By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
When no officer comes to a Nebraska crash, the reporting job falls on you. A Driver's Crash Report must reach the Nebraska Department of Transportation within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or one person's property damage is $2,000 or more, and you can file it online or by mail. An investigator's report can later be ordered from NDOT Highway Safety for $13 plus tax.
Injury and vehicle damage suits generally have 4 years, but wrongful death claims only 2. For claims against a city, county or other political subdivision, a written claim generally must be filed with its governing body within 1 year after the crash, and suit within 2 years, with a possible 6-month extension after the claim is decided or withdrawn. Nebraska applies a modified 50% fault rule: if your fault equals or exceeds the combined fault of those you sue, you recover nothing. Uninsured motorist coverage is required, with liability minimums of 25/50/25. Nebraska had 251 traffic deaths in 2024.
Key rules at a glance
| Personal injury filing deadline | Generally 4 years from the date of the crash Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(3) |
|---|---|
| Property damage deadline | Generally 4 years for damage to your vehicle or other personal property Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(2) |
| Wrongful death deadline | Generally 2 years from the date of death Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-810 |
| Claims against a government entity | For claims against a city, county or other political subdivision, you generally must file a written claim with its governing body within 1 year after the crash, and any lawsuit must generally be filed within 2 years (with a possible 6-month extension after the claim is decided or withdrawn). Claims against the State of Nebraska follow the separate State Tort Claims Act. Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-919(1) |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (50% bar): Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your fault is equal to or greater than the combined fault of those you are suing. Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09 |
| Insurance system | At-fault (tort) |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-509 |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Required |
| Damage caps | No general cap on damages in ordinary car accident cases. Claims against government entities follow the Tort Claims Acts, which have their own rules. |
| Reporting a crash | If no law enforcement officer investigated the crash, you must file a Driver's Crash Report with the Nebraska Department of Transportation within 10 days when anyone was injured or killed or damage to any one person's property is $2,000 or more. You can file online or by mail. |
Getting your crash report in Nebraska
Request an investigator's crash report from NDOT Highway Safety for $13 plus tax by email (NDOT.CrashReport@Nebraska.gov), phone (402-479-4645), mail or in person in Lincoln. Local police and sheriff's offices also release their own reports. Official request page
Checking a Nebraska lawyer
Before you sign anything, confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the official state search, and ask for the fee agreement in writing. Our guide on choosing and verifying a lawyer lists what to ask.
- License search: Nebraska State Bar Association – Nebraska Find a Lawyer
- Lawyer referral: Nebraska State Bar Association – Nebraska Find a Lawyer · 402-475-7098
251 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Nebraska in 2024, according to NHTSA FARS (2024).
Frequently asked questions
›Do I have to file my own crash report in Nebraska?
Yes, if no law enforcement officer investigated. File a Driver's Crash Report with the Nebraska Department of Transportation within 10 days when anyone was injured or killed or damage to any one person's property is $2,000 or more. You can file online or by mail.
›How long do I have to sue after a crash in Nebraska?
Generally 4 years for injuries (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(3)) and 4 years for vehicle or other property damage (§ 25-207(2)). Wrongful death claims are shorter, generally 2 years from the date of death (§ 30-810).
›What happens if fault is split evenly?
You recover nothing. Nebraska bars recovery when your fault is equal to or greater than the combined fault of those you are suing (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09). Below that, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
›How do I bring a claim against a Nebraska county or city?
You generally must file a written claim with the political subdivision's governing body within 1 year after the crash (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-919(1)). Any lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years, with a possible 6-month extension after the claim is decided or withdrawn. Claims against the State follow the separate State Tort Claims Act.
›How do I order an investigator's crash report?
Request it from NDOT Highway Safety for $13 plus tax by email (NDOT.CrashReport@Nebraska.gov), phone (402-479-4645), mail or in person in Lincoln. Local police and sheriff's offices also release their own reports.
Sources
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207 (Nebraska Legislature)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-810 (Nebraska Legislature)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09 (Nebraska Legislature)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-509 (Nebraska Legislature)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 44-6408 (Nebraska Legislature)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-919 (Justia)
- Nebraska DOT – Have you been in a crash?
- NHTSA FARS – State crashes and all victims