{"id":374721,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:52","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/nebraska-law\/nebraska-negligence-laws.html"},"modified":"2023-01-05T15:45:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T20:45:38","slug":"nebraska-negligence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/nebraska-law\/nebraska-negligence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Nebraska Negligence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nebraska Negligence Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Garrett Monteagudo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The vast majority of injury lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence. To be negligent is to do something (or not do something) that a "reasonable person" wouldn’t (or would) do, causing injury to the person who was owed a duty.<\/p>\r\n

Motorists, for example, have a duty to remain sober when they drive. When motorists drive drunk and cause an accident which results in another’s injuries, then they are negligent and likely will be found liable for the other person’s injuries. If you are found liable for someone’s injuries, it means you must pay monetary damages for medical costs, lost wages, ongoing care, or even emotional distress.<\/p>\r\n

This article provides a general overview of negligence laws<\/a> in the state of Nebraska.<\/p>\r\n

Nebraska Negligence Laws: At a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

States adhere to virtually the same definition and elements of negligence, although they sometimes differ in how contributory negligence affects recovery. In Nebraska, for instance, a plaintiff who is equally or more negligent than all defendants may not recover any damages.<\/p>\r\n

Additional details about how Nebraska handles negligence claims are listed in the following chart. See FindLaw’s Negligence<\/a> section for more articles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Code Section<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

\u00a7 185.07 et seq.<\/a> of the Nebraska Revised Statutes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Modified Comparative Negligence<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Plaintiff’s award diminishes proportionally with negligence, but negligence equal to or greater than the defendant’s is a total bar to recovery<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Contributory Negligence \u2014 Limit to Plaintiff’s Recovery<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

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Contribution Among Tortfeasors<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Where tortfeasors work in concert to commit an act\/tort, there is joint and several liability for economic and non-economic damages. For all other actions, the tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable for economic damages but not for non-economic damages. Tortfeasors are only responsible for their portion of the responsibility for non-economic damages<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Uniform Act<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

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Note: State laws are subject to change at any time (sometimes without notice) through the enactment of newly signed legislation, decisions from higher courts, and other means. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you may also want to contact a Nebraska personal injury attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\r\n