Omaha, Nebraska

Wrongful death help for Omaha families, by phone, from Larry Demerath

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 Omaha, Nebraska for fatal crash injuries

When someone you love dies in a crash on an Omaha street, the days that follow are hard to describe. Insurance calls start before the funeral is planned. Bills keep coming. You may not know who to trust or what to say. I am Larry Demerath, and I have helped Nebraska families through this for over 50 years. I listen first. Then I explain your options in plain words and handle the claim, so you can stay with your family. You never have to travel to meet me. You and I can talk by phone, and the first conversation is free.

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha sits on the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska. It is the county seat of Douglas County and the largest city in the state, with 483,335 people in the 2023 Census count. Speculators from Council Bluffs, Iowa, founded the town in 1854, and it was incorporated in 1857. The river is still the eastern edge of the city and of the state.

The railroad shaped the city. In 1862 Congress allowed the Union Pacific to begin building west, and construction started out of Omaha in January 1866. The Union Stockyards opened in South Omaha in 1883 and were once the largest in the world. Union Pacific still has its headquarters here, along with Berkshire Hathaway, Kiewit and Mutual of Omaha. Rail and stockyard history still shapes the south side.

Today traffic moves on Interstates 80, 480 and 680, and on U.S. 75, which locals know as the JFK and North Freeways. West Dodge Road, part of U.S. 6, carries drivers toward Fremont. Eppley Airfield brings in travelers, and bridges over the Missouri River link Omaha with Council Bluffs. Drivers here deal with merging lanes, construction zones and heavy commuter traffic in every season, including icy mornings in winter. A pedestrian bridge over the river, opened in 2008, also joins the two cities for walkers and cyclists.

People come to Omaha for the Old Market, Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Lauritzen Gardens, the Durham Museum and the College World Series. Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center add students, staff and patients. That is a lot of people on the road every day. A crash on these streets touches families who live, work and travel through Omaha, and local roads matter for that reason. Families who lose someone deserve answers about what happened on those roads.

AI illustration: Colorful view of the Omaha skyline and the Missouri River on a clear sunny afternoon

Events in Omaha

Omaha hosts large events through the year. When more visitors arrive, more cars share the same streets, and the risk of a serious crash goes up.

AI illustration: Fans watching a college baseball game at a downtown Omaha ballpark under a bright blue sky

College World Series

The College World Series brings top NCAA men's college baseball teams to Charles Schwab Field Omaha near downtown. Fans come from across the country, and many families return year after year. Hotels, restaurants and parking lots fill up, so traffic downtown and on the interstates grows heavier while the games are played.

AI illustration: Rows of white artist tents with colorful paintings and pottery on a sunny Omaha street

Omaha Summer Arts Festival

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival gathers about 135 visual artists, a stage with continuous live music and a hands-on Children's Fair. Families, art buyers and music fans walk among the booths and stay for the food. Crowds like that mean extra cars and many people crossing streets on foot nearby.

AI illustration: Glowing evening scene at a large Omaha zoo with colorful lights along a tree lined walkway

Zootacular at Henry Doorly Zoo

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium covers 160 acres and offers special evening programs such as Zootacular. Parents bring children after dark, when light is low and many drivers are tired from the day. Families also travel in from other towns, so roads around the zoo can get crowded.

AI illustration: A minor league baseball park near Omaha glowing in warm evening light with a green field

Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park

Werner Park, in Papillion in the Omaha metro, is home to the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The ballpark seats more than six thousand fans and also hosts concerts and charity events. Many fans drive in on Interstate 80 and Highway 370.

Event information: CWS Omaha, Summer Arts Festival, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, MiLB Werner Park. 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 Omaha, Nebraska

Losing someone in a crash in Omaha is a heavy blow. I am sorry. My name is Larry Demerath, and I have practiced in Nebraska for over 50 years. My office is on Nicholas Street in Omaha, but I do my work for families by phone. You do not have to drive anywhere, find parking or sit in a waiting room. That matters when you are grieving and the funeral is still ahead. I will answer your questions honestly.

The first call is a free consultation. I listen to what happened, ask a few plain questions and tell you honestly what I think. Motor vehicle crash cases and wrongful death claims are what I handle. Nebraska clients have recovered more than $50 million with my help. Every family's loss is different, so I never promise a result. There is no charge for that first conversation, and there is no pressure to hire me. I take every call myself.

Fees are on a contingency basis. I take no fee unless I win your case. I deal with the insurance companies, so you do not have to take their calls. I gather the police report, the medical bills and the records that show what the loss means to your family. A crash in a metro area like Omaha often involves more than one driver, more than one insurer and busy roads such as Interstate 80, Interstate 480 or West Dodge Road. I work out who was responsible and what evidence matters. I do not leave families to guess.

Time matters. Two years from the date of death is generally the limit for filing a Nebraska wrongful death claim. Evidence gets lost, witnesses move away and memories fade. An early call lets me protect what can still be saved. My admissions cover Nebraska, the federal district court, the 8th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. I am a veteran, and I farm in Nebraska too. If your family lost someone in Omaha, please call me at 402-677-5656.

AI illustration: Brick lined street in the Old Market district of Omaha with shops and warm afternoon light

Fatal car accidents I handle in Omaha

Fatal crashes happen in many ways on Omaha roads. Here are eight common kinds and what a family should know about each one.

Truck crash

Interstates 80, 480 and 680 carry heavy freight through Omaha every day. When a large truck is involved, more than one company may share the blame. I look at the driver, the trucking company and the records they must keep, and I act quickly.

Motorcycle crash

Riders in Omaha share busy roads such as West Dodge Road with cars that do not always look twice. Families often hear that the rider was at fault. I check the facts myself and do not accept that story without proof.

Drunk driver crash

Omaha has many restaurants, bars and events, and some drivers get behind the wheel when they should not. A claim may reach beyond the driver. I review the facts of the night with your family and explain what options may exist.

Head-on collision

A driver who crosses the center line or enters a road the wrong way can cause a head-on crash in seconds. These crashes are often fatal. I gather the police report and the scene evidence to show what happened and who is responsible.

Intersection crash

Omaha has many busy intersections where drivers turn left, run a red light or miss a stop sign. Each driver may tell a different story. I look for witnesses, camera footage and the crash report to find the truth.

Rear-end collision

Stop-and-go traffic on the Omaha interstates can turn deadly when a driver is distracted or following too closely. These cases can be harder than they look. I make sure your family is not blamed for a crash someone else caused.

Pedestrian or bicycle strike

People walk and ride through the Old Market and downtown Omaha all day long. A driver who fails to see them can cause a fatal strike. Families should keep every record and photo, and call me before they speak with an insurer.

Single-vehicle or rollover crash

A rollover can happen after a tire blowout, a swerve for an animal or a slick road in winter. Sometimes a defect or a poor road is part of the cause. I look at everything that may have played a role.