Nebraska Accident Statistics

According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), there were 29,418 Nebraska crashes in 2020 that resulted in 14,100 injuries and 217 fatalities.  Over 21 percent of fatality accidents in Nebraska involved a driver who had been drinking.  Barring any dramatic reductions in accident rates, most Nebraskans will eventually be involved in an accident, and about half of those people will be injured.  Most motor vehicle accidents are caused by negligent driving.  Accidents caused by negligence result in stressful emergency room visits and are often followed by painful recovery periods.

The NDOT Standard Summary of Nebraska Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents for 2020 states that in 2020, there were 4,628 Lincoln motor vehicle accidents that caused 1869 injuries and 10 fatalities.  71 Lincoln motorcycle accidents injured 60 people and killed 4 people in 2020.

Motorcycles are different than other vehicles because they aren’t enclosed like cars and trucks.  Most motorcycle riders are very safety-conscious, but accidents can be very serious because motorcycles lack most of the safety features found in other vehicles.  There are no seatbelts, airbags, or collision avoidance systems.  Motorcycles are small and other drivers may not see them. Our motorcycle injury attorney representation for a motorcycle accident claim starts with a thorough investigation of the circumstances of the accident.  We examine the location of the accident and talk to any witnesses.

Frequent Motorcycle Injury Accidents

Lane Changing Accidents – The other driver may not have seen the motorcycle beside them.

Rear End Accidents – Motorcycles can stop quickly, so cars are likely to follow too close.  A rear end accident can knock a rider off their bike and could easily cause a fatality.

Fail to Yield When Turning – Other drivers may not be attentive and turn into the path of the motorcycle.

Serious motorcycle accident injuries can include the following:

Brain Injuries – Wearing a seatbelt helps, but brain injuries can still happen.

Spine Injuries – Paraplegia or quadriplegia are possible.

Broken Bones, Disfigurement, Face and Tooth Injuries – Lack of a protective enclosure makes these injuries more likely.

Large commercial trucks are dangerous.  Truck accidents often cause catastrophic life-changing injuries or death.  The severity of truck accidents is increased because trucks are big and they travel on high-speed highways.  Trucks are difficult to operate safely. Truck accident injury claims are often complex situations involving several responsible parties.  At-fault parties may include the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the owner of the truck or its cargo, the truck or trailer manufacturer and those who maintain the truck or trailer.

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries and litigation.  Truck insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with.  They are tough because the claims involve severe injuries and large amounts of money.  Large trucks are often owned by large companies who have large insurance policies.  Large claims are likely to go to court because there is so much exposure.  You may have to fight very hard to get fairly compensated for a truck accident injury claim.

Damages is the term that is used to describe all types of harm to victims of accidents or to their property.  The term also applies to the money that is paid to compensate injury victims.  It is often not possible to completely undo the effects of an accident caused by another driver’s negligence.  However, it is possible to make a negligence claim and determine the value of that harm.  The payment of money to compensate for damages is the only practical way to set things straight after an accident has harmed your health or your property.  We work to maximize compensation for all types of damage.

Property damage mostly refers to your vehicle and its contents. One of the first things we deal with is the property damage claim. It is normally possible to determine the value of your vehicle and personal property. Settling the property claim as soon as possible is necessary so you can get back on the road.

General damages include compensation for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and scarring and disfigurement.  These are things that have monetary value, but the exact amount is open to debate.  Special Damages include anything you can give a precise value to.  Medical bills, lost wages, long term disability and loss of earning capacity are examples of special damages.  Future medical expenses are another type of special damages.

Physical Injuries

Some of the most serious injuries are Brain Injuries.  Your intelligence and memory can be affected.  Brain injury victims often have permanent personality changes.  They can also cause migraines and headaches or post-concussion syndrome.  Brain injuries are a leading cause of death after car accidents and many people have been left permanently disabled.  Brain injuries deserve serious compensation.  It is important to receive the proper treatment to make the best possible recovery from a brain injury and to have all of your cognitive deficits completely evaluated.  Blows to the head can also cause problems with your vision or with your hearing.

Spinal cord injuries can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.  Such severe disabilities destroy a victim’s quality of life and they are expensive to treat.  You may require full-time medical care and your home may require expensive modifications to accommodate your disabilities.  Assets must be identified and every possible source of insurance must be used effectively.

An injury attorney may be able to help you make an injury claim for Emotional Distress associated with an accident caused by negligence.  However, the level of distress would have to be extreme to improve your injury claim.  Witnessing the death of a family member could lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other psychological distress.  Severe disabling or disfiguring injuries may also cause great stress.

Emotional Distress Injuries have traditionally been hard to prove in Nebraska courts.  However, as psychological counseling becomes more accepted and common, there will probably be more claims for Emotional Distress here in the future.

Steven A. Montag is very experienced.  He provides aggressive professional representation for Lincoln Nebraska auto accident injury victims.  Mr. Montag has helped thousands of people make successful injury claims since 1998.  If you have been injured in an accident contact the Montag Law Office at (402) 434-2880 for a free initial consultation.