Check out our January newsletter!
steffenslaw.com
Bill
Jay
Jeremiah
Broken Bow: (308) 872-8327 Kearney: (308) 767-2650
Grand Island: (308) 767-2695 North Platte: (308) 221-6204
Lincoln: (402) 414-4898 Omaha: (402) 414-4896
January 2026
Justice After Loss
How Nebraska Families Can Seek Compensation in Wrongful Death Cases
The 2-Year Clock In Nebraska, the deadline, or statute of limitations, to file a wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the date of the person’s death. If you don’t file within that window, the family permanently loses the right to seek compensation, and the court will dismiss the case. The clock starts ticking immediately, and delays can significantly weaken a case. • Evidence disappears: Witnesses move or their memories fade, and physical evidence from an accident scene is quickly lost or cleaned up. • Investigations take time: We must collect police reports, medical records, and employment histories. We may also need to consult with financial and medical professionals to calculate the full extent of your family’s loss. What Compensation Is Available? Compensation in a wrongful death claim is for pecuniary loss, the measurable monetary losses your family has suffered. You cannot recover damages for your personal grief or sorrow. The compensation typically includes several parts: • Loss of Future Earnings and Financial Support: This is usually the largest part of a claim. We work with economists to project the income, benefits, and retirement savings your loved one would have provided for your family over their expected lifetime. • Loss of Services: Think about the practical contributions your loved one made to the household. This includes childcare, home maintenance, financial management, or caring for an elderly parent. • Loss of Companionship and Society (For a Spouse): For a surviving spouse, this represents the value of the comfort, care, and companionship they have lost. While deeply personal, the law recognizes this as a real, compensable loss. • Loss of Comfort and Guidance (For Children): For children who have lost a parent, this compensation helps alleviate the
A wrongful death claim in Nebraska is a civil action filed when someone’s death results from the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another person or entity. These claims are designed to provide financial compensation to the family and are governed by state-specific laws. Who May File? Only the Personal Representative, also known as an “Executor” or “Administrator,” of the deceased person’s estate files a wrongful death lawsuit. A spouse, parent, or child can not file directly in their own name. The process to appoint a Personal Representative depends on whether your loved one had a Will. If they did, the Will likely names a person for this role. If not, the court will appoint someone, typically a close family member. Who Receives the Compensation? The compensation is for the “exclusive benefit of the next of kin,” the family members who suffer a financial loss due to the death. The legal priority for compensation goes first to the surviving spouse and children. If there are none, it would be the parents of the deceased, then siblings and other relatives, defined by inheritance laws. The court ultimately approves how any settlement or award is distributed, based on the specific financial loss each person has suffered, not just their relationship to the deceased.
Continued on Page 2 ...
SteffensLaw.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
... continued from Cover
loss of parental guidance, education, and support they would have otherwise received. • Medical Expenses Before Death: Any medical bills incurred for treating the injuries that ultimately led to your loved one’s death. • Funeral and Burial Expenses: The costs associated with the funeral and burial. Nebraska does not have a cap on the amount of money you recover in most wrongful death cases. The Wrongful Death Claim Process Step 1: Your Initial Conversation It all starts with a free phone call with our office to help us understand your situation and explain your rights. It is a time for you to ask questions and share your story.
the appropriate family member formally appointed as the Personal Representative by a judge. Step 3: The Investigation Phase Our team will launch a comprehensive investigation where we will: Gather evidence: We will collect police reports, accident reconstruction reports, medical records, witness statements, and employment records. Identify all at-fault parties: In some cases, more than one person or entity is responsible, such as an employer, property owner, or driver. Consult with professionals: We may work with medical professionals to understand the full extent of the injury and with economists to calculate the long-term financial impacts. Step 4: Filing and Negotiating We will then send a formal demand to the responsible party’s insurance company, accompanied by unshakable evidence
of both liability and your family’s total financial loss. Most cases are settled at this stage without needing to go to court. Step 5: Filing a Lawsuit in Court If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will file a wrongful death lawsuit and take your case to court. We handle every aspect of the litigation process, from filing motions and handling discovery to representing you at trial. No legal action changes the past, but holding the responsible party accountable provides a sense of justice and the financial resources your family needs to move forward. Let us take on the legal burdens of the investigation, deadlines, and negotiations. We can be your family’s advocate.
Call Steffens Law Office P.C. today at 402-414-4896.
Step 2: Opening the Estate and Appointing a Representative
–Bill Steffens
We will file the necessary paperwork with the court to open the estate and have
BRINGING HOME A NEW PET?
QUICK TIPS TO START PET LIFE RIGHT
Bringing home a new pet for the first time can be exciting and nerve-wracking. One moment, you might be thinking of quiet nights curled up on the couch with your new furry friend, and then suddenly catch yourself worrying whether your carpets and furniture
them any good. Birds, reptiles, and other unusual pets have their own needs, so it’s worth doing a little homework before buying. Routine also makes life easier. Feed them at the same times, build in bathroom breaks, and play regularly. Miss a walk, and your dog will remind you in no uncertain terms. Socialization matters, too. If you have a puppy, try mixing up your walking routes. Exposing it to different streets with new sights, sounds, and smells stimulates it in a good way and reduces anxiety. Kittens should be given space to explore without being pushed. A rescue cat may take weeks before it relaxes, but patience usually wins. And don’t delay that first vet visit. Even if your pet looks fine, an early exam can catch problems and set you up with a vaccine schedule. Some clinics even discount first visits, especially for rescues. The first few weeks as a new pet owner can be messy. Shoes might get chewed, accidents happen, and sleep takes a hit. Over time, though, the rough edges fade into stories. Before long, the same animal that kept you on your toes will become one of the best parts of your household.
will survive. That mix of feelings is perfectly normal, but preparation can help keep your stress levels down.
Start by getting your house ready. Tuck away cords, move toxic houseplants, and set up an area with food and a bed. Puppies and kittens are like curious toddlers. They always seem to find the one thing you missed, so assume anything left out could be chewed, batted, or swallowed.
Food is another early test. For dogs, real meat should be at the top of the list. Cats need the same, since grain-heavy diets don’t do
2 | (308) 872-8327
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
The Unexpected Inventions of WWI BORN IN THE TRENCHES
TAKE A BREAK
BOOTS CANDLES CARNATION FURNACE GARNET HOCKEY INSULATE JANUS OPPOSITE RESOLUTION
World War I doesn’t usually make people think of fashion or fitness. The images that often come to mind are mud, wire, and smoke. However, while the war tore borders apart, there were inventions also developed that found their way into everyday life. Take the trench coat, for example. Officers needed something lighter than wool when they were slogging through wet ground. London retailers Burberry and Aquascutum designed coats that kept the rain out and had straps for gear. They worked so well that people wore them long after the fighting stopped and never went out of style. The same shift happened with watches. Before the war, women mostly wore wristwatches, and men carried pocket watches on chains. A pocket watch worked fine for civilian life but not while fighting a battle in the trenches. Strapping a watch to the wrist freed up both hands, which made a big difference in combat. Once the habit formed, pocket watches never really came back. Shortages also created new products. Cotton was hard to get, so Kimberly-Clark developed Cellucotton for bandages. Nurses noticed it worked as a makeshift sanitary pad, which led to Kotex. A few years later, the same material was sold in a thinner form as Kleenex, first as a makeup remover and eventually as the tissue we all know. The zipper was also useful during wartime. Known then as the “hookless fastener,” it was sewn into money belts and flight suits. It beat rows of buttons for speed, and the design spread into everyday clothing once the war ended. Even Pilates has roots in that era. Joseph Pilates, a German held in Britain, made resistance gear out of bed springs so men stuck in camp hospitals could stay strong. His idea for keeping people moving became a fitness program that later took over gyms worldwide. It’s strange to think that the same war that brought barbed wire and poison gas also left behind coats, watches, tissues, and a form of exercise. These items have become so integrated into daily life that most people never guess where they started. That’s the odd legacy of World War I.
SKATING SWEATER
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
Ingredients
• 3 dried guajillo chiles • 2 dried ancho chiles • 1 medium onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes • 3 lbs beef chuck roast • 2 cups beef broth • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp dried oregano • 2 tsp ground cumin • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp salt • Pepper, to taste • Corn tortillas • Fresh cilantro and diced onion for garnish
Directions 1. Soak dried chiles in hot water for 15 minutes. 2. Process chiles, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a blender until smooth. 3. Place beef in a slow cooker and pour the chili mixture over it. 4. Add beef broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. 5. Cook on low for 8–10 hours or until the beef is tender. 6. Shred the beef using forks, then mix back into the sauce. 7. Fry tortillas in oil until crispy, then assemble tacos as desired.
Inspired by Inspired by SimpleWhisk.com
SteffensLaw.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(308) 872-8327 SteffensLaw.com PO Box 363 Carnegie Prof. Bldg.
Broken Bow, NE 68822 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Legal Steps to Move Forward After an Untimely Death
2
A First-Timer’s Guide to Pet Prep
3
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
WWI Inventions Still Used Today
4
Why Intentions Matter in Estate Planning
Avoiding Inheritance Misunderstandings BEYOND FAIR SHARES
When it comes to estate planning, many feel the simplest solution is to distribute everything equally to heirs and avoid the fight. That may look nice and neat on paper, but equal splits can feel anything but fair in practice. In a British Columbia case, a mother left her rental property to be shared between her son and daughter. The arrangement looked straightforward from the outside. However, the daughter discovered that her brother had already received close to $3 million in lifetime gifts from the estate, while her gifts totaled $120,000. She challenged the will, and the court agreed with her. In this case, a tidy 50–50 split didn’t square with the history behind it. Situations like this one show how sensitive inheritances can be. Families often read meaning into bequests. Someone who receives a larger share may be seen as being favored, while a smaller one can feel
like punishment. Even if an estate planning decision is practical, like leaving more for a child who needs it most, it can be misinterpreted and lead to resentment. That’s why families need to sit down and talk through these decisions together. It can be tempting to “settle it in the will” and escape the discomfort of hard conversations, but silence can often cause more pain later. Even if uncomfortable, an open discussion gives everyone a chance to understand intentions before it’s too late. Estate planning should be about more than distributing money. It’s also about preserving relationships and leaving behind clarity and a sense of love in inheritance decisions. Achieving this requires a combination of careful planning and honest conversations. It can be difficult, but you can gift your family assets and understanding with the right approach.
4 | (308) 872-8327
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator