Tim J. O’Brien

Of Counsel

Tim O’Brien was born, raised, and educated in Houghton, Mich. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Olivet College in 1976 and a law degree from Creighton University in 1979. Tim was admitted to the Nebraska and Omaha Bar Associations in 1979 and is admitted to the State and Federal Courts in Nebraska.

Bar Admissions:

  • Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
  • U.S. Federal Courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit

Professional Associations:

  • Omaha Bar Association
  • Nebraska State Bar Association
  • America Association for Justice
  • Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
  • Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America

Education:

  • Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, 1979
    Doctor of Jurisprudence
  • Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan, 1976
    Bachelor of Arts
    Honors: Alvin M. Bentley Fellow

Practice Areas:

Tim in the community
Tim’s Personal Approach to Client Care

“For me, the legal profession has always been as much about family as it is about justice,” said Tim. “I’ve had an interest in the law since an early age because my father and uncles were attorneys, and that tradition continues now with my wife and my son also working as attorneys for Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop. Managing a successful law firm and a successful family really comes down to the same set of core values. Listening openly, caring deeply and pursuing goals vigorously with a high degree of empathy.”

Tim handles plaintiff Personal Injury and focuses on Interstate Trucking Collisions, Automobile Collisions and Product Liability. He is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), Nebraska State Bar Association, Omaha Bar Association, the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, and a Fellow of the Nebraska Bar Foundation.

“There is something very gratifying about building a strong reputation within the community, as a force for positive change and serving as a strong advocate for people who deserve to be heard on a more equal footing in disputes with governmental entities and large corporations. One of the main reasons I chose Personal Injury law as my primary area of focus is the fact that, all too often, valid claims get brushed aside by large organizations simply because they have the resources to delay and frustrate an injured person until they give up their claim. Our firm never gives up, because we represent our clients with the same vigilance and passion as we would put into representing our own family. As I mentioned, in my eyes, our clients are a part of our extended family and our firm has an obligation to provide that same standard of service for every client we represent.”

“Preventing an accident or injury can be even more important than fighting for full compensation after an unfortunate incident occurs,” said Tim. “The Safe Ride Home program we sponsor has prevented countless DUIs and automobile accidents, assisted many people

in seeking to free themselves from domestic distress – and like anything else, it reinforces the idea that actions matter far more than wishful thoughts. When it comes to improving the lives of our clients, Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop is about more than just the highest quality team of attorneys in Nebraska, we provide swift and effective action.”

“What people need to know most is this firm’s passion,” explained Tim. “My wife works here, my friends work here, my son works here, and in a lot of ways the firm itself is almost like having another person in our family. Each day we do all we can to protect, represent and seek justice for every client because at the end of the day, what we are all most interested in doing is helping to alleviate the burden of legal challenges that compound the hardships people face when they become injured or are somehow taken advantage of by others. I listen to our clients because I actually care, and as I told my son when he graduated from law school, it all starts with caring. If you truly care, you can make a huge difference in people’s lives.”

Hear from Tim's clients

“Tim did an excellent job in collaboration with the various insurance companies and medical professionals in my case. He is always in tune with where my case stood, even at times when I was frustrated that the accident occurred. His expertise is greatly appreciated by my family and myself. If you’re in a vehicle accident which you are not at fault – CALL him! You will not regret it.”

– Sharon Ripley

Client Testimonials

4.9 rating of 603 reviews
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Carson OConnor avatar

Carson OConnor

23 hours ago

Had a great experience with Hauptman O’Brien! David O'Neill and his team made the process smooth and seamless, took care of all the paperwork related to medical expenses resulting from my claim, and were very helpful and responsive throughout the whole process. They secured a very fair settlement for me, and I’m grateful for all the work they did on my case. Thank you to David, Desirea, and Lori for all the help!

Ron Beberniss avatar

Ron Beberniss

5 days ago

David was extremely detail oriented and responsive. We always knew where the case stood and were pleased with the outcome.

Julie avatar

Julie

8 days ago

Everyone worked hard to resolve my case. My team was professional, courteous, and so kind to me. They kept me well informed throughout the process, and they were always very timely with their responses to any questions I had. I would highly recommend these fine folks. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Bryan Mattox avatar

Bryan Mattox

12 days ago

Tim O'Brien was prompt when I initially reached out to this firm. There was never any nonsense or unnecessary communication. When my case settled I was contacted and got in right away to finish our business. It was a pleasure working with Tim O'Brien & his staff!

Brandon Cruz avatar

Brandon Cruz

13 days ago

Jeremy Elliot, Nicole Kays, and their team were very helpful, thorough, and understanding in helping me reach a settlement after I was injured in a car accident. I valued their communication and advice throughout the process, and I recommend them highly to anyone.

Derek Simonson avatar

Derek Simonson

13 days ago

I suffered severe injuries in an auto accident in May of 2025. I chose Mr. Cripe to represent me and pursue liability compensation against the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier. After a very tedious but thorough process we were able to secure substantial damages which is more than normally expected. I have nothing but kind words to say about Mr. Cripe. Throughout this ordeal he was very supportive, informative and always asked for my opinion on the given situation. I would choose Mr. Cripe without a doubt if the situation should ever arise again where I need legal counsel.

Marisa Cohn avatar

Marisa Cohn

23 days ago

I would like to send a huge THANK YOU to David O'Neal and everyone at Hauptman O'brien. They were so wonderful to work with. They went above and beyond with helping me through my accident and navigating medical. I highly recommend hiring David for your personal injury needs. You cannot go wrong.

Reginald B York IV avatar

Reginald B York IV

27 days ago

As a college educated working professional, I never wanted or thought I or my family would need the services of a personal injury attorney. When someone in our immediate family was involved in an accident, my wife and I thought we could navigate the insurance process on our own, (after all we weren’t looking to profit from it). We quickly realized the process has become complicated and can turn into a full time job, costing our family in ways we never even dreamed. While I pray we never find ourselves in a situation to need their services again. David will be my first call. Everyone from top to bottom was patient and understanding. They walked us through the process and advised us along the way, filling in the gaps that hospitals, insurance companies and representatives failed to provide. Thanks to David and his wonderful team our family was able to focus on the emotional and physical healing while they found resolution and we were able to move on.

Chris M avatar

Chris M

28 days ago

David and his team were great and made the whole process seamless. Would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a personal injury lawyer.

Della Farris avatar

Della Farris

1 month ago

Choosing Hauptman ,O'Brien , Wolf & Lathrop for my personal injury lawsuit, was one of my better decisions . They were always available & considerate to us . We were kept updated & informed all the way through . Jeremy & Nicole were awesome.. I would highly recommend.

Paulette Henderson avatar

Paulette Henderson

1 month ago

David O’Neill, Jody Bowman & Desiree at the Bellevue Nebraska location were amazing! They explained things thoroughly, It was easy to communicate with them. They outlined exactly the documentation that was needed. They helped us through every step of the process and kept us informed of the progress. It was a pleasure working with them, and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome. I highly recommend them, they are professional, knowledgeable and handle every aspect with efficiency.

Linda C avatar

Linda C

1 month ago

A little over 2 yrs ago I walked through the doors @ Hauptman O’Brian Wolf & Lathrop, a little nervous and a little scared. I was in a car accident on the interstate, my car was totaled and I’m thankful to be here. With their help and reassurance that everything will be fine. And it is. Jeremiah Elliott and his fantastic staff kept me well informed through out the process. It took patients on my part and time to heal too. They were always there to answer my question and so kind. I would recommend their legal service’s for any type of situation you might be in. It will only take a little time to tell your story or situation and listen to what they say. They are there to help you through the legal process and protect you. I will say I’m grateful for their compassion and knowledge of the legal process. I couldn’t do it without them. Thanks to them my case was successful.

Dan Aitken avatar

Dan Aitken

1 month ago

Fortunately I haven’t required their legal services, but I have made use of their “Safe Ride Home” program. I feel safer knowing that this service is available for everyone, not just clients, during the holidays.

Connor Villen avatar

Connor Villen

1 month ago

First time getting into a motor vehicle accident and the team was really helpful during this process. The piece that made me feel better to work with the Hauptman Bellevue office was that they were always asking how I was doing. The office really ensured my health and recovery was the priority. They made me comfortable throughout the whole process, and would recommend anyone in a motor vehicle accident to reach out to this office. Thank you all!

Hannah Miller avatar

Hannah Miller

1 month ago

Fantastic job!! I am so grateful they kept me updated through every step of the process. Thank you so much!

Tiera Robinette avatar

Tiera Robinette

1 month ago

Was a pleasure working with the team. They really fought for us

Michael Ciaccio avatar

Michael Ciaccio

1 month ago

Great communication and amazing work this group did with my settlement

Laron Stewart avatar

Laron Stewart

1 month ago

David cripe is very helpful he will get the job done and get you a good amount of money for your case..I would recommend him to anybody that being injured in a accident thank you David and staff…

Sadie Hall avatar

Sadie Hall

2 months ago

David O’Neill and his team were wonderful. I was in a car accident with my young son that left me with no vehicle and a broken arm. I was getting overwhelmed with phone calls from insurance and hospitals while trying to heal and care for my two young sons. David and his team took care of every communication and kept me in the loop about how things were progressing. Definitely recommend as he and his team are very empathetic and professional!

Jeanne Belitz Jr avatar

Jeanne Belitz Jr

2 months ago

Tim and his asst Janet made everything very easy for me the entire time so I could concentrate on healing. They communicated with me every step of the way. I was not rushed or told what to do. They let me make decisions on how we wanted to approach things. I felt heard and I was happy with the outcome. Thank you for your hard work. I will definitely be recommending you.

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