How to Protect Your Rights After a Personal Injury in Nebraska
Experiencing an injury can be traumatizing and debilitating. That’s why taking initiative to make sure you get the legal representation and justice that you deserve is essential. Nebraska has criteria for what it considers to be serious bodily injuries. These include things like auto accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. In order to preserve your legal rights, you need to take immediate action.
Understanding Nebraska’s Personal Injury Laws
Nebraska follows a four-year limit for most personal injury claims. There’s an exception when it comes to claims against government entities and wrongful death which have a two-year limit instead. Missing deadlines and not staying on top of your case can result in its entire dismissal.
Nebraska also follows comparative negligence law, which means that if your fault pertaining to the injury was less than 50%, you are allowed to seek recovery for damages. If you are deemed to be 50% of or more at fault for the injury, you are barred from being rewarded for any damages whatsoever.
When it comes to claims involving government agencies or medical malpractice, there are possible limits or caps as far as how much you’re permitted to recover.
What to do Immediately After Injury
First thing’s first: seek medical attention right away. Not only is this in your best interest for your own health but having that formal documentation of an injury that can be linked to your accident is very important.
Next, you want to report your incident. Whether it’s to law enforcement, a property owner/manager, or an employer, reporting your incident as soon as possible is essential.
After that, you want to do your best to gather as much evidence as possible, such as photos/videos from the scene, contact information for witnesses who were present, or any physical evidence such as clothing or damaged items.
Finally, you want to do your best to avoid admitting that you had any fault relating to the accident. This can be used against you in the future as far as your case is concerned, even saying the words “I’m sorry.”
Mistakes Commonly Made that Can Harm Your Personal Injury Case
There are common mistakes that are made by victims of personal injury that can result in detrimental outcomes for their case. These mistakes include posting about their accident on social media, ignoring medical advice given to them, waiting too long before seeking help, and failing to provide the necessary documentation related to the injury. Luckily, contacting the right legal counsel will help prevent these types of mistakes from occurring.
Hiring an Experienced Nebraska Personal Injury Attorney
As far as representation is concerned, you want to work with the best legal team as possible. This will help you avoid common insurance tactics, negotiate fair settlements, and prevent lowball offers and shifting of the blame.
This will also help you build a strong evidence-based case because often times you might miss something that an experienced personal injury attorney can help you address.
In addition, this will also ensure that you maximize your compensation by complying with all of Nebraska’s legal deadlines and protocols. After all, attorneys who have experience with these types of cases regularly are much more well-versed than the average citizen. The main aspects that your attorney will keep in mind as far as reparations are concerned include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future treatment or disability.
What to Expect When Working with Shasteen, Morris & Ockander PC
Reaching out for an immediate free consultation regarding your case should be at the forefront of your mind following a personal injury accident. Shasteen, Morris & Ockander PC is a team of qualified and experienced personal injury attorneys that are focused on getting the best possible results for every client. Make sure you don’t wait, and you reach out today to get the compensation and justice that you deserve.
