Omaha Wrongful Death Lawyer

Plaintiff-focused wrongful death lawyers who pursue full recovery for grieving families across Omaha.

If someone you love died because another person was careless, our Omaha, NE wrongful death lawyer can carry the legal weight so your family does not have to. Jason Ausman built Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. around serious injury and loss, and we have handled these claims for more than two decades. We work on contingency, which means no fee unless we recover for your family, so contact us today to get started.

Wrongful Death Attorney Omaha, NE

A wrongful death claim is a civil action brought when a person dies because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful act. It does not replace a criminal case, and it does not require one. The claim exists so the people left behind can recover for what the death took from them, both in dollars and in the harder-to-measure ways a family changes forever.

In Nebraska, a wrongful death case is generally brought by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin. An Omaha wrongful death attorney helps the family open the estate, identify who is responsible, and pursue the losses the law allows. Accidents remain among the leading causes of death in the country, with close to 200,000 lives lost to unintentional injury in a single recent year, according to CDC mortality data. Unintentional injury now ranks among the top causes of death nationwide, a point reflected in the CDC leading causes tables. Behind each number is a family like yours. No claim brings a person back. What it can do is hold the responsible party accountable and steady a family’s footing for what comes next.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Omaha

Fatal injuries arise in many ways, and each kind of case calls for a different investigation. What stays constant is the need to act before evidence disappears. We represent families across Omaha in the situations below and others like them.

• Fatal car accidents. Crashes at high speed, at intersections, or with impaired drivers claim lives every year in Nebraska. The at-fault driver’s insurer often starts building its defense within days. We reconstruct the wreck and pursue every driver and insurer responsible for the loss.
• Truck and commercial crashes. When a heavy truck causes a death, the trucking company and its insurer move quickly to protect themselves. Logs, inspection records, and electronic data can vanish if no one demands them. We move just as fast to preserve that proof.
• Motorcycle deaths. Riders have almost no protection in a collision. These cases often involve unfair assumptions about the victim. We work hard to counter that bias with facts.
• Medical negligence deaths. A missed diagnosis or a surgical error can turn a treatable condition into a fatal one. Hospitals rarely concede fault on their own. We bring in qualified medical sources to show what went wrong and why.
• Workplace and construction fatalities. A death on the job may involve more than a workers’ compensation claim. A negligent contractor or equipment maker can share the blame. We look beyond the obvious for every responsible party.
• Premises and fall-related deaths. Unsafe stairs, poor lighting, and ignored hazards can kill, especially for older adults. Property owners are supposed to keep their spaces reasonably safe. They can be held accountable when neglect leads to a fatal fall.
• Defective product deaths. A faulty vehicle part, machine, or consumer product can cause a death no one saw coming. Proving the defect takes technical work and the right specialists. We trace the chain from design to sale to identify who is accountable.

Why Choose Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. as my Wrongful Death Lawyer in Omaha, NE?

Experience That Holds Up Under Pressure

Jason Ausman has tried serious injury and death cases in Nebraska since 2001. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor reserved for a small share of the bar. Michelle Dreesen, licensed in Nebraska and Iowa, brings 25 years of practice and is active in the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. We have handled wrongful death matters for roughly 24 years, and that history shows in how we prepare.

Compassion and Contingency Representation

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured people and grieving families. We treat each family with patience, because we know a settlement is not the point. Accountability is. We accept wrongful death cases on contingency, so your family pays no attorney fee unless we recover, and the first meeting costs nothing.

What Is Important to Understand About a Wrongful Death Case?

These claims raise legal questions families rarely expect to face. Understanding the basics can make the road ahead a little less overwhelming, and it can help you avoid steps that quietly hurt a claim.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases

Nebraska law lets a family recover for the financial and personal losses a death causes. The categories often include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• The income and financial support the person would have provided
• The value of lost household services and care
• Loss of the companionship, guidance, and society of the loved one
• Medical bills incurred before death

A wrongful death lawsuit often runs alongside a survival claim for what the person endured before passing. The way a life insurance payout interacts with a claim surprises many families, and it deserves careful handling. Sorting out the full available compensation is one of the first things we do. We also account for losses that are personal rather than financial, like the guidance a parent gave or the partnership a spouse provided. Those losses are real, and Nebraska law recognizes them.

What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?

Several early steps protect a family’s ability to recover later. They are easy to overlook while grieving:

• Opening an estate and appointing a personal representative
• Preserving physical evidence before it is repaired or discarded
• Identifying every party whose negligence played a role
• Keeping careful records of expenses tied to the death

Knowing how to file a claim on behalf of someone who has died is its own hurdle, and the rules are not obvious. There is also a point at which it becomes clear that legal action is the only way to get answers. Recognizing that moment early protects your options. Acting sooner also means evidence is fresher and witnesses are easier to reach.

What Is The Wrongful Death Case Timeline?

Every case is different, but most follow a recognizable arc. The general path looks like this:

• The estate is opened and a representative is named
• We investigate the death and gather records and reports
• We consult the medical or technical sources the case needs
• We present a demand and negotiate with the responsible insurers
• We file suit and prepare for trial when negotiation falls short

Some families reach a fair resolution in months. Others need a year or more, particularly when liability is contested or several parties point fingers at one another. We keep you informed at each stage so the process never feels like a black box.

What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?

You do not need to gather everything before we talk. Bring what is within reach, and we will help with the rest. Useful documents include:

• The death certificate, if it has been issued
• Any accident, police, or incident reports
• Medical bills and records related to the death
• Information about the at-fault party and any insurance

We will use the consultation to understand your family’s situation and explain how a claim might proceed. It is free, it is private, and there is no pressure to decide anything that day.

What Are Important Nebraska Legal Resources for Wrongful Death Cases?

Nebraska statutes set the deadlines and rules that govern these claims. Reading them directly can help you feel more grounded in a confusing time. The resources below let you do exactly that.

• A wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death under Nebraska’s wrongful death statute.
• The state applies a modified comparative negligence rule that can affect recovery when fault is shared among the parties.
• Nebraska’s damages rules allow recovery for both economic losses and the loss of a loved one’s society and companionship.

Reach Out to Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. to Schedule a Consultation

When your family is ready, we are here to talk through what happened and what your options are. Our Omaha wrongful death attorneys handle these cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. Contact us for a free, confidential case review, and we will respond promptly and treat your family with the care this moment deserves.