Omaha Winter Storm Car Crashes: What to Do After a Snow-Related Accident in Nebraska | High & Younes, LLC

Omaha Winter Storm Car Crashes: What to Do After a Snow-Related Accident in Nebraska | High & Younes, LLC

The Omaha metro area woke up on February 20, 2026, to a winter wonderland — and a wave of headaches. Yesterday’s powerful winter storm dumped 6 to 9 inches of heavy, wet snow across the region, with some spots reporting up to 8.9 inches. This was the one of the single-day snowfall Omaha has seen in five years. Roads quickly turned treacherous, leading to dozens of crashes, multi-vehicle pileups on I-80, stalled semis, and countless minor fender-benders. Local news outlets and the Nebraska State Patrol reported over 45 weather-related crashes by Thursday evening, with more continuing into the night. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office even stopped responding to non-injury accidents due to the overwhelming volume.

At High & Younes, LLC in Omaha, we’ve already received calls from drivers injured in these exact conditions. As a full-service law firm handling personal injury, car crashes, semi-truck collisions, and work-related injuries, we know how quickly a snowy commute can change lives. If you or a loved one was involved in a winter storm crash in Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, Gretna, Lincoln, Council Bluffs, Interstate 80, or anywhere across Nebraska, this guide is for you.

Why Winter Storms Cause So Many Crashes in Omaha and Nebraska

Nebraska winters are unforgiving. Six to nine inches of snow might not sound extreme to longtime residents, but the combination of heavy accumulation, strong northwest winds, and rapidly dropping temperatures creates perfect conditions for chaos:

• Black ice and packed snow on highways like I-80, I-680, and Dodge Street
• Reduced visibility from blowing snow and whiteouts
• Jackknifing semis and tractor-trailers losing traction on bridges and overpasses
• Multi-vehicle pileups — several were reported near 60th Street, McPherson Avenue in Council Bluffs, and west of Lincoln
• Hidden hazards like snow-covered potholes or debris

These conditions don’t just cause property damage. They lead to serious injuries that can sideline workers for weeks or months and rack up medical bills fast.

Common Injuries from Winter Storm Car and Truck Crashes

In snowy crashes, we routinely see:

• Neck/back injuries from sudden impacts on slick roads
• Fractures (wrists, ankles, ribs) from airbag deployment or being thrown inside the vehicle
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions, especially in rear-end collisions with semis
• Soft tissue damage and spinal injuries that may not show up immediately
• Burns or lacerations if vehicles slide into guardrails or other cars

For commercial truck accidents, the injuries are often more severe because of the massive weight difference. A semi-truck crash in snow can easily total passenger vehicles and cause life-altering harm. If your crash happened while you were driving for work (delivery drivers, sales reps, truckers, or even commuting under company policy), you may also have a workers’ compensation claim on top of a third-party liability claim against the at-fault driver.

What You Should Do Immediately After a Winter Storm Crash in Omaha

Time matters. Follow these critical steps to protect your health and your legal rights:

1. Ensure safety first — Move to a safe location if possible. Turn on hazard lights. In sub-zero wind chills like we had this morning, stay in your vehicle if it’s safe.
2. Call 911 — Especially if anyone is injured or if the crash blocks traffic. Nebraska law requires a police report for injury or significant damage crashes.
3. Document everything — Take wide-angle and close-up photos of the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions (snow, ice, lack of plowing), skid marks, and license plates. Get witness names and contact info.
4. Exchange information — But do NOT admit fault or discuss details with the other driver’s insurance.
5. Seek medical attention right away — Even if you “feel fine.” Adrenaline and cold can mask injuries. Go to an ER or urgent care and tell them it was a snow-related crash.
6. Notify your insurance — But call us before giving any recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
7. Preserve evidence — Keep all medical records, repair estimates, and tow receipts.

How High & Younes, LLC Fights for Omaha Crash Victims

We are not a general practice firm that dabbles in personal injury. At High & Younes, LLC, partners Frank Younes and Justin High our dedicated injury team have decades of experience handling exactly these kinds of cases right here in Omaha and throughout Nebraska.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Local knowledge — We are familiar with every judge, every insurance adjuster, and every defense attorney in Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties. We know how Nebraska’s comparative negligence laws work and how juries in Omaha view winter driving cases.
• Semi-truck & commercial vehicle expertise — These cases involve federal regulations, black-box data, hours-of-service logs, and often multiple insurance policies. We’ve successfully taken on trucking companies and their powerful insurers.
• Work injury integration — If your crash happened on the job, we coordinate workers’ comp benefits while pursuing the full value of your claim against the at-fault party.
• No upfront fees — We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
• Proven results — Our clients have recovered six- and seven-figure settlements in serious car, truck, and work injury cases, even when insurance companies initially denied liability because of “bad weather.”

We’ve already helped countless clients from storms just like yesterday’s who were rear-ended on I-80, sideswiped by sliding SUVs, or hit by drivers who couldn’t stop on snow-packed roads. Many thought their cases were “just minor” until medical bills piled up and lost wages hit. We made sure they didn’t settle for less than they deserved.

Don’t Let the Insurance Companies Take Advantage of You

Insurance adjusters are already calling people involved in yesterday’s crashes, offering quick lowball settlements. They know many people just want the ordeal over with after a stressful snowy day. Don’t fall for it. A quick payout today can leave you paying for surgery, therapy, or lost income for years.

At High & Younes, LLC we handle every aspect so you can focus on healing:

• Investigating the crash scene before snow melts and evidence disappears
• Obtaining weather reports and dash-cam footage
• Working with accident reconstruction experts when needed
• Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies
• Taking your case to trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered

Contact Omaha’s Trusted Personal Injury Team Today

If you were injured in a car crash, semi-truck accident, or work-related collision during or after the February 19, 2026 winter storm, don’t wait. Evidence disappears quickly, and Nebraska has strict statutes of limitations.

Call High & Younes, LLC today at (402) 933-3345 or fill out our confidential online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your rights under Nebraska law, and tell you exactly what your claim may be worth — all at no cost to you.

You focused on getting through the storm. Let us focus on getting you the compensation and justice you deserve.

High & Younes, LLC — Omaha’s experienced personal injury, car accident, semi-truck crash, and work injury attorneys. Serving clients throughout Nebraska.