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Car Accidents: Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable

When the driver who caused your wreck refuses to take accountability for their actions, you need the legal backing of a Little Rock car accident lawyer. At McMath Woods, our personal injury lawyers provide vigorous representation to victims navigating car accident claims in Little Rock, AR. We understand how confusing and overwhelming the filing of an auto accident claim can be, which is why we strive to make the process as straightforward and clear as possible for our clients. If you suffered a serious injury in a car crash, we invite you to schedule a free case evaluation with our law firm. We provide this initial meeting at no cost to you, and there is never any obligation to continue working with our auto accident attorneys.

Types of Car Accidents That Are Most Common in Little Rock

Some of the most common accidents our lawyers help your fellow Little Rock residents with include:

  • Head-on collisions
  • Rollover accidents
  • Rear-end crashes
  • T-bone accidents or intersection collisions

These collisions happen at traffic lights or stop signs, in slow-moving, bumper-to-bumper, or fast-moving traffic on our state highways and interstates, and under various other circumstances.

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Common Causes of Car Accidents in Little Rock

The causes of car accidents in Little Rock are wide and varied. However, our years of representing injured accident victims have given us a unique insight into the most common causes of crashes that lead to car accident cases. Let’s take a closer look at the following common causes of car accidents in Little Rock. Those contributing factors include:

Driver Error

Whenever a driver makes a preventable error while behind the wheel, they have the potential to cause a serious car accident. As personal injury attorneys, we regularly work on auto accident cases that involve the following driver errors:

  • Distracted driving
  • Driver inexperience
  • Drunk or drugged driving
  • Aggressive or reckless driving
  • Road rage
  • Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions
  • Tailgating (following too closely)

If you believe a reckless or negligent driver caused your accident, there is no time to delay—contact an Arkansas car accident lawyer today so we can begin investigating your claim.

Company or Employer Negligence

If the person who hit you was driving a company vehicle or using their personal vehicle for the purpose of their employment, then company or employer negligence may have played a role in your car wreck.

Examples of company or employer negligence include:

  • Unreasonable delivery schedules
  • Negligent maintenance
  • Improper loading practices

At McMath Woods, we investigate every car crash case we take on to ensure we understand what happened. This insight allows us to build a strong claim on your behalf.

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Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries can range from mild to severe, and no two victims will experience the same injury in exactly the same way. It is crucial to work with a law firm that understands how a significant injury can upend your life. At McMath Woods, our AR car accident lawyers have successfully handled thousands of personal injury claims. This experience has given us unique insight into the most common types of accident injuries and how they affect people.

Some of the most common injuries that can occur in car accidents include:

  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Lacerations and cuts
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Internal organ damage

Whether you suffered a minor case of whiplash or a more serious condition like a traumatic brain injury, we’ll make sure that the other driver doesn’t get away with their negligent actions. Contact our law firm today so we can schedule a no-obligation consultation to discuss your case—our first meeting is always free.

What To Do After a Car Accident

It’s common for car accident victims to be confused, anxious, stressed, and in shock after an accident occurs. It can be helpful to have a reminder of the steps you need to take after a crash on hand.

Our Little Rock car accident attorneys recommend taking the following steps if you’ve been involved in an auto accident:

Pull Over and Call 911

Your first step should be to call 911 right away to report the accident.

You should tell the dispatcher that you’ve been involved in an accident and that they need to send a police officer to your crash scene. If you’re hurt or think you might be, it’s also wise to have them send an ambulance to the scene so paramedics can check you out and transport you to the hospital if necessary.

Seek Medical Attention

If you suffered severe injuries or are experiencing any troubling symptoms (including a headache that gets worse or won’t go away), go to the nearest hospital to be evaluated by emergency medical personnel.

If you do not require emergency medical care, call your regular doctor to schedule an appointment. Tell them you’ve been involved in an accident and need to be evaluated for injuries as soon as possible.

Should your doctor recommend further testing, including imaging, or for you to receive follow-up treatment with an orthopedic doctor, physical therapist, or other medical provider—do it. Adherence to any ordered treatment plan may be critical in building a strong case.

Share Insurance Information

Following the crash, exchange the following information with all involved drivers, including:

  • Names
  • Addresses
  • Contact information
  • Insurance information

Exchanging information regarding your respective insurance companies after an accident isn’t optional—it’s required by law. However, don’t say anything regarding liability for the crash or admit fault when interacting with the other party involved.

As far as insurance companies are concerned, you may want to get information for the driver who struck you and any coverage they purchased from a rental car company if they were driving a vehicle that wasn’t their own at the time of the crash.

Take Pictures and Videos

Use your phone to capture images and videos of:

  • The scene where the accident occurred
  • The vehicles involved in the crash
  • The roadway, intersection, and respective traffic patterns
  • Weather conditions
  • License plates or insurance cards belonging to the involved parties

These photographs and video footage will help preserve critical evidence that may otherwise disappear quickly. These images and videos can be crucial components of your car accident case when you go to seek compensation.

File an Accident Report

The state of Arkansas requires you to immediately notify law enforcement officials of an accident so that they can make a police report if the following occurs:

  • Injury
  • Death
  • Significant property damage (anything above $1,000)

When in doubt, call local authorities and request that a police officer be sent to the accident scene to make a police report.

Where the accident occurs will dictate whether the city, county, or Arkansas State Police respond to the scene of your crash. It will also determine which agency you will need to request the finalized police report from.

Note Down Everything You Remember & Preserve Important Documents

The time following a motor vehicle accident can be confusing and overwhelming. To help keep facts straight, note down everything you remember about the crash. Keep this information in a safe place and bring it with you when you meet with a Little Rock car accident attorney.

We also recommend making copies of important documents and keeping them in a safe place. These include:

  • Medical bills
  • Auto repair bills
  • Documented property damage
  • Any written communication from the insurance company

The above can be crucial to the overall success of your personal injury claim. If you are in doubt about whether a document is important, hold on to it and allow your Arkansas car accident attorney to review it.

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Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

The Little Rock car accident lawyers of McMath Woods are pleased to offer free consultations to injury victims who have been hurt in auto accidents. During your no-cost, no-obligation meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with a personal injury attorney about the details and potential merits of your case.

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Who Determines Liability for a Little Rock Car Accident?

When personal injury claims are handled outside of court, it is up to an insurance adjuster to determine liability. However, we know those working for big insurance companies are not known for treating car accident victims fairly.

If you do not wish to have the blame for the accident wrongfully placed on your shoulders by insurance companies, you need the backing of an experienced car accident attorney on your side. As your legal counsel, we will ensure you are not unfairly blamed for someone else’s negligence.

Potential Liable Parties

Arkansas personal injury law allows for the naming of multiple liable parties in personal injury cases. If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, the only way to guarantee that you’ll receive maximum compensation is to identify all liable parties in your case correctly

An experienced Arkansas car accident lawyer can help you identify which parties may be at fault for your crash, including:

  • The driver who struck your car
  • Other drivers on the road
  • An employer the driver was working for
  • A local municipality that failed to fix known hazardous road conditions
  • Auto parts or vehicle manufacturers

Who Pays for Damages in an Auto Accident Case?

In a typical personal injury claim, it is not the driver who caused the accident who will pay for damages but their auto insurer.

This means that to recover compensation for your medical expenses, missed paychecks, and other related damages, you must prove to the big insurer that the other driver caused your accident. Keep in mind that these are large, profit-minded businesses, and paying out compensation for vehicle accidents is not a priority for them.

Accident victims who have suffered significant financial losses should not leave their settlements to chance. Instead, we encourage you to reach out to the Little Rock car accident attorneys of McMath Woods for a free consultation so we can answer your questions and give you an overview of your legal options.

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Compensation Available in a Car Accident Case

The compensation you are entitled to after a car accident will depend on factors unique to your case, including the severity of your injuries and financial losses. However, most people with serious injuries will be entitled to monetary damages. A much smaller percentage of accident victims may be entitled to punitive damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are only awarded in a small number of motor vehicle accident cases. These damages are not intended to compensate victims for any specific loss.

These damages are instead used to punish the at-fault party for their actions, deterring them from engaging in similar behavior in the future. For this reason, they are only awarded in cases involving intentional disregard for the safety of others or egregious negligence.

Economic Damages

Your economic damages are the totality of your financial losses and include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage

Never throw away a bill or statement related to financial losses from your crash. This is essential information you and your personal injury attorney will use to calculate your economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are markedly more difficult to calculate as they seek to compensate victims for less tangible, non-financial losses. Examples of non-economic damages include:

  • Mental anguish
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment in life

Our Little Rock car accident lawyers recognize that not all losses are monetary in nature. We’ll fight to ensure the insurance company recognizes and pays for your non-economic damages.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are those that seek to compensate victims of car accidents for the losses they suffered. These can be further broken down into two categories—economic and non-economic damages.

Your personal injury lawyer will advise you if your case fits the criteria for punitive damages.

Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions

Worried about mounting medical expenses? Not sure how to get started on an insurance claim? Struggling to take the first step after an Arkansas car accident? McMath Woods is here for you. Our attorneys offer free consultations to injury victims in Little Rock and Pulaski County. We’re prepared to answer any and all questions you may have about recovering compensation and navigating your insurance claim. We have also prepared answers to some of the most frequently asked car accident questions below.

What Should I Do if I’m Hurt in a Car Accident in Arkansas?
Being involved in a car accident in Little Rock will turn your life upside down. After you’ve sought medical care, we strongly encourage you to meet with a car accident attorney to discuss your legal options. If you are dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and other damages related to your accident injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Taking swift legal action is the best way to protect your rights.

Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
A minor car accident with no injuries and minimal property damage may not require any legal guidance. However, if you suffered injuries or are dealing with significant financial losses, you will need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. The insurance company will use every trick and tactic at its disposal to limit its liability. Don’t let yourself be bullied into accepting a lowball settlement—show the insurance company you mean business by working with a knowledgeable attorney.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Every personal injury law firm has its own policy regarding legal fees. At McMath Woods, we find that a contingency fee model works well for most accident victims. With this payment model, we do not take any form of payment upfront. Instead, we only get paid if we win your case, at which point we collect our legal fees as a small percentage of your final award. We find that this model works well for most accident cases we handle, as it allows us to provide rigorous legal guidance to those who are experiencing acute financial distress.

How Long Do I Have To File My Car Accident Claim?
In the state of Arkansas, you have three years to file a claim for a car accident. This is known as the statute of limitations. Three years may seem like a long time. However, it can pass surprisingly quickly when you are recovering from a severe or long-term injury, losing paychecks, and dealing with the insurance company.Some exceptions may apply that allow you to file a claim beyond the three-year period.We recommend working closely with a law firm that will not allow this time limit to lapse and to find out if any exceptions apply to the claim filing deadline in your case.

Will I Have To Go to Court in my Car Accident Case?
Very few car accident personal injury cases go to court, as the majority of these claims are negotiated and settled without ever going to trial. However, our distinguished trial lawyers know there is always a small chance that a case could go to court. We’re more than willing to take your car accident claim to court if necessary.
While we work to negotiate a full and fair settlement on your behalf, we will also prepare for the possibility of going to trial. With this approach, we will always be prepared no matter what direction your case takes.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Various factors, including, but not limited to the following, dictate how much a claim may be worth:
  • Your age and how lasting any impairments you’ve suffered may be
  • The extent of your injuries and your prognosis
  • Your employment situation, including your ability to return to your job and any lost income you’ve incurred

Providing Vigorous Legal Representation to Car Accident Victims

McMath Woods has been serving the citizens of Little Rock and Pulaski County since 1953. In all that we do, we strive to provide unrivaled legal representation to those who have been injured by the negligent or wrongful actions of another person or entity. We speak out against injustices and aren’t afraid to hold big insurance companies responsible for the compensation our clients are owed.

When you work with McMath Woods, you can expect us to:

  • Collect evidence and investigate your case.
  • Determine liability.
  • Calculate your economic damages, like medical expenses, and your non-economic ones necessary to value the worth of your claim.
  • Negotiate maximum compensation on your behalf.

Every attorney at our Downtown Little Rock law firm has dedicated their legal and professional career to advocating for those who have been wrongfully injured in a car wreck. We are proud of the tireless advocacy we bring to each and every case we handle as we deal with all the complicated details surrounding them.

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Work With Little Rock Car Accident Attorneys Who Care

Whether you were injured on your way to the River Market, while traveling on I-630, or after leaving a Razorbacks game at War Memorial Stadium, we are here for you. We will ensure the other driver is held responsible for their actions and that you receive the maximum compensation you are owed.

Don’t let the clock run out on your right to take legal action. Contact our law office today to schedule your free case evaluation with a Little Rock car accident lawyer.

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Distracted Driving

As a driver, you’re supposed to do everything possible to drive safely, like following speed limits, yielding when another car has the right of way, and not getting distracted while behind the wheel.

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Drunk Driving

If you or a loved one has been hurt by an intoxicated driver, a Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer from McMath Woods can help you with your claim.

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Interstate Accidents

Interstates simplify traveling for people who need to travel long distances and don’t want to deal with backroads, stop lights, and the slow speed limits that one would find traveling through towns.

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Construction Zone Accidents

In 2012, the Arkansas Department of Transportation undertook one of the largest highway construction programs in the state.

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