Norfolk, Nebraska

Compassionate wrongful death help for Norfolk families, 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 Norfolk, Nebraska for fatal crash injuries

After a crash takes someone from you in Norfolk, the days that follow feel unreal. Calls come from police, insurers and funeral homes, and you may not know who to trust. I am Larry Demerath, a Nebraska attorney with over 50 years of experience in motor vehicle crash and wrongful death cases. If your loved one died on a road in Norfolk or elsewhere in Madison County, I am here to help. I listen to your story, explain your choices without legal jargon, and handle the insurance companies for you. Call me for a free consultation. It costs nothing.

Norfolk, Nebraska

Norfolk is a city in Madison County in northeastern Nebraska. The Census Bureau counted 26,147 people here in 2023. It sits about 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 76 miles southwest of Sioux City, Iowa. The Elkhorn River runs through the southern part of town. Norfolk was the seventh largest city in Nebraska at the 2020 Census.

Lutheran settlers from Wisconsin chose the spot where the Elkhorn and its North Fork meet. A party arrived in July 1866 and founded St. Paul's Lutheran, the first church in Madison County. Norfolk was named county seat in 1867 but lost the title to Madison in 1875. The city's name comes from a version of North Fork. Many Nebraskans still say Norfork. Railroads reached Norfolk between 1879 and 1882 and tied the young town to the rest of the state.

Today Norfolk is a hub for the region. US 81 and US 275 meet here, and Nebraska Highway 35 runs northeast toward Wayne. Nucor, Faith Regional Health Services, a grocery distribution center and the public schools are among the biggest employers. Northeast Community College draws students from across the area. Norfolk Regional Airport serves the region. A flying school opened here in 1928, and the municipal airport followed in the 1940s. The Norfolk Regional Center, a state institution, has taken patients since 1888. Farm families, plant workers and truck drivers all use the same roads.

Norfolk is also the hometown of Johnny Carson. He moved here at age 8 and graduated from Norfolk High School. The Elkhorn Valley Museum displays his Emmy awards. Residents enjoy Ta-Ha-Zouka Park along the Elkhorn River and Skyview Park with its lake trail. A town this size is close knit. When a crash happens on a local road, the loss is felt at schools, workplaces and churches across the city.

AI illustration: Elkhorn River winding past green trees and a park bridge in Norfolk Nebraska

Events in Norfolk

Norfolk draws crowds all year for these four events. Visitors and locals share busy roads, and extra traffic raises the chance of a serious crash.

AI illustration: Audience seated in a theater in Norfolk Nebraska watching a comedian on a bright stage

Great American Comedy Festival

Norfolk created this comedy festival in 2008 to honor its native son Johnny Carson. Shows take place at the Johnny Carson Theatre at Norfolk Senior High School. Comedy fans travel in from across the region, and late nights mean many people driving home after dark.

AI illustration: Carnival rides lit in bright colors at the Madison County Fair in Nebraska at sunset

Madison County Fair and Rodeo

The county fair brings rides, food vendors, 4-H exhibits, rodeos, a rabbit show, a dog show and live music. Local families show animals and projects they worked on all year. Neighbors from the surrounding farm country drive in, and traffic builds near the fairgrounds.

AI illustration: Colorful fireworks bursting over Skyview Lake in Norfolk Nebraska at night

Big Bang Boom

This fireworks show at Skyview Park is billed as the largest in the Midwest. Families bring chairs and blankets to the lake and watch the sky light up. When it ends, thousands of people leave at once, and drivers must watch for walkers.

AI illustration: Outdoor concert stage with colorful lights and a crowd at Divots in Norfolk Nebraska

Divots Concert Series

Divots Conference Center in Norfolk hosts outdoor concerts. The guide lists past performers including Dierks Bentley and Journey. Fans arrive from Norfolk and nearby towns, and many leave late in the evening, which is when tired or impaired drivers are most dangerous.

Event information: Great American Comedy Festival, Yahoo News, Nebraska Traveler Guide, Nebraska Traveler Guide. 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 Norfolk, Nebraska

Your family lost someone in a crash in Norfolk, Nebraska, and I want to help carry some of the load. For more than five decades I have focused on motor vehicle crashes and wrongful death claims. Over my career, Nebraska clients have received more than $50 million through my work.

I work with Norfolk families by phone. You do not have to drive to Omaha or sit in a waiting room. You and I can talk at your kitchen table whenever you are ready. I will ask what happened, answer your questions, and tell you plainly what I see.

Norfolk crashes often involve US 81, US 275 or Highway 35, where trucks, commuters and farm equipment share the pavement. I will request the crash report, gather medical and funeral records, and track down every insurance policy that may apply. When an adjuster calls you, send the call to me. You should not be pressed into a statement while you grieve.

You pay nothing to start. I take cases on a contingency fee, so you owe me nothing unless I win. Your first consultation is free, and there is no pressure to hire me.

Many families do not know where to start. I will tell you what to gather, such as the crash report number, witness names, photos and bills. If you cannot find them, I will help track them down. I will also stay in touch by phone, so you always know where your case stands. I return calls promptly. Ask me anything.

Time matters. The general Nebraska deadline for a wrongful death claim is two years after the date of death. Please call well before that date. Skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired and witnesses forget.

I belong to the Nebraska State Bar and I am admitted to the federal district court, the 8th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. I am also a veteran and a Nebraska farmer. Call me at 402-677-5656 when you are ready to talk about your loss.

AI illustration: Skyview Lake in Norfolk Nebraska with a walking trail, green trees and calm blue water

Fatal car accidents I handle in Norfolk

Fatal crashes happen in many ways, and each type raises its own questions. Here are eight kinds, with what Norfolk families should know.

Truck crash

Steel, groceries and farm goods move through Norfolk by truck on US 81 and US 275. A loaded semi cannot stop quickly. When a truck is involved, I look for the driver's records, the company's insurance and any log gaps.

Motorcycle crash

Riders enjoy the open highways around Madison County in warm months. Other drivers often pull out in front of them and say they never saw the bike. Families of lost riders deserve real answers, not that excuse.

Drunk driver crash

Concert and festival nights fill Norfolk with people and late drivers. Someone who drinks and then drives can be held responsible for a death. In some cases, a business that kept serving alcohol may share the blame.

Head-on collision

Outside the city, long stretches of US 275 and Highway 35 have one lane each way. A driver who drifts over the line can end lives in seconds. Phone records and the crash scene often tell the story.

Intersection crash

Where US 81 and US 275 meet in Norfolk, turning drivers and through traffic cross paths all day. Each side may blame the other. I gather witness names and nearby camera video before it is deleted.

Rear-end collision

Stop-and-go traffic on Omaha Avenue, which carries US 275 through town, can catch a distracted driver by surprise. At speed, a rear-end hit can be fatal. Keep every bill and talk to me before you speak to an adjuster.

Pedestrian or bicycle strike

Walkers use the Skyview Lake trail, cross streets near Northeast Community College and stroll to events in town. A driver who fails to yield owes a duty to people on foot. Dusk makes them hard to see.

Single-vehicle or rollover crash

Winter ice, gravel roads and farm field entrances near the Elkhorn River valley can send a car into a ditch or a roll. These crashes may look like no one's fault. A defective part or road hazard can change that.