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Nebraska accident law

Nebraska car accident settlement calculator

Nebraska is an at-fault state that uses modified comparative negligence, 50% bar. You generally have 4 years to file an injury lawsuit. The calculator below applies these rules to your numbers.

Checked against official sources November 5, 20264 cited sourcesHow we calculate

Injury lawsuit deadline4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act)
Fault ruleModified (50% bar)Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-21,185.09
Insurance systemAt-faultNo PIP requirement
Minimum liability25/50/25thousands of dollars

Nebraska settlement estimate

How serious is the injury?
Moderate: months of treatment, full recovery. Typical multiplier 2 to 3.
Applied to your medical bills. Set by the injury above, adjust if you like.
Leave at 0 if unknown.
Lawyer fee, costs and liens
Estimated amount to you
$46,500

Likely range depends on the injury

Economic damages
$16,500
Pain and suffering
$30,000
Injury claim value
$46,500
After your share of fault
$46,500
Attorney fee and costs
$0
Liens repaid
$0

Nebraska: Modified comparative negligence, 50% bar, at-fault (tort) state.

An estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter in some situations, for example for claims against a city or state agency. Talk to a Nebraska attorney about your case.

Nebraska filing deadlines

ClaimDeadline
Personal injury lawsuit4 years
Vehicle and property damage4 years
Wrongful death2 years
Notice of a claim against a government1 year: written claim to the political subdivision's governing body within one year after the claim accrued; suit within 2 years (Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-919(1)).
Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act). Counted from the accident date in most cases.

Negligence personal injury falls under 25-207(3) (4 years) per Nebraska practice; vehicle damage under 25-207(2). Wrongful death: 'shall be commenced within two years after the death of such person' (30-810).

If you were partly at fault

Nebraska follows modified comparative negligence, 50% bar. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were at least as much at fault as the other side (50% or more).

  • With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
  • With 55% of the fault, you would recover $0, because the rule bars your claim.

Plaintiff must be less than 50% at fault (compared with all defendants combined); damages reduced proportionately. Jury is instructed on the effect of the allocation.

Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-21,185.09. Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.

At-fault (tort) state

In Nebraska the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.

Tort state; no PIP requirement.

Minimum car insurance in Nebraska

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required.

Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person. 44-6408(1): no policy issued unless UM coverage is provided 'in limits of twenty-five thousand dollars... and... fifty thousand dollars'; UIM also required.

Damage caps

Nebraska does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases. Punitive damages: Punitive damages are not allowed in Nebraska (Neb. Const. art. VII, sec. 5 directs penalties to schools; courts have held punitive damages unconstitutional).

Dog bite law

Strict liability statute. Strict liability for bites (and for injuries from the dog killing, wounding, injuring, worrying, or chasing persons or domestic animals). Exceptions: trespassers; limited exemption for police/military dogs used under written policy.

Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. 54-601(1). Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Nebraska?

4 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 4 years for vehicle damage (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act)). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.

Is Nebraska a no-fault state?

No. Nebraska is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Nebraska?

Nebraska follows modified comparative negligence, 50% bar (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-21,185.09). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were at least as much at fault as the other side (50% or more).

What is the minimum car insurance in Nebraska?

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.

Does Nebraska cap pain and suffering damages?

Not in ordinary car accident cases.

Sources

Checked against official Nebraska sources November 5, 2026.

  1. Nebraska statute of limitations: Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act)
  2. Nebraska comparative fault: Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-21,185.09
  3. Nebraska insurance system: Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-310
  4. Nebraska dog bite liability: Neb. Rev. Stat. 54-601(1)