A Nebraska man who struck and killed a father of two in a 2025 traffic accident is seeking legal damages from the victim’s estate, claiming the trauma of the collision caused him severe, permanent post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gavin Maas, 26, filed the civil complaint in Lancaster County on April 6. He seeks compensation for medical expenses exceeding $50,000, lost income, and diminished earning capacity following the August 31, 2025, death of 37-year-old Anthony Miller.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. while Miller and his wife, Bailey, were jogging. According to the filing, Maas encountered Bailey Miller first; he claims he successfully swerved to avoid her because she wore reflective safety gear.
However, the complaint alleges that Anthony Miller was jogging in the middle of the roadway wearing dark clothing without reflective equipment. Maas asserts the lack of visibility made the collision unavoidable in the pre-dawn darkness.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(364x0:366x2):format(webp)/Anthony-Miller-041726-0d9acf3cd8314f61837fcb53c82ccd0c.jpg)
“Upon realizing that he had struck a person, Gavin quickly got out of his vehicle and attempted life-saving measures until first responders arrived,” the complaint states, noting that Miller succumbed to his injuries despite these efforts.
The lawsuit centers on the “severe physical and emotional symptoms” Maas has allegedly endured since the accident. The filing details a history of hospitalizations, including a 21-day inpatient stay, for treatment of PTSD.
Legal documents describe Maas suffering from:
- Dissociative episodes and suicidal ideation.
- Intrusive memories, specifically citing hospital records where Maas reported “seeing [Mr. Miller’s] eyes and hearing [Ms. Miller’s] voice.”
- Permanent impairment, with the complaint suggesting Maas will require “lifelong treatment, including therapy and medications.”
At the time of the accident, the Lincoln Police Department found no evidence of impairment. Authorities issued no citations or criminal charges against Maas, characterizing the event as a tragic accident.
Anthony Miller was a nurse practitioner survived by his wife and two daughters, who were 3 years and 18 months old at the time of his death.
While the complaint notes that Maas was “hopeful” the matter could be settled outside of the courtroom, his counsel argues that “circumstances outside of his control left no reasonable alternative” but to litigate against the bereaved estate. The Lincoln Police Department has not issued a formal statement regarding the civil litigation.
