FAQs

It happens to everybody. When you or a family member suffer a personal injury, it’s difficult to organize your thoughts. You know there are questions you should be asking, but what are they? Below are some things to get you started and help you obtain the information you need.

I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A PERSONAL INJURY…

Get a Free Consultation!

There is no cost to find out if you have a case, and making that determination early will help you protect your rights. Call an experienced, personal injury attorney as soon as possible, and schedule a meeting.

Do I Need an Attorney?

Yes. The party responsible for your injury will assemble a team of insurance adjusters, investigators and attorneys to work against your case. The goal of established insurance companies is to minimize the severity of your injury and pay as little as possible to settle the claim. You need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to help you receive full and fair compensation.

How Quickly Should I Hire an Attorney?

Immediately—as soon as you’ve received medical attention. Timing is crucial. Witnesses need to be interviewed, measurements obtained and photographs taken. An experienced personal injury attorney will take care of those matters to help preserve the integrity of your case.

DOs and DON’Ts

DO:

keep a list of things you need to remember in case you’re ever involved in an accident. We offer a Free Accident Information notebook that can help.
collect all pertinent information from the other person(s) involved—name, address, telephone numbers, driver’s license numbers, insurance card information, etc.
keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment or someplace handy to take pictures of the damage to property and/or physical injuries
get the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses
notify officers on the scene of all the details of the accident that you can recall, and let them know if you are experiencing pain
seek medical attention immediately if you are injured
keep a daily journal of any mental or physical pain you are experiencing
contact a reputable personal injury lawyer as soon as possible
direct all requests for information, statements and signed documents to your attorney
Contact the Nebraska Bar Association immediately at 402.475.7091 if you are contacted by phone from an attorney offering to represent you. Such contacts are unethical and inappropriate

DON’T:

speak to an insurance adjuster regarding any matter related to your claim
give written or recorded statements to anyone about your case
sign checks or any other documents without first checking with your attorney
fail to contact your attorney if you are approached by any person or organization in relation to your case

What If I’m at Fault?

If you feel you have been the cause of an accident or personal injury to another party, seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. Schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation to help you determine the next steps.

Am I Entitled to Damages?

The first step is to meet with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine if your case has merit. Your total recovery in a personal injury claim is based on a number of factors: precedent, types of damages, the extent of injury, etc. It is the responsibility of your attorney to review each factor and seek appropriate compensation. At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, we have one goal—helping you receive a fair and just settlement.

What Cases Are Personal Injury Cases?

Animal Attacks, Car/Truck/Boating/Motorcycle Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, Faulty Product Injuries, Job-related Injuries, Nursing Home Injuries, Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries, Slip & Fall, Wrongful Death—any situation that involves injury or death due to the carelessness or negligence of persons or organizations.

What Will It Cost Me If I Hire You?

You do not pay any fees during the course of your claim. The amount of the final bill is based on the amount of the settlement you receive—one-third of that amount is used to pay your attorney for the time and services put into processing your case. If Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop is unable to recover any money in the settlement of your case, you pay no attorney fees whatsoever.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?

It’s best to begin the legal process without delay, but depending on the type of case, you may have from six months to two years, perhaps more. To be sure, schedule a no-cost consultation with a reputable personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Case?

Attorneys for both the defendant (the responsible party) and the plaintiff (the injured party) must have time to assemble the data necessary to negotiate a settlement, either in or out of court. If a fair and just agreement can be reached among all parties without going to trial, the case can be settled within days. If the case is decided in court, depending on the complexity and number of witnesses, it can take anywhere from a few days to several months.

Our Services

Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop is Omaha’s most experienced personal injury law firm. We specialize in helping victims of catastrophic injuries, traffic accidents, nursing home negligence and job-related injuries. If you are suffering because of the carelessness or negligence of a person or organization, call us at 402.390.9000 or stop in today at either location for a no-obligation review of your case. You can also arrange a meeting via e-mail.

Our Attorneys

With more than 100 years of combined experience, our attorneys have handled every type of personal injury litigation. Insurance companies know that we will fight for fair and just compensation. Our clients know that we handle cases professionally and aggressively.

Make an appointment to come talk with us. It’s a good idea to schedule an initial, no-cost consultation. If we represent your interests, it’s because we believe in your case and are fully prepared to support it.

Click here to find out more about each of the attorneys at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop.

Our Locations

Omaha
1005 South 107th Avenue, Suite 200

Omaha, NE 68114

402.390.9000

Bellevue

11507 South 42nd Street, Suite 105

Bellevue, NE 68123

402.291.5800

Our Foundation

It is a time-honored tradition at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop to share our success with the community we call home. It’s why we created the Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop Community Foundation. Our foundation helps us fund projects such as the Holiday Safe Ride Home®, a campaign which not only provides people with a designated driver when they’re most in need, but also helps us raise awareness of the safety issues that have the potential to dramatically impact a person’s life. Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop provides financial support to a variety of charitable organizations, but our attorneys and associates also donate their time to vital community causes. Last year, our staff volunteered thousands of hours to community-minded organizations, as well as serving in leadership roles with state and local professional associations.

What are my responsibilities as a juror?

The jury is a unique body because it provides us, as American citizens, with one of the few opportunities to become directly involved in decision making about public matters. It is arguably our most democratic institution, the backbone of our legal system and one of our greatest responsibilities. The right to a trial by jury is one of the cornerstones of a free society. By taking the time away from your busy schedule to participate in the jury process, you are helping to ensure for yourself and others the constitutional right to a trial by jury. For these reasons, your participation in the jury process is essential.

Many prospective jurors who undergo the selection process, or voir dire, will not be chosen to serve on a case. This happens for a variety of reasons and is no reflection on any individual’s background or perceived abilities as a juror. Whether or not you are ultimately selected to serve on a case, you are fulfilling a vital role in the judicial process by being a part of the prospective pool of jurors. A large jury pool is the best guarantee of the judicial branch’s continued ability to provide for impartial jurors in our courtrooms.

By serving on a jury, you have the privilege of providing direct input into the administration of justice. In addition, you will probably find your participation as an officer of the court to be both interesting and educational.

The law firm of Hauptman, O'Brien, Wolf & Lathrop serves injured clients throughout the Midwest, primarily in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota and many others. Our offices located in Omaha and Bellevue serve the following communities: Omaha, Ralston, La Vista, Papillion, Bellevue, Millard, Elkhorn, Gretna, Blair, Fort Calhoun, Fremont, Valley, Wahoo, Kennard, Arlington, Norfolk and Bennington in Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Underwood and Missouri Valley in Iowa.