Lincoln, Nebraska

Help for Lincoln families after a fatal crash, by phone

Fatal personal injury hotline

About Demerath Law Office

I am Larry Demerath, a Nebraska native, a veteran and a Nebraska farmer. For over 50 years I have represented families in motor vehicle cases, and fatal car accident cases are where my experience counts most.

I have recovered more than $50 million for clients in Nebraska courtrooms, including $1,062,500 in a wrongful death case, $1,025,000 for a passenger killed in a crash and $670,000 after an I-80 crash that killed two children.

I earned my law degree at the University of Nebraska College of Law and I am admitted to the Nebraska State Bar, the federal district court, the 8th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. I handle your case myself, by phone, with no travel and no waiting room. You pay nothing unless I win.

How I help families who lost someone

When a crash takes someone you love, you should not have to fight an insurance company alone. I guide your family through the legal process, protect your rights and pursue the compensation Nebraska law allows.

Investigate the crash, gather evidence and identify key witnesses
Uncover every insurance policy that may apply
Deal with the insurance companies so your family does not have to
File a Nebraska wrongful death claim on your family's behalf
Explain the deadlines that apply to your claim
Seek compensation for funeral and medical expenses, lost income and lost support
Take your case to trial if the insurance company will not pay a fair amount
Answer your questions by phone in plain language
Handle everything on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless I win

Tell Larry what happened

Send a message and Larry will contact you. There is no cost to ask.

Expert help in Lincoln, Nebraska for fatal crash injuries

A fatal crash in Lincoln changes a family in a moment. One minute you are making plans for the week. The next you are answering questions from police, a hospital or an insurance adjuster. Grief makes every task harder. My name is Larry Demerath. I have worked with Nebraska families after a death on the road for over 50 years. I will explain what a wrongful death claim is and what steps come next. I will carry the paperwork and the phone calls. Your first talk with me costs nothing, and you can have it from your own home.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The 2023 Census count is 294,757 people, which makes it the second largest city in the state. The village of Lancaster was founded in 1856 and became the county seat in 1859. The town was renamed Lincoln when it was incorporated in 1869, the same year it became the state capital.

The State Capitol, designed by Bertram Goodhue and finished in 1932, is the second tallest state capitol in the country. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was established in 1869 and is the largest university in the state. State government, the university and Lincoln Public Schools are among the biggest employers, along with Bryan Health, Nelnet and Kawasaki Motors. The university is the city's third largest employer.

Rail helped build the city. The Burlington's first train arrived in 1870, Union Pacific service followed in 1877, and Lincoln became a rail hub. Today Interstate 80 reaches the city through seven interchanges. U.S. 6 once carried the Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway through town, and U.S. 77 follows the Homestead Expressway. Nebraska Highway 2 now runs along an 11 mile South Beltway on the southern edge of the city. Lincoln Airport offers daily flights to Chicago, Dallas and Denver. Weather can turn quickly here, and an EF-2 tornado was confirmed in Lincoln in May 2019.

Game days bring the biggest crowds. Memorial Stadium has hosted Cornhusker football since 1890. Pinnacle Bank Arena holds basketball games and concerts. The Haymarket Farmers' Market runs from May to October, and the Lincoln Children's Zoo draws families all season. Many people drive in for these events, so Lincoln roads matter to every family who lives and works here. Antelope Park, which runs from South 23rd and N Streets to South 33rd Street, is another spot where people gather.

AI illustration: The tall Nebraska State Capitol tower rising against a bright blue sky over Lincoln

Events in Lincoln

Lincoln fills up for football, volleyball, baseball and family outings. Big crowds mean more cars, more walkers and more tired drivers heading home.

AI illustration: Fans in red walking toward a large college football stadium in Lincoln on a bright autumn day

Nebraska football at Memorial Stadium

Home games at Memorial Stadium bring Cornhusker fans from all over the state to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Fans arrive by car, by bus and on foot, and many stay to tailgate. After the game, thousands of people leave at once, and downtown streets back up for hours.

AI illustration: High school volleyball players leaping at a net inside a bright indoor arena in Lincoln

NSAA State Volleyball Championships

The state volleyball championships bring high school teams, parents, grandparents and student sections to Lincoln for several days. Families drive in from small towns across Nebraska, often on unfamiliar roads and sometimes in poor weather. Hotels fill up, and the roads near the arena stay busy from morning until late evening.

AI illustration: Children in Halloween costumes walking past pumpkins and fall decorations at a Lincoln zoo

Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo is a fall event at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, where children come in costume to see the animals and decorations. Parents drive in with car seats full of excited kids. Evening arrivals and departures mean low light, and drivers need to watch for families crossing parking areas.

AI illustration: A green baseball field with red seats and city buildings behind it on a clear afternoon in Lincoln

Nebraska Baseball at Haymarket Park

Haymarket Park hosts Nebraska baseball, including fall ball games such as the Red-White Series. Fans come from across Lincoln and the surrounding towns to watch the Cornhuskers play. The ballpark sits close to the Haymarket, so game traffic mixes with downtown visitors, diners and people walking between spots.

Event information: Huskers.com, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. Dates change each year, so check the organizer before you go. The pictures on this page are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of the events.

How Demerath Law Office can help you in Lincoln, Nebraska

Losing someone on a Lincoln road leaves a family with more questions than answers. I am Larry Demerath, a Nebraska attorney for over 50 years. I help families with motor vehicle crash cases and wrongful death claims. I do the work by phone, so you do not have to find a parking space downtown or sit in an office. You can call me from your kitchen table. I will answer your calls myself.

Here is how it goes. The first step is a free consultation. Tell me what happened, who was hurt and what you know so far. I will tell you what I see and what steps to take. If you hire me, you pay no fee unless I win. That is a contingency fee, and I mean it. There is no bill hanging over you while the case moves forward. There is no pressure to hire me, and I will say so if I think you do not need me.

I get the crash report from the agency that responded. I also gather medical records, funeral costs and the proof of what the loss means to your household. Then I deal with the insurance companies so you do not have to. I have recovered more than $50 million for Nebraska clients, though I never promise a result in any one case.

Please do not delay too long. Nebraska generally gives a family two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim. Evidence fades faster than you would think, and a call this week is better than a call next year. Two years sounds long, but it passes quickly after a funeral. My admissions cover the Nebraska State Bar, the federal district court, the 8th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. I studied at Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska College of Law, and I am a veteran. If your family lost someone in Lincoln, call me at 402-677-5656.

AI illustration: Historic brick buildings and a lively street in the Haymarket district of Lincoln in warm light

Fatal car accidents I handle in Lincoln

Lincoln drivers face city streets, interstate traffic and country roads just outside town. Here are eight kinds of fatal crash and what families should know.

Truck crash

Interstate 80 crosses Lincoln, and freight trucks use it day and night. A crash with a big rig can involve the driver, the carrier and the company that loaded the cargo. I move fast to ask that records be kept before they are lost.

Motorcycle crash

On a warm day, riders head out on Lincoln streets and the highways beyond them. Drivers turning left often claim they never saw the bike. Families should not accept that excuse. I look closely at what really happened.

Drunk driver crash

After a game or a night downtown, an impaired driver can cause a deadly wreck on a quiet street. The family may have more than one claim. I review who served the driver and what the evidence shows.

Head-on collision

Two lane roads outside Lincoln leave little room for error. One driver drifting over the center line can cause a head-on crash at full speed. I collect the crash report and scene photos to show what happened.

Intersection crash

Busy Lincoln intersections near the university and along U.S. 77 and U.S. 6 see drivers rush lights and turn without looking. Witnesses and any camera video help. Families should write down names and numbers early.

Rear-end collision

When traffic slows on the interstate or after a game at Memorial Stadium, a distracted driver can hit a stopped car from behind. The impact can be fatal. I make sure no blame is placed on your loved one.

Pedestrian or bicycle strike

Students, shoppers and diners walk and bike around campus and the Haymarket. A driver who looks away for a second can cause a fatal strike. Keep photos, records and receipts, and call me before talking with an insurer.

Single-vehicle or rollover crash

Ice and snow can send a car off a Lincoln road, and a swerve to miss a deer on a rural highway can end in a rollover. Sometimes a vehicle defect is to blame. I look at every possible cause.