Bellevue Personal Injury Attorney
Legally Reviewed By: Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner At Knowles Law Firm
Injuries from accidents can disrupt every aspect of life, from work responsibilities to family obligations. Personal injury cases require legal action to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages resulting from another party’s negligence.
Knowles Law Firm has served Nebraska clients for 55 years, securing multi-million dollar settlements. The experienced lawyers at Knowles Law Firm handle cases throughout Bellevue, focusing on each client’s unique circumstances while navigating insurance negotiations and legal proceedings. From car accidents to wrongful death claims, we provide comprehensive representation for injury victims.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury claims in Nebraska allow victims to pursue compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages cover measurable financial impacts from the injury, while non-economic damages address the intangible effects on quality of life.
Injury victims can seek compensation for multiple damage categories, including:
- Medical expenses: emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and future medical care related to the injury
- Lost income: wages missed during recovery and reduced earning capacity from permanent disabilities that limit work abilities
- Property damage: repair or replacement costs for vehicles, personal belongings, and other items damaged in the accident
- Pain and suffering: physical discomfort, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life resulting from the injury
- Permanent scarring: compensation for visible disfigurement that affects appearance and causes psychological impact
Nebraska follows a modified comparative negligence rule, reducing compensation proportionally to the victim’s fault percentage if they are less than 50% at fault.
When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Timing affects the strength of personal injury claims. Evidence degrades over time, witness memories fade, and insurance companies use delays as leverage in negotiations. Contact a lawyer immediately after receiving medical care for your injuries.
Nebraska law imposes a four-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. Wrongful death cases require filing within two years. Missing these deadlines permanently bars recovery regardless of case merit.
Early legal representation protects your rights during insurance company investigations. Adjusters often contact injury victims before they understand the full value of their claim. Statements made without legal counsel can reduce compensation later. A Bellevue accident attorney evaluates your case, handles all communications with insurers, and gathers evidence while it remains accessible.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do Bellevue Lawyers Handle?
Personal injury law includes a wide range of accident types and negligence scenarios. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common category, including collisions involving cars, motorcycles, commercial trucks, and pedestrians. Workplace injuries form another significant area, with private industry employers reporting 17,100 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in Nebraska during 2023.
Premises liability cases happen when property hazards cause injuries. These include slip-and-fall accidents, inadequate security, swimming pool accidents, and structural failures. Product liability claims address defective consumer goods, medical devices, and industrial equipment. Medical negligence cases involve substandard care from healthcare providers.
Wrongful death claims provide compensation to families after fatal accidents. A Bellevue wrongful death attorney represents surviving family members in cases involving vehicle collisions, workplace fatalities, medical errors, and other preventable deaths. Dog bites, construction accidents, and recreational injuries also fall within the scope of personal injury law.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Large truck accidents cause severe injuries due to the truck’s size and weight. Commercial trucking regulations create additional liability considerations not present in standard vehicle collisions. Driver logbook violations, improper loading, inadequate maintenance, and company policy failures can establish negligence. A Bellevue truck accident attorney investigates compliance with federal and state commercial vehicle regulations.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Vulnerable road users face heightened injury risks in traffic accidents. Nebraska law establishes specific right-of-way rules for pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, but pedestrian accidents still occur through distracted driving, failure to yield, and poor visibility. A Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyer pursues compensation for victims struck while walking or cycling.
How Does Nebraska’s Comparative Negligence Law Affect Your Claim?
Nebraska applies a modified comparative negligence standard in personal injury cases. This system reduces damage awards based on the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. Victims can recover compensation as long as they bear less than 50% responsibility for the accident.
Courts or juries assign fault percentages to all parties involved in an accident. A victim found to be 20% at fault in a $100,000 claim receives $80,000. This reduction applies to all damage categories, including medical expenses and lost wages.
Insurance companies use comparative negligence to minimize payouts. They investigate accident circumstances to assign maximum fault to injury victims. Common tactics include questioning medical treatment timing, suggesting pre-existing conditions caused injuries, and arguing the victim contributed to the accident through minor rule violations.
Why Choose Knowles Law Firm for Your Bellevue Personal Injury Case?
Knowles Law Firm brings 55 years of personal injury experience to each case. We have secured multi-million dollar settlements, demonstrating their ability to maximize compensation for injured clients. Our family-owned practice focuses exclusively on personal injury law, allowing concentrated expertise in accident investigation, medical documentation, and insurance negotiation.
We handle all aspects of personal injury claims, from initial case evaluation through settlement negotiation or trial. This includes gathering police reports, securing medical records, interviewing witnesses, consulting expert witnesses, calculating damage values, and filing court documents within statutory deadlines. If you sustained injuries in Bellevue through another party’s negligence, contact Knowles Law Firm to discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Bellevue
What should I do after an accident in Bellevue?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, prioritize your safety and health. Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Document the scene by taking photos, gathering witness contact information, and noting important details. Avoid speaking with the other party’s insurance company before consulting a personal injury lawyer, as insurers often try to minimize payouts. Contact Knowles Law Firm to discuss your options.
How do I know if I have a personal injury case?
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence—such as a reckless driver, a careless property owner, or a medical provider’s mistake—you may have a valid claim. Our Omaha personal injury lawyers can evaluate your situation during a free consultation and determine the best course of action.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Nebraska?
Nebraska law generally allows four years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury case. However, some cases, such as medical malpractice or claims against government entities, may have shorter deadlines. It’s best to seek legal representation from a Bellevue personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss any filing requirements.
Will my case go to trial?
Many personal injury cases are resolved through settlements without going to trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your case to court. Our Omaha personal injury lawyers have extensive trial experience and will fight for the compensation you deserve.
About Our Attorney
Robert M. Knowles
Attorney & Partner at Knowles Law Firm
Robert has tried cases in both state and federal courts and was selected as one of the top 100 litigation lawyers in Nebraska for 2014 by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Less than 1.5 percent of lawyers nationally are selected for this recognition. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating an attorney can obtain. He was also selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2019 Top Rated Lawyer.
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