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About Craig
Biography
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.
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Contingency
33%-33%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Nebraska for 39 years
State: Nebraska
Acquired: 1986
No misconduct found
Licensed in Iowa for 20 years
State: Iowa
Acquired: 2005
No misconduct found
Location
INSERRA l KELLEY l SEWELL, Injury Attorneys
6790 Grover Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE, 68106-3642
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Craig L. Kelley's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
12 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Insurance
Posted by Robert | September 09, 2014 | Insurance
Former Client
I was in a serious auto accident and needed legal counsel to help maximize the recovery I received from the other motorists insurance. The other motorist who was a fault, had the minimum insurance required by Nebraska law. Mr. Kelly was able to procure the maximum available from the other drivers ins...
Craig L. Kelley's Lawyer Endorsements
"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."
"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."
"I endorse Craig because he is an outstanding trial attorney."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"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."
"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."
"I endorse this lawyer. Craig is a stellar lawyer and really cares for his clients."
"Craig is a caring, conscientious lawyer who is focused on obtaining excellent results for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Great rapport and attention to detail."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Omaha, Reader Magazine (Omaha)
2017
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Omaha, Reader Magazine (Omaha)
2011
Member - Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
Work Experience
1986 - Present
Partner, INSERRA l KELLEY l SEWELL, Injury Attorneys
Associations
2012 - Present
End Distracted DrivingMember
2011 - Present
Public JusticeMember
2005 - Present
Iowa State Bar AssociationMember
2005 - Present
Iowa Association for JusticeMember
2005 - Present
InjuryBoardMember
1990 - Present
Nebraska Association of Trial AttorneysMember
1990 - Present
American Association for JusticeMember
1986 - Present
Nebraska State Bar AssociationMember
1986 - Present
Omaha Bar AssociationMember
1992 - 2005
Academy of Rail Labor AttorneysMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Thousands of Nebraska-Iowa Cases
Over 99% of these cases resulted in successful settlement or jury verdict
Education
1986
Creighton University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1983
Northwest Missouri State University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
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
60forSafety.org
End Distracted Driving Presentation
2011
NATA Annual Legal Seminar
Marketing your Law Firm
Publications
2012
Living Safer
Snowmobiling This Winter? What You Need to Know
2011
2010
Living Safer
Bicycle Basics
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Auto accident with injuries?
13 Feb 2023
Q&A
I am an truck driver I was ran off the road and hit by a FedEx truck driver who left the scene how can I sue FedEx for damages a
23 Aug 2022
Q&A
What is the penalty for driving with a suspended license?
21 Jul 2022