As a blue-collar kid from Waterloo, NE Craig Kelley grew up around auto service stations and race tracks.
“I grew up in a family that raced lots of things. My family was in the service station business and our passion was racing. When I was in ninth grade, my parents bought Sunset Speedway. The great thing about the speedway business was that it allowed me to go to school in the winter and then work in the summer to make enough money to keep going to school.”
After graduating from Northwest Missouri State University with a business degree, he planned to bring a law degree from Creighton University back to the family business, but success in law school and trial law competitions led to a law clerk job while in law school with a big law firm representing insurance companies.
“I was on the other side of what we do now,” said Kelley, “and I just never was too thrilled about celebrating those wins when somebody that was injured got nothing or less than they should, and were left in a lurch after a trial or verdict or a settlement.
“I decided that maybe with my background and with my philosophy of life in general, that it would be better career to go over to the plaintiff’s side and represent injured people. I searched around and sent resumes to some of the succesful plaintiff’s firms in Omaha and ended up with John Inserra and his father and that’s where I have been since graduating from law school in 1986.”
Craig’s practice emphasizes all areas of personal injury law, with a large emphasis on vehicle, motorcycle and bicycle related cases and claims. The firm is designated legal counsel of the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.), the Nebraska State H.O.G. Rally, and is also the designated legal counsel for most motorcycle chapters in the surrounding area.
“Our other new area of expertise is bad medical devices and pharmaceuticals/drugs, either as a defect in design or manufacturing,” said Kelley. “Medical device and drug liability began big with bad breast implants, bad birth control devices and bad drug side-effects. There’s been a lot of drug cases in the last 5-10 years, and these cases are national multi-distraict litigation groups that require specific expertise. Drug companies rush to take products to the market and they don’t do the testing they used to do. We are one of few firms in Nebraska and Iowa that deal with these kind of cases on a national level.”
Craig and his wife, Kerry, a Deputy Director at STRATCOM Headquarters (Offutt Air Base), reside in the Dundee area of Omaha and have two college sons, Christopher and Brendan, and a high school daughter, Caitlin. Craig is also the Founder and Principal of Kelley Auto Racing Management Advisors (K.A.R.M.A.), former General Manager of Nebraska Raceway Park (now I-80 Speedway), former co-owner of Omaha’s long-time NASCAR race track, Sunset Speedway and Founder of the Dundee Chain Gang Cycling Club. He enjoys riding on his Harley Street Glide, Bicycling, golfing, watching the sports of his alma maters and being involved with his Saint Margaret Mary parish’s athletic programs and annual events.
Languages spoken
English, Spanish
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
IA | Active | 2005 | 03/20/2022 |
NE | Active | 1986 | 04/14/2022 |
Legal answers | 126 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Omaha | Reader Magazine (Omaha) | 2017 |
AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Omaha | Reader Magazine (Omaha) | 2013 |
Member - Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame | Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame | 2011 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | INSERRA l KELLEY l SEWELL, Injury Attorneys | 1986 - Present |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
End Distracted Driving | Member | 2012 - Present |
Public Justice | Member | 2011 - Present |
Iowa State Bar Association | Member | 2005 - Present |
Iowa Association for Justice | Member | 2005 - Present |
InjuryBoard | Member | 2005 - Present |
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys | Member | 1990 - Present |
American Association for Justice | Member | 1990 - Present |
Nebraska State Bar Association | Member | 1986 - Present |
Omaha Bar Association | Member | 1986 - Present |
Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys | Member | 1992 - 2005 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Living Safer | Snowmobiling This Winter? What You Need to Know | 2012 |
Living Safer | Maximum Protection: Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Winter Weather | 2011 |
Living Safer | Bicycle Basics | 2010 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Creighton University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1986 |
Northwest Missouri State University | BS - Bachelor of Science | 1983 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
60forSafety.org | End Distracted Driving Presentation | 2012 |
60forSafety.org | End Distracted Driving Presentation | 2012 |
60forSafety.org | End Distracted Driving Presentation | 2012 |
60forSafety.org | End Distracted Driving Presentation | 2012 |
60forSafety.org | End Distracted Driving Presentation | 2012 |
NATA Annual Legal Seminar | Marketing your Law Firm | 2011 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Thousands of Nebraska-Iowa Cases | Over 99% of these cases resulted in successful settlement or jury verdict |
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David Wolf, Personal injury Attorney on Mar 7, 2020
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Craig Kelley is an excellent advocate on behalf his personal injury clients. He is experienced and knowledgeable. With his down to earth personality and stellar work ethic, he gives a powerful voice to his clients. I highly recommend Craig Kelley.
Ross Pesek, Personal injury Attorney on Oct 27, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
As a younger attorney in the same industry, I have been lucky to know Craig. From the moment I met him I could tell he knew how to serve his clients from beginning to end and could see every obstacle along the way. Frankly, he is the attorney I'm striving to be and I hope I can be as strong an advocate for my clients as Craig is for his. Hiring Craig and his team for a Personal Injury matter is a wise decision.
David Wolf, Personal injury Attorney on Mar 7, 2020
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Craig Kelley is an excellent advocate on behalf his personal injury clients. He is experienced and knowledgeable. With his down to earth personality and stellar work ethic, he gives a powerful voice to his clients. I highly recommend Craig Kelley.
Ross Pesek, Personal injury Attorney on Oct 27, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
As a younger attorney in the same industry, I have been lucky to know Craig. From the moment I met him I could tell he knew how to serve his clients from beginning to end and could see every obstacle along the way. Frankly, he is the attorney I'm striving to be and I hope I can be as strong an advocate for my clients as Craig is for his. Hiring Craig and his team for a Personal Injury matter is a wise decision.
Michael Phelan, Personal injury Attorney on May 31, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Craig because he is an outstanding trial attorney.
Robert Roe, Personal injury Attorney on Jan 22, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I had the opportunity to work with Craig on a complex case involving multiple at-fault parties and multi-jurisdictional issues. Craig was an incredible advocate and worked hard to obtain a fantastic result for the client.
Richard Rensch, Personal injury Attorney on Jan 4, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Craig is an excellent lawyer. Working with Craig I found him to be an a top notch advocate for his clients. Craig and his partner are diligent workers. Very result oriented. Made great recoveries for his clients in tough cases.
Peter Mackey, Car accident Attorney on Apr 9, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Craig is a great lawyer and a great guy. He enjoys life and loves being a trial lawyer. He's not the type of lawyer who forgets about a client after their case has ended, and that's important.
Noble McIntyre, Personal injury Attorney on Jan 31, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I highly recommend and respect Craig. As the 2015 President of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association I have been fortunate to work with many fantastic lawyers around the country. Craig ranks right at the top of the legal minds I know.
John Turco, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 29, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Michael Mullin, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 11, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I have had the honor of serving as a mediator for Craig in a number of his personal injury suits, and I can attest that he is an outstanding attorney who is always looking out for his clients' best interests. He is always well-prepared and conducts himself with integrity and professionalism.
Jeffrey Putnam, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 11, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have worked with Craig over the years on several injury cases. Craig and his staff are very knowledgeable and experienced in all areas of Nebraska injury law. He is hard working and aggressively advocates for his clients.
Michael Smith, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 8, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Craig is a stellar lawyer and really cares for his clients.
Vincent Powers, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 8, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Craig is a caring, conscientious lawyer who is focused on obtaining excellent results for his clients.
Douglas Quinn, Unknown Attorney on Sep 2, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Great rapport and attention to detail.
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