Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
Motor vehicle accidents include a wide range of collisions, including those involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, rideshare, and pedestrians. If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle crash, finding an experienced auto accident lawyer specializing in your type of claim is crucial. At Knowles Law Firm, we have handled all types of motor vehicle accident claims, including the following:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are among the most common motor vehicle collisions, with 29,418 traffic crashes in Nebraska in 2020. However, they often happen quickly, making it challenging to know whose negligence caused your injuries. Depending on your unique circumstances, one or more of the following parties may be liable for the accident:
- Driver: If another driver was under the influence, driving recklessly, or failing to follow traffic laws, they may be responsible for the collision.
- Manufacturer: Perhaps a defective car part caused the accident. In this case, the manufacturer may be liable.
- Government Agency or Property Owner: Government agencies and property owners are responsible for keeping their roads clear and in good condition. If they fail to do this and an accident occurs, they could be held accountable.
- Employer: If the driver responsible for the accident was working or their employer failed to train employees or maintain vehicles properly, the employer could be liable.
- Pedestrian: A pedestrian who ignores signals or runs out into the street without giving drivers time to stop could be held responsible for a car accident.
We conduct a thorough investigation to identify the liable party and gather evidence to prove their negligence directly caused the accident and your injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents
While riding a motorcycle can be a thrilling way to explore Nebraska, it can also be dangerous due to the minimal protections riders have. Unfortunately, no matter how many safety measures you take, someone else may neglect their duty of care and cause an accident and serious injuries. In these cases, the personal injury attorneys at Knowles Law Firm can help you understand the state laws that may apply to your claim, including the following:
- Helmet Law: In Nebraska, all motorcyclists under 21 must wear a helmet. Those over 21 are not legally required to wear a helmet if they wear eye protection while riding and complete a basic motorcycle safety course.
- Lane Splitting: Lane splitting is illegal in Nebraska, prohibiting the use of a motorcycle between lanes of traffic in the state.
- Required Equipment: At minimum, your motorcycle should have head, tail, and brake lights, front and rear brakes, horn, turn signals, and two mirrors to be street legal.
Our knowledgeable Omaha motorcycle accident lawyers can help you better understand these laws and how they may affect your personal injury claim.
Truck Accidents
Due to their size and weight, truck accidents can cause serious injuries to those involved. If you have been hurt in a trucking accident in Nebraska due to someone else’s negligence, our experienced Omaha truck accident attorneys can help you build a strong claim and hold the at-fault party liable with the following evidence:
- Electronic data contained on:
- Event data recorders
- Engine Control Module
- Electronic Control Module
- Powertrain Control Module
- Body Control Module
- Airbag Control Module
- Dashcam footage
- DOT logbooks
- Mechanical and repair records
- Medical documents, including your records, bills, doctor’s notes, and test results
- Pay stubs
- Photos of the accident and scene
- Witness statements
- Receipts related to repairs
- Police report
- Pictures of your injuries
- Communication between you and other involved parties
- Insurance for the truck company
With our access to resources and advanced negotiation skills, you can trust us to fiercely advocate for your rights and do everything possible to seek the justice you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
We understand you may have questions about your motor vehicle claim, so we are here to provide the answers you need to make the best decisions for your future.
How Can a Lawyer Help After a Motor Vehicle Accident?
At Knowles Law Firm, we provide unmatched services that cover every aspect of your claim, including investigation, evidence gathering, negotiating with insurance adjusters, and taking your claim to court, if necessary. With this comprehensive support, you can focus on recovery and have the best chance of achieving maximum compensation for your losses.
What Compensation May You Receive After a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Depending on the severity of your injuries and specific situation, you may recover economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity, and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and emotional distress.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, motor vehicle accident victims have four years from the date of the collision to file their claims. We can help you pursue your case promptly and meet this deadline.
Personal Injury Claims
If you have suffered injuries in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may file a personal injury claim and pursue compensation for your losses. At Knowles Law Firm, we have obtained multi-million dollar settlements for our personal injury clients, so you can feel confident and comfortable working with us on your case. We have successfully worked on several types of personal injury claims, including the following:
Dog Bites
In Nebraska, dog owners are strictly liable for any injuries or damages their dog causes unless the victim was unlawfully on the owner’s property at the time of the bite or the dog was performing military or police duties. This strict liability law also applies to other dog actions, such as tearing up property or jumping on someone.
With this statute, you do not have to prove the owner was negligent to receive compensation. Instead, our dog bite lawyers can help demonstrate your injuries resulted from the dog’s bite and that you were not trespassing to achieve a successful outcome.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
If you hit your head in a car accident, fall, or other incident, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, which disrupts the brain’s normal function. These injuries can have a long-term impact on your life, and our traumatic brain injury lawyers are here to help you secure full compensation for your losses. However, to do so, we conduct a thorough investigation and build a strong claim with the following evidence to prove the severity of your injuries:
- Medical images, including CT scans and MRIs
- Diagnostic testing results
- Witness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Brain mapping or diagrams
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring results
With this information from your medical records, we can hold the liable party liable for your current and future losses.
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a heartbreaking experience no family deserves to go through. While pursuing legal action and compensation cannot bring them back, you and your family can seek justice and hold the liable party accountable. However, it is essential to note that the personal representative, also called the executor, of the deceased person’s estate must be the one to file a wrongful death claim, unlike other states that allow family members to file.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims
After suffering injuries due to another party’s negligence, you deserve to focus on your recovery instead of worrying about the legal process. Our dedicated personal injury lawyers at Knowles Law Firm do just that. We use our knowledge to answer your questions, which may include the following:
Should You Hire a Lawyer to Help With Your Personal Injury Claim?
Having a lawyer’s help with your personal injury claim can be highly beneficial. With our 55 years of experience, proven track record of success, and personalized approach, you can significantly increase your chance of securing fair compensation without negotiating with adjusters on your own.
What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?
When filing a personal injury claim, you must include evidence that proves the liable party owed you a duty of care, breached this duty, directly caused the accident and your injuries, and your injuries resulted in damages.
How Long Does the Personal Injury Claim Process Take?
The amount of time it will take to resolve your personal injury claim depends on several factors, including the complexity of the case, each party’s willingness to settle on an outcome, and court schedules. Therefore, some claims may be resolved in months, while others may take a few years.
Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability refers to property owners’ responsibility to maintain their premises and ensure it is safe for visitors. If you are injured on someone else’s property because they failed to fix a problem they knew about or warned you of potential dangers, you may file a claim and hold them liable with the help of the premises liability attorneys at Knowles Law Firm.
Slip-And-Falls
Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the many types of premises liability claims we have handled. Falls are among the leading causes of injuries, with over 6.9 people being treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in 2021. If you have suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall accident due to another party’s negligence, your claim must prove the following points:
- Duty of Care: The property owner owed you a duty to care for your safety and could have foreseen their actions causing harm.
- Negligence: The liable party breached this duty of care by acting negligently.
- Causation: This negligence directly caused the slip-and-fall and your resulting injuries.
- Damages: Your injuries resulted in damages.
At Knowles Law Firm, our slip and fall lawyers can help gather and analyze evidence to prove these points and hold the property owner accountable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability claims can be complicated, especially if they occur at your workplace or involve a major company. Our seasoned lawyers are here to answer your questions and take on your claim, no matter how complex.
How Is the Value of Your Premises Liability Claim Determined?
Injuries from a slip-and-fall or other accident on someone else’s property can impact several aspects of your life, all of which deserve recognition and reimbursement. When calculating your claim’s value, we consider various factors, including the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, lost wages from missed work, your quality of life, and the level of negligence by the liable party.
Can You File a Premises Liability Claim in Nebraska If You Were Partially Responsible?
If you are partially responsible for an accident on someone else’s property, you may still file a claim and recover damages with Nebraska’s modified comparative negligence rule. With this system, each party involved receives a percentage of fault, which gets deducted from their respective damages. For example, if you are 15% responsible for your injuries, and your claim is worth $300,000, you will receive $255,000. However, anyone over 50% at fault cannot collect any compensation.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Premises Liability Claim?
While having a personal injury lawyer is not required to file a premises liability claim in Nebraska, it is highly recommended. Partnering with a trusted attorney allows you to focus on your recovery while an experienced professional handles every aspect of your claim with diligence and care. This gives you the best chance of securing maximum compensation while having a stress-free legal experience.
Product Liability Claims
If you are injured by a defective product, such as a car part, medication, or tool, through no fault of your own, you may file a product liability claim. While every case is unique, most typically fall under one of the following three categories:
- Negligence: This type of case generally involves injuries that result from a design or manufacturing defect in a product. When proving liability in this type of claim, we demonstrate the liable party had a duty of care to make a safe product, failed to do so, and directly caused your injuries and damages.
- Strict Liability: If you bought a defective product in the distribution chain and it caused you harm, your claim may fall under strict liability. With these claims, we prove the defect exists and caused your injuries.
- Breach of Warranty: When you purchase a product, the express warranty represents the item’s safety produced by the manufacturer, and the implied warranty implies the product is safe if used for its intended purpose. If you were injured by a product when using it as intended, you may file this type of claim.
Several parties are involved in designing, manufacturing, and testing products to ensure their safety. If a product has a defect in design, manufacturing, or instructions, our experienced product liability lawyers can help you hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Product Liability Claims
Product liability claims can be complex, as they often involve major companies, their insurance companies, and legal teams. Fortunately, our personal injury attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and resources to take on your claim and answer your questions.
Who May Be Liable for a Defective Product?
With several parties involved in ensuring a product’s safety, the designer, manufacturer, retailer, or wholesaler may be liable for your defective product-related injuries, depending on your unique situation.
How Do You Prove a Product is Defective?
As the victim filing a product liability claim, you carry the burden of proof. We can help you fulfill this responsibility by presenting evidence that proves you used the product as intended, the product was defective, the defect caused your injuries, and your injuries resulted in damages.
What Should You Do With a Defective Product?
If you have been injured by a defective product or an item with insufficient instructions, it is essential to keep the product and its packaging instead of returning it or throwing it away. You can also keep the receipt, manual, and warranty information, all of which are essential forms of evidence.
