If you were injured in a car accident in Arkansas, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer who will fight to recover the compensation you deserve. You may be dealing with painful injuries and uncertainty, but Horton Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help provide clarity and advocacy when you need it most. Contact us today to take advantage of a free consultation.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You After a Car Accident
Car accidents are a leading cause of serious injury. If you are seriously injured, you need the space and time to heal – without having to worry about insurance companies trying to take advantage of you or the stress of a legal claim.
An experienced car accident lawyer can handle the claim process and protect your legal rights by:
- Thoroughly investigating the accident scene
- Gathering and preserving valuable evidence
- Reviewing the police report, interviewing witnesses, and requesting medical records
- Identifying all responsible parties for the accident
- Handling communications and claim filings with insurance companies
- Compiling information about the short- and long-term effects of the accident
- Negotiating for a fair settlement offer
- Advising you of your legal options, which may include filing a personal injury lawsuit if the insurance company denies your claim or fails to provide a fair settlement offer
You can learn more about your legal rights and options when you call us for a free consultation. We can answer any questions you have and explain more about how we can help.
Why Choose Horton Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Accident Case
Hiring a lawyer after a car wreck is important, but choosing the right lawyer is even more important. Some of the reasons you should consider retaining the legal services of Horton Personal Injury Lawyers are:
- We are experienced – Our law firm has successfully represented thousands of clients. We are familiar with the intricacies of personal injury cases and aren’t afraid to take them to trial when necessary.
- We focus on personal injury law – Our attorneys focus on cases involving motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, dog bites, slip and fall cases, and wrongful death cases.
- We have achieved considerable results – We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, including $21.7 million in a class action lawsuit against State Farm, $3.66 million dollars in a dram shop case, tens of millions in multiple trucking accident cases, $1.6 million in a clergy sexual abuse case, and $1,000,000 in an Arkansas underinsured motorist coverage claim. These results precede us at the negotiating table, often allowing us to secure a favorable resolution of cases without having to go to trial.
- We are distinguished – Our attorneys have been recognized by prominent legal organizations, receiving such honors as Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. We are also members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and a graduate of the prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College.
- We care – Some larger law firms treat clients like case numbers. We don’t. We live and work in the area, supporting local causes, such as diabetes research, Big Brothers & Sisters of NWA, serve as volunteer legal counsel for an area church as well as volunterr counsel for thr Steel Wheels Motor Cycle rally that raises millions of dollars for local causes. We want to protect the members of our community from the harmful actions of others.
- We work on a contingency basis – We don’t charge any attorney fees upfront, so you get legal services now while you need them, but you don’t have to pay for them until we recover compensation for your claim. This lets you initiate a legal claim without having to worry about how you’ll pay for legal representation.
Learn more about what we have to offer when you call us for a free, confidential case review.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Arkansas
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 596 people died in traffic accidents in 2023. This translated to a fatality rate of 19.4 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest rate for any state in the nation. Since 2015, the number of car accidents in Arkansas has risen by 18%.
Car accidents can occur for various reasons, including:
- Driver error, such as speeding, failing to yield the right-of-way, or tailgating
- Driver impairment, including drinking and driving, drugged driving, or driving while under the influence of prescription drugs
- Vehicle defects, which can cause accidents or fail to prevent injuries they were designed to prevent
- Vehicle maintenance issues, such as worn brakes, blown tires, or faulty transmission systems
- Road construction because motorists may not pay attention, adjust speeds, or be unfamiliar with detours
An experienced car accident lawyer can investigate your case to determine the factors that contributed to it.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can cause tremendous forces and involve broken metal and glass that act as shrapnel. Car accident injuries can take make forms, including:
- Fatal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest or abdominal injuries
- Amputations
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Soft tissue injuries
These injuries can be painful and have long-term effects on victims’ lives. Seek medical attention immediately so your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.
Who Is Responsible for Paying for Damages After a Car Accident?
Arkansas operates under a fault-based insurance system. Under this system, the driver found at fault for the accident is responsible for the damages they caused. If the at-fault driver was uninsured or the incident was a hit-and-run, your uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for damages.
What Damages Can I Recover from a Car Accident Case?
Insurance companies or courts can award compensation for the damages you sustained in the accident. These are the losses you suffered, such as:
- Medical expenses: You can receive compensation for your emergency medical treatment, ambulance charges, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, surgeries, and doctor visits.
- Ongoing medical care: In addition to medical bills for previous medical care, you can also receive compensation for ongoing medical treatment, including for rehabilitation and physical therapy.
- Future medical expenses: You can also receive compensation for anticipated medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary.
- Lost wages: You have the right to recover compensation for the income you lost while you were seeking medical attention or recovering from your injuries.
- Reduced earning capacity: If you suffered a permanent disability in the accident that prevents you from returning to work or an impairment that causes you to move to a lower-paying job, you can seek compensation for your reduced or lost earning capacity.
- Property damage: Your vehicle repairs should be covered by insurance. If the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds its fair market value, you can receive compensation to replace the vehicle with a comparable one.
- Pain and suffering: You have the right to recover for less tangible losses, too, such as physical and emotional pain and suffering.
- Reduced quality of life: Car accident injuries can cause considerable pain and interfere with your ability to enjoy your life. You can seek compensation for your lost enjoyment of life.
Our experienced attorneys can identify all the damages you can recover and fight for a fair resolution.
How to Prove the Other Driver Was at Fault for the Accident
At Horton Personal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to client success. We prepare robust personal injury claims by gathering strong evidence, such as:
- The police report: The responding officer may have prepared an accident report that details critical information about the incident, cites the other driver for a traffic violation, or includes driver statements that can pinpoint fault.
- Traffic camera footage: Red light cameras could have recorded the accident, helping to resolve cases where liability is in dispute.
- Other camera footage: Today, there’s no shortage of videos. There may be other videos from nearby businesses, homes, dash cams, or bystanders that recorded the incident.
- Pictures of the accident scene: You or the law enforcement officer could have taken photographs of the accident scene that can help demonstrate fault, such as the presence or lack thereof of skid marks.
- Property damage: The location and severity of damage to the vehicles and other property can help indicate the direction the vehicles were traveling when the accident occurred.
- Event data recorders: Most modern vehicles come equipped with event data recorders similar to the black boxes installed in commercial airplanes that record critical information before an accident, such as GPS locations, speeds, and braking patterns.
- Toxicology reports: These may apply if a drunk driver caused the injury.
- Experi witness testimony: Accident reconstruction experts can use scientific data to create visual representations of how the accident likely occurred.
Horton Personal Injury Lawyers can gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
What Should I Do After an Auto Accident?
If you are involved in a car accident, take these steps to protect your health and legal rights:
Report the Accident
Call 911 to report the accident. Request an ambulance if anyone was injured.
Talk to the Police
Be honest with the law enforcement officer, but stick to the facts. Avoid giving opinions about fault, and don’t admit fault for the accident.
Exchange Information
Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, and car insurance information.
Document the Scene
Use your cell phone camera to take pictures of the accident scene, damage to all vehicles involved, and your injuries. Ask for any witness information.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t speak to an insurance adjuster. Instead, reach out for help from a personal injury lawyer focused on protecting your rights.
What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Arkansas?
The statute of limitations for car accident cases in Arkansas is typically three years from the date of the accident. At Horton Personal Injury Lawyers, we are often able to resolve cases through favorable insurance settlements. However, if this isn’t possible, you must file your case within three years to preserve your right to compensation.
Contact Horton Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in an accident in Fort Smith, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, Bentonville, or any other part of Northwest Arkansas, Horton Personal Injury Lawyers can help. An experienced personal injury attorney from our law firm can investigate your case, explain your legal options, and assist you throughout the claims process. Contact us today for a free case review.
