How to Report a Car Accident in Omaha, Nebraska

If anyone is injured or there is significant property damage, call 911 immediately. For accidents within Omaha with no injuries but property damage that appears to exceed $1,500, call the Omaha Police Department non-emergency line at (402) 444-5600 to request an officer. Nebraska law requires you to report accidents meeting the threshold to the nearest police authority.

If the accident occurred on a Nebraska highway or interstate (I-80, I-480, I-680, US-75), the Nebraska State Patrol may respond. The State Patrol handles accidents on state highways and interstates regardless of whether they fall within city limits.

While waiting for the officer, stay at the scene. Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-697) requires drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to stop immediately and remain at the scene. Leaving the scene is a criminal offense. Exchange insurance information with the other driver, take photos of the vehicles and scene, and collect contact information from any witnesses.

When the officer arrives, provide your license, registration, and insurance information. Describe what happened factually — do not speculate about fault or apologize. The officer will complete an Investigator's Motor Vehicle Accident Report (DR Form 40), and you will receive a case number or report receipt. Keep this number — you will need it to obtain a copy of the report later.

Nebraska's $1,500 property damage threshold is relatively moderate. Most vehicle repairs — even for seemingly minor fender-benders — can exceed $1,500, so assume your accident needs to be reported. If you are unsure whether the damage meets the threshold, report it anyway. There is no penalty for reporting an accident that falls below the threshold, but failing to report one that exceeds it is a Class V misdemeanor.

The accident report in Nebraska has two parts. Part I is prescribed by the Department of Transportation and contains the full details of the accident. Part II is prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles and verifies whether the drivers involved meet Nebraska's financial responsibility (insurance) requirements.

If a peace officer investigates the accident, the officer files the report. If no officer investigates, you must file a Driver's Motor Vehicle Accident Report (Form DR 41) with the Nebraska Department of Transportation within 10 days of the accident. If you are physically unable to file the report, the owner of the vehicle must file it within 10 days of learning about the accident.

If no officer investigated your accident and it meets the reporting threshold, you must complete a Driver's Motor Vehicle Accident Report (Form DR 41). You can complete this form online through the Nebraska Department of Transportation's crash reporting portal at ecmndotportal.nebraska.gov. For assistance, call (402) 479-4645, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

You can also obtain a paper DR 41 form from the officer who investigated your crash, any police or sheriff's department, your insurance agent, or by calling (402) 479-4645. Complete the form with all required information and submit it to the Nebraska Department of Transportation within 10 days of the accident.

The form requires details about the accident including the date, time, location, description of what happened, information about all drivers and vehicles involved, injury descriptions, and your insurance information. Be thorough and accurate — the information you provide becomes part of the official record.

Nebraska requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-3,104). If you were involved in an accident and cannot show proof of insurance, you may face license suspension.

The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles may require you to provide proof of financial responsibility after an accident. If the accident is not settled and you cannot demonstrate the ability to pay for damages, the DMV may suspend your driver's license under Nebraska's accident suspension rules. Contact the DMV's Financial Responsibility division for details.

If the other driver was uninsured, report this to your own insurance company. Nebraska's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (which insurance companies are required to offer, though you can reject it in writing) may cover your injuries and damages. The police report documenting the other driver's lack of insurance is important evidence for this claim.

Reporting the accident properly is one of the most important things you can do to protect your personal injury claim. Nebraska uses modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,185.09). If you are 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages. If you are less than 50% at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. The fault determination in the police report can significantly influence the outcome of your case.

If you fail to report the accident, you face two problems. First, the lack of official documentation makes it harder to prove what happened and who was at fault. Second, the opposing party or their insurance company may argue that your failure to report suggests the accident was not serious or that you are not being truthful about the circumstances.

Nebraska's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 4 years from the date of injury (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207). While 4 years may seem like a long time, building a strong case requires gathering evidence early. The police report is the foundation of that evidence. Report the accident immediately and consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Call 911 if anyone is injured. Move vehicles out of traffic if it is safe to do so. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Take photos of all vehicles, the accident scene, traffic signs, road conditions, and any visible injuries.

Get names and phone numbers from witnesses. Do not admit fault or apologize — anything you say at the scene can be used against you later. Accept medical treatment if offered by EMS. Adrenaline can mask injuries, and some serious injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not produce symptoms for hours or days.

Write down the responding officer's name, badge number, and the report number before leaving the scene. If you seek medical treatment later, tell the doctor that your injuries are from a car accident and describe all symptoms, even ones that seem minor. Medical records that connect your injuries to the accident are essential evidence for your claim.

If you were injured in a car accident in Omaha and have reported the accident, take our free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Nebraska's filing deadline for your specific claim, how fault is determined under Nebraska's comparative negligence law, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Reporting the accident is the first step to protecting your rights. Understanding your legal options is the second. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to decide what comes next.