Valentine, Nebraska

Help for Valentine families after a fatal crash

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 Valentine, Nebraska for fatal crash injuries

In a small town like Valentine, Nebraska, a fatal crash is felt by everyone. The person was a neighbor, a coworker or a face at the cafe. Your family may be far from a big city and unsure where to turn. I am Larry Demerath, and I have worked as a Nebraska attorney for over 50 years. I help families in Valentine and across Cherry County after a loved one dies in a crash. I handle wrongful death claims and I work by phone, so you do not have to drive to Omaha. Call me, and I will explain your options.

Valentine, Nebraska

Valentine is the county seat of Cherry County, in north-central Nebraska. The Census Bureau counts 2,631 people here in 2023, so it is a small town. It sits just north of the Niobrara River, on the northern edge of the Sandhills. Cherry County is wide and open, and it is known as the top beef-producing county in the country. Winters are cold and snowy, with about 34 inches of snow in an average year, and summers can be hot.

The town was founded in 1882. Train service began in 1883, when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad arrived. The town is named for Edward K. Valentine, a Nebraska representative. Until 1967 the town was split between two time zones. Each February the post office re-mails Valentine's Day cards, which brings the town some fame. Fort Niobrara began as a military post nearby, and the Centennial Hall museum was built in 1897.

Four highways meet in Valentine: U.S. 20, U.S. 83, U.S. 12 and Highway 97. U.S. 83 crosses the Niobrara on a modern bridge beside the historic Bryan Bridge, built in 1932. Distances are long out here. Winter weather can make a long drive harder still.

Valentine is also a gateway for visitors. People come to float the Niobrara, a National Scenic River, and to camp at Merritt Reservoir. Many come to see wildlife at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, just east of town. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge covers about 72,000 acres of Sandhills. Smith Falls State Park, east of town, has the highest waterfall in Nebraska at about 70 feet. Merritt Reservoir, about 26 miles southwest, covers nearly 3,000 acres and draws campers and anglers. The Cowboy Trail runs through town for walkers and cyclists. The town stays small, but in summer the roads can feel busy.

AI illustration: The clear Niobrara River winding through green bluffs near Valentine Nebraska on a sunny day

Events in Valentine

Valentine is small, but its events draw large crowds from other states. Visitors who do not know the roads and highways add to the traffic through town.

AI illustration: The Milky Way glowing over tents and a calm lake under a dark Nebraska sky

Nebraska Star Party

The Nebraska Star Party is a week-long stargazing gathering at Merritt Reservoir. Seasoned stargazers, curious beginners and families come for dark skies, since the reservoir is a certified International Dark Sky Park. A beginner's field school and daytime fun like swimming and boating round out the week.

AI illustration: Colorful inner tubes floating down the clear Niobrara River past green bluffs

Floating the Niobrara River

Visitors float the Niobrara National Scenic River by tube, canoe and kayak. Much of the river is easy paddling for beginners, and Saturdays can bring hundreds of tubers to the water. Families and groups drive in from across the Midwest, then shuttle back along the highways near town.

AI illustration: A cowboy on a galloping horse roping a calf in a dusty rodeo arena

Cherry County Fair Rodeo

The Cherry County Fair Rodeo is part of the county fair. Cowboys and cowgirls compete in horse and cattle roping and wrangling. Ranch families from across the Sandhills and neighbors from town fill the grandstand, and trucks with stock trailers come in on the highways.

AI illustration: Western storefronts and a cowboy musician with a guitar on a sunny Main Street

Old West Days and Old Settlers Day

Old West Days and Old Settlers Day celebrate the cowboy history of Valentine. Cowboy poets, western artists and classic cowboy musicians gather in town. The town once earned the name of the toughest cowboy town in Nebraska, and today visitors arrive to hear the stories.

Event information: Nebraska Star Party, National Park Service, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Arts Council. 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 Valentine, Nebraska

Someone from your family died in a crash in Valentine, Nebraska, and I am deeply sorry. I know that in a small town, the loss spreads far. Neighbors bring food, the whole community knows, and you still have to deal with insurance and paperwork. I have helped Nebraska families for more than 50 years, and I would like to help yours.

I take on Nebraska crash cases and wrongful death claims. Whether the crash was on U.S. 20, U.S. 83, U.S. 12 or Highway 97, or on a county road far from town, I start with the same steps. I collect the police report, the medical records and any photos. Then I work to learn who was at fault and what your family can claim. I will also ask about the road, the weather and who may have seen the crash.

Valentine is far from my Omaha office, and that does not matter. I work by phone. You do not need to drive hours to meet me, and there is no waiting room. I will call at a time that suits your family, even in the evening. Distance should never keep a family from getting help, and I will keep you informed at every step. I am also a Nebraska farmer, so I understand ranch and farm schedules.

Your first consultation is free. I take these cases on a contingency fee. That means you pay nothing unless I win. I will explain the fee clearly before you decide anything, and I will tell you honestly what I think of your case.

Please do not wait. The law in Nebraska generally gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. Evidence fades, and witnesses move on or forget. Calling early lets me protect what matters.

Over the years I have recovered more than $50 million for Nebraska clients. I am a veteran and a Nebraska native. Call me at 402-677-5656, and tell me about your loved one. I will listen.

AI illustration: Rolling green Sandhills prairie with a windmill and cattle under a bright blue sky near Valentine

Fatal car accidents I handle in Valentine

Each fatal crash has its own story. Here are eight kinds, and what each can mean for a family in Valentine and Cherry County.

Truck crash

Cattle trucks, grain trucks and freight haulers share the highways that meet in Valentine. A truck crash can involve the driver, the owner of the truck and several insurers. Keep every paper you get, and call me before you talk to any insurance company.

Motorcycle crash

Riders love the long, open roads of the Sandhills, and a summer day can bring many motorcycles through town. Drivers do not always see them. A rider has little protection, so I will look closely at who was at fault and what your family may claim.

Drunk driver crash

A drunk driver crash is painful for any family, and in a small town it is even harder. Police reports and test results matter. I can explain how a criminal case and a wrongful death claim differ, and what your family can do while you wait.

Head-on collision

Many roads around Valentine are two lanes with long stretches and little traffic, so drivers can speed or drift. A head-on crash at highway speed is often fatal. Tell me about the scene early, since skid marks and vehicle data can fade.

Intersection crash

Several highways meet in Valentine, and visitors who do not know the town may miss a stop sign or turn into traffic. An intersection crash can happen in a moment. Photos of the scene and names of witnesses will help your family later.

Rear-end collision

On summer weekends, drivers towing tubes, boats and campers slow suddenly for turns or river launch points. A distracted driver can hit them from behind at full speed. Please do not give a recorded statement to the other insurer before you call me.

Pedestrian or bicycle strike

The Cowboy Trail and downtown streets bring walkers and cyclists near traffic. Someone on foot or on a bike has no protection in a crash. If your loved one was hit, I will listen first and then explain what your family can do.

Single-vehicle or rollover crash

Long miles, winter ice and wildlife on the road can send a car or pickup into a ditch. Even when no other vehicle was involved, a defect or road hazard may have played a part. Help can also be far away, so I look at every detail.