STATE LAW – NEBRASKA LIBRARY – GUIDE 16

Nebraska Government Vehicle Crashes & Public Entity Claims

Claims involving state, county, city, school, police, transit or other public vehicles require separate analysis of sovereign immunity, statutory waivers, notice requirements, timing and damages limitations.

VG-GOVERNMENT-CRASHESReviewed Oct. 4, 2026
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State and local public claims use different presentment routes

Identify the Nebraska public entity, employee, vehicle owner and course-of-employment facts before selecting a tort-claim procedure.

State claims generally use a two-year presentment period

Under the State Tort Claims Act, reviewed Nebraska guidance generally requires written presentment to the State Risk Manager within two years after accrual, subject to statutory terms/extensions.

Political-subdivision claims generally use a one-year presentment period

Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act claims generally require written presentment to the governing body within one year after accrual.

Presentment and suit deadlines must be calendared separately

Public-entity presentment does not replace the separate lawsuit deadline. Preserve public records, fleet, dispatch, video and maintenance evidence promptly.

Authority map

Nebraska authorities for this topic

Use the linked statutes, rules and opinions with the applicable policy and date of loss. An official index locates opinions; secondary-host text does not complete source custody or citator review.

Statute

Nebraska State and Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Acts — presentment and timing

Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 81-8,227 et seq.; 13-919 et seq.; § 13-926

State Tort Claims Act claims generally require written presentment to the State Risk Manager within two years. Political-subdivision claims generally require presentment within one year and suit within two years, subject to statutory terms/extensions. Section 13-926 caps political-subdivision recovery at $1 million per person and $5 million per occurrence.

Does not apply §13-926’s political-subdivision caps as a general cap on State Tort Claims Act claims or establish substantive negligence.

§ 81-8,227 — official statute →

§ 13-919 — official statute →

§ 13-926 — official statute →

Statute

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-926 — Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act liability limits

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-926

Caps recovery under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act at $1,000,000 for any person for any number of claims arising from a single occurrence and $5,000,000 for all claims arising from a single occurrence, subject to statutory terms.

Does not establish a general State Tort Claims Act cap or determine notice/presentment requirements.

§ 13-926 — official statute →

Bottom line. Preserve Nebraska-specific coverage, policy, fault, factual and current-authority issues before legal reliance.

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