Brock Law

09/10/2025

Injured while trucking? Understanding classification could mean accessing benefits.

What to do if you are unsure?

06/16/2025

Equipment failure mid-route? Truckers should understand who is responsible.

Legal insights for truck drivers.

03/17/2025

Does Nebraska's workers’ compensation system cover truckers’ mental health?

A workers' comp guide for truckers.

12/16/2024

Truck accidents are different from typical car crashes. Learn why and how to handle the aftermath effectively.

Guidance for victims.

09/06/2024

Navigating the complexities of trucking collisions.

How will state rules impact my case?

07/22/2024

In June 2024, a Georgia jury returned a verdict in the amount of $47 million against Schneider National, a large, national trucking company headquartered in Wisconsin. There’s a couple of things to take note of in this case. First, the verdict was made possible by the fact that Georgia has punitive damages. Compare this to Nebraska and a few other states that don’t have punitive damages available. Thus, jurisdiction and venue are critical factors to be considered in any trucking case. A $47 million verdict is virtually impossible to achieve in Nebraska and other states that don’t have punitive damages. Also important is the fact that just because there are punitive damages in a state, the likelihood of a favorable settlement is much more likely when there is a potential for filing in a state where punitive damages are available. So, lawyers in Nebraska and other states without punitive damages, ALWAYS consider where your case can be venued.
Another lesson from this case is to be on the lookout for facts that make the case “sexy.” By “sexy”, I mean facts that are likely to bring everyday people to the conclusion that a big verdict is necessary. In the case involving Schneider National, it was the driver’s lack of experience, an apparent lie told in a deposition about Schneider’s truck being in the area at the time of the crash, and evidence that the driver did not have a period of continued sleep or rest. Five months after this crash, Schneider’s driver tested positive for m**hamphetamine resulting in his termination. But even before this crash, and before he tested positive for m**h, the driver had established a record with Schneider National of unsafe driving. These facts indicate that this driver should never have been on the road, or at least not on the road without a supervisor/trainer driver.
When considering whether to accept representation in a trucking case, any competent lawyer will be looking for facts that will excite a jury, and that lawyer will be looking for the proper place to bring a lawsuit. Steps must be taken immediately to protect your choice of venue and jurisdiction. Also, steps must be taken immediately to protect the evidence.
I've been involved in truck accident litigation for thirty years. A frank, in-depth conversation about your case costs nothing. If Brock Law accepts representation in your case, the law firm will charge no fee until a recovery is obtained. Trucking litigation is a very specialized area of the personal injury law practice. If you don’t have somebody who is really knowledgeable and experienced in trucking matters, it is virtually impossible for you to get the best possible result. Call me. 402-730-9333 or 800-420-3303.

07/20/2024

Lawyers and judges have been burying their heads in the sand when it comes to drunk driving. The Nebraska Supreme Court says it's the legislature's job to fix the problem with adults providing alcohol to minors who then kill themselves and/or others when they drink and drive. I say "nonsense." Plain Jane negligence law says if you act unreasonably and that unreasonable conduct harms another, you can and should be held accountable.

But what about the legal requirement of duty? Seems to me every adult knows what's going to happen when an adult serves alcohol to a minor at a party. Even a Fifth Grader will say, "I know what happens next." There is a foreseeable risk of harm presented by this conduct. Thus, as adults, we each have a duty not to serve alcohol to minors.

It's time judges, including those on the Nebraska Supreme Court stop the tired, old "Not My Job" baloney, and apply the law of negligence that is several hundreds of years old. They should step up and help stop the senseless slaughter of Americans, including our young people, from drunk driving.

06/27/2024

Once again, I must remind those who know me or know what I do, when you are faced with a personal injury or wrongful death claim, you don't have to hire the first lawyer you speak with. Not even if I'm the first one. I encourage you to talk to several lawyers. Trust your gut. Who is the lawyer who cares about you more than the $ that lawyer thinks they will make on the case; more than the ego boost they will get from a successful outcome.

Nebraska is my home and it is where I have practiced for the past 30 years. I am still astounded by the ignorance of most lawyers when it comes to truck crash cases. The ignorance is also prevalent in motorcycle cases where lawyers who do personal injury cases should know better.

While Nebraska is my home, it is usually not the best place to litigate a trucking case or a motorcycle case. These issues must be amongst the first issues analyzed; they make a difference in the outcome to the tune of millions of dollars. I know this from personal experience, having just resolved a trucking case for $4.95M.

The case outcome is not about the lawyer; it is about the client. So many lawyers don't want to share a fee, and they want all the glory from a successful outcome. That is wrong, and wrong-headed.

Usually, the lawyer will make more $ by going out of state with a case that can be brought there. Nebraska's judges have all been appointed by GOP governors for the past 30 years (Since Nelson). GOP governors are owned by insurance companies and corporations. The judges appointed by these governors are nearly all former insurance defense lawyers, corporate lawyers, or political appointees of the same ilk. I don't know a single judge in Nebraska who came from a practice that centered on Plaintiff's work.

I'm not saying these judges are bad people. But, they are human and like all humans, they have biases. The system in Nebraska is definitely tilted against Plaintiffs. I think every honest lawyer will agree with that assessment. So, think about jurisdiction and venue. It is just so critical to the outcome of your case.

Call now to connect with business.

06/21/2024

Serious injuries resulting from work accidents, like spinal cord trauma, are not always apparent. Hence, it is crucial to watch out for key signs.

What should be your next steps?

06/17/2024

The jury determined that the inexperienced driver and Schneider National Carriers were 100% at fault in a fatal crash that killed the father of three children.

Click here to read more about the 'nuclear verdict' involving Schneider National.

03/26/2024

Given the nature of many truck accidents, immediate medical care is vital.

The importance of safe road sharing.