardous materials

These criteria do not include farm vehicles, RVs, emergency vehicles, or military equipment.

What condition does a truck need to be in to drive?

Before starting a drive, truckers must complete a pre-trip inspection of the vehicle. They must inspect the critical areas of the truck to ensure they are in good working order before the semi may be driven. To be considered safe to drive, the truck must have properly functioning:

  • Brakes
  • Tires, wheels, and rims
  • Headlights, tail lights, and turn signals
  • Reflectors
  • Windshield and wipers
  • Mirrors
  • Steering system
  • Gauges
  • Horn

If any one of these components is faulty, it could seriously endanger the trucker and other drivers on the road. Regular truck maintenance and inspection helps keep everyone safe.

Trucker inspecting tires during a safety check
Truck driver showing CDL driver's license

What licenses or endorsements does a truck driver need?

In order to obtain a CDL in Nebraska, an applicant must be at least 18 years old for intrastate travel or 21 years old for interstate travel. The applicant must take and pass the following tests:

  • Vision test
  • Written test
  • Skills test

They must also provide the DMV with the following documentation:

  • Proof of Nebraska residency
  • Proof of citizenship
  • Social Security number
  • Proof of completion of Entry Level Driver Training

What is the speed limit for commercial trucks in Nebraska?

Nebraska does not have different maximum speed limits for tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles. On rural highways, the speed limit for all motor vehicles is 75 miles per hour. On urban stretches of interstate, the speed limit is 70 miles per hour. 

Speed limits are set based on the following factors:

  • Size of roadway
  • Location of roadway
  • Frequency of accidents
  • Existence and location of intersections and traffic control devices
  • Road surface
  • Professional opinions of traffic engineers
75 MPH is the speed limit for truck drivers in Nebraska

How many hours can a truck driver work at one time?

Because many trucking companies pay their drivers by the mile, truckers are incentivized to keep driving, even when they are tired. This leads to driver fatigue, a common cause of commercial truck accidents.

To combat this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created the Hours of Service Rule, a federal regulation limiting the amount of time that a trucker may drive without stopping.

The Hours of Service Rule lists the following limitations:

  • Commercial truck drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty
  • Drivers may only be on-duty, driving or not, for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours
  • Drivers are required to take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving
  • In adverse conditions, the 11-hour and 14-hour maximums may be increased by up to 2 hours

What is the statute of limitations for truck accidents in Nebraska?

Every personal injury case has a time limit, known as the statute of limitations. After the time limit is up, you lose your right of action. For most personal injury cases in Nebraska, the limit is 4 years.

However, it’s important to contact an attorney to begin working on your case as soon as possible. Personal injury claims can take years to settle, depending on the severity of your injuries, the amount of evidence from the accident, and the willingness of the other party to settle.

The sooner you contact a personal injury attorney after your accident, the better your chances of obtaining a fair settlement.

Attorney shows client documentation

When Should I Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

If you were injured in a truck accident, you will need to prove liability in order to receive a settlement. Nebraska is a comparative negligence state. This means that even if you are found partially at-fault for the accident, you can still receive damages, as long as you are not more responsible than the other party.

Insurance companies will often go to extreme measures to diminish your truck accident claim and avoid paying you what you deserve. While recovering from injuries and dealing with property damage, fighting insurance providers can be stressful and upsetting.

The Advocates are Nebraska truck accident attorneys who are ready to help you recover as fully as possible. We are experienced negotiators and litigators who will take on the stressful parts of the claims process for you, such as determining liability, investigating the accident, and fighting insurance adjusters, so you can focus on feeling better.

The Advocates’ law firm is here to help every step of the way, from building your case to helping you understand your medical bills. We are committed to protecting your best interests and obtaining a fair settlement for you. You deserve a peaceful recovery. You deserve an Advocate.

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