For those who have been injured in a car accident on Interstate 680, facing the aftermath can be a traumatic and overwhelming experience. Navigating the complexities of medical bills, lost wages, and insurance claims while trying to recover physically and emotionally is a heavy burden.
But those who have suffered due to the negligence of others on this notoriously dangerous stretch of highway do have options to seek justice and compensation. The dedicated I-680 car accident lawyers at Berry Law are here to guide injured people through this challenging process and fight for the full and fair settlement they deserve.
Why Choose Berry Law for an I-680 Car Accident Lawyer and Claim?
At Berry Law, our attorneys have a successful track record of securing substantial verdicts and settlements for I-680 accident injury clients. We understand the immense physical, emotional, and financial impact a catastrophic injury has on the individual and their family.
We get to know each client personally so we can convey their story in a powerful, persuasive way. While aggressively pursuing the maximum compensation possible, we also treat clients with the compassion they deserve during this difficult time in their lives. For us, our clients are not just case numbers, they are people who we are determined to help make whole again.
Understanding the Risks of I-680
Interstate 680, running from West Omaha, Nebraska, to Crescent, Iowa, has sadly earned a reputation as a treacherous highway since its construction in the late 1950s. This vital transportation artery carries a very high volume of traffic, including a large number of commercial trucks and commuters in the Omaha metro area. The combination of heavy congestion, high speeds, dangerous curves, poorly marked interchanges, constant construction, and the region’s often adverse weather conditions, leads to frequent accidents.
According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, there were over 900 accidents on I-680 in 2021 alone. Certain stretches, like the areas near the Mormon Bridge and the intersection with I-80, are particularly hazardous. Speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving are common factors. Multi-vehicle pileups are an all too frequent occurrence during snow and ice storms.
When high-speed collisions occur on I-680, the consequences are often catastrophic. Accidents can cause life-altering injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed or amputated limbs, severe burns, and disfiguring lacerations. Treating these devastating harms can require extensive hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, assistive devices, and ongoing care. Medical expenses can quickly soar into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
On top of exorbitant healthcare costs, seriously injured people often cannot work for extended periods, losing critical income. Some may never be able to return to their careers. This loss of earning capacity combined with massive medical debt can be financially ruinous for individuals and families. The extreme physical pain and emotional anguish take an immense toll as well. Lives can be utterly upended in the blink of an eye.
Complex Legal Challenges of I-680 Car Accidents
When catastrophic injury accidents happen on an interstate highway like I-680, the legal issues involved can be incredibly complex. Liability refers to the legal responsibility for the accident and the resulting harm. Identifying all parties who may have contributed to the crash through negligent actions is essential to securing the maximum compensation the injured person deserves.
Determining liability is rarely straightforward. Multiple parties may share fault, from reckless drivers to negligent trucking companies to entities responsible for road maintenance. Out-of-state drivers and vehicles are frequently involved. Potential sources of liability include:
Negligent Drivers
Driver error is the most common cause of accidents on I-680. Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, fatigued driving, and reckless maneuvers are all behaviors that frequently lead to crashes. When a driver fails to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel and causes injuries to others, they can be held liable.
Truck Drivers and Trucking Companies
I-680 is a major route for commercial trucks transporting goods. When truck drivers cause accidents by driving unsafely, both the driver and their employer may be responsible. Trucking companies are required to ensure their drivers are properly trained and their vehicles are safely maintained. Failure to meet these obligations may create liability exposure.
Government Entities and Their Contractors
State and local government agencies, in conjunction with their contractors, are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining I-680 and its surrounding infrastructure. When accidents result from hazardous road conditions, improper signage, malfunctioning traffic signals, or other negligent failures by these entities, they may be liable. Special rules apply to injury claims against government agencies or their contractors, and injured parties often have just one or two years at most to assert their claim, so injured parties should talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
A diligent investigation is necessary to identify everyone who shares fault. Under Nebraska law, liability is apportioned between all responsible parties. A personal injury lawyer familiar with handling claims involving multiple liable parties can explain this standard and how it may apply to their client’s case.
This is one reason it is important for someone injured in an I-680 crash not to admit any fault at the scene or when talking to the insurance adjusters. Insurance adjusters may try to get claimants to make statements that damage their case in order to limit the insurance company’s financial liability. Skilled insurance representatives may drag out the process to wear injured victims down to get any statement that can be used against them.
For those trying to cope with devastating injuries and an uncertain future, dealing with aggressive insurance reps can feel like fighting a losing battle. Combating these tactics requires skillful legal counsel.
How Berry Law Can Help as an I-680 Car Accident Lawyer
The accomplished legal team at Berry Law conducts in-depth investigations to conclusively determine and prove fault. We collaborate with forensic experts to reconstruct the accident, analyze physical and documentary evidence, and identify all liable parties.
Injured people can trust us to build the strongest case possible against all responsible parties and to aggressively pursue the full compensation they are due. With Berry Law in their corner, clients have the dedicated advocacy they need to prevail. For over 50 years, our dedicated legal team has provided unwavering support to injured people in their fight for justice.
Our team has intricate knowledge of the legal complexities surrounding interstate highway accidents. We thoroughly investigate the crash to gather and preserve vital evidence. We analyze accident reports and medical records, interview witnesses, and collaborate with accident reconstruction specialists. With this foundation, we build rock-solid cases that prove liability and the full extent of our client’s damages.
While our clients focus on healing, we take on all the stressful legal burdens. We handle every aspect of the insurance claim process, submitting thorough documentation and persistently negotiating for maximum settlements. If the insurance company refuses to make a sufficient offer, we have the trial experience to confidently take the case to court.
When to File an I-680 Accident Injury Claim
If someone or their loved one has been harmed in a crash on Interstate 680, taking prompt action is essential. There are strict legal deadlines for filing injury claims. In Nebraska, the statute of limitations is oftentimes four years from the date of the accident in most cases. However, there are situations, such as when a government actor is involved, when an injured person’s claim may be forever barred if not asserted within as little as one year. Therefore, it is advisable to get the legal process started as soon as possible while the evidence is fresh and to avoid any possible issues with the statutory deadline.
The first step is to get in touch with an experienced I-680 car accident lawyer. At Berry Law, we offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. In a confidential consultation, we will listen to an injured person’s story, thoroughly answer their questions, and advise on their best legal path forward. If we take on the case, our client will owe us no fees unless and until we win compensation for them.
What Types of Compensation May be Available for an I-680 Accident?
When someone has been seriously injured or tragically killed in an accident on Interstate 680 caused by another party’s negligence, they may be entitled to several types of compensation. The purpose of this compensation is to “make whole” the injured person and their family, to the greatest extent possible, by providing the monetary resources they need to rebuild their lives.
In personal injury cases, potential damages include:
Medical Expenses
The liable party can be held responsible for covering all medical costs related to the accident injuries. This includes emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, doctor visits, prescriptions, rehabilitative therapies, medical equipment, home health assistance, and any other necessary care. When injuries are permanently disabling, damages can include projected costs of all future medical needs.
Lost Income
Injured individuals can seek compensation for the income they lose while recovering and unable to work. For those whose earning capacity is diminished due to lingering impairments, damages may include the projected lifetime value of reduced earnings.
Pain and Suffering
This category encompasses payment for the physical pain and emotional anguish the injured person endures due to the accident. There are several methods used to calculate a reasonable figure for these non-economic damages.
Disability and Disfigurement
When accident injuries cause permanent disability or disfiguring scars, the responsible party can be required to compensate for the associated physical limitations, loss of quality of life, and psychological impacts.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Injured people may receive payment for the detrimental effect their impairments have on their ability to participate in activities they formerly enjoyed, like hobbies, exercise, or social events.
In wrongful death cases, additional categories of damages may be awarded to surviving family members, including:
Medical and Funeral Expenses
Compensation can cover medical costs incurred from the time of the accident to the family member’s death, as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Lost Financial Support
When the deceased was a primary income provider for the family, damages can include the projected value of the financial support their survivors would have received had they lived.
Loss of Services
The surviving family can receive compensation for the monetary value of all the household services the deceased previously provided, such as childcare, property maintenance, or bookkeeping.
While no amount of money can erase the tremendous damage inflicted by a catastrophic accident, maximizing compensation helps to protect the futures of those deeply impacted. Having sufficient resources can make all the difference in their ability to heal and move forward.
However, obtaining full and fair compensation is a complex undertaking. It requires proving liability through extensive evidence and meticulously calculating damages, often with the assistance of economic and medical experts. Aggressive legal advocacy is a must, as insurance companies fight hard to minimize payouts.
Contact Berry Law Today to Speak to an I-680 Car Accident Lawyer
The accomplished I-680 car accident attorneys at Berry Law have a proven history of success in securing the maximum compensation available for clients devastated by serious injuries and wrongful death. We thoroughly prepare every case to prevail in settlement negotiations or court, if necessary. Injured people and their families can trust us to provide the strong representation they need in the pursuit of justice.
The compassionate, battle-tested lawyers at Berry Law are ready to stand up and fight for the injured. We will pour all our knowledge, skills, and resources into pursuing full compensation. Contact us today to learn how we can help. Call the law firm at (402) 466-8444 or contact us online.