Little Rock Auto Accident Attorney Explains Proving Fault

Proving Fault in a Little Rock Car Accident Case

After a car crash in Little Rock, it’s essential to determine who was at fault.

Arkansas is an “at-fault” state, meaning the party responsible for causing the auto accident is liable for resulting injuries and damages.

Proving liability can be challenging, which is why working with an experienced Little Rock car accident lawyer is critical.

How a Car Accident Attorney Investigates Your Accident

Uncovering the cause of your crash and identifying the liable parties is a key step in pursuing compensation for your losses.

This process requires a thorough investigation into the accident and the factors that led to it.

A skilled car accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your car wreck to prove the other party was at fault:

• Examine police reports, photos, and videos from the scene
• Interview eyewitnesses who saw what happened
• Analyze vehicle damage to determine how the collision occurred
• Consult with accident reconstruction experts if needed

With strong evidence of fault, your attorney can build a persuasive case for liability.

Proving the other driver caused the crash through their negligent actions is vital to recovering the compensation you deserve.

This evidence helps your Arkansas car accident lawyer build a strong case demonstrating the other driver’s negligence caused the car accident and your injuries.

Armed with proof of liability, your lawyer can then negotiate aggressively with the insurance company for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Negotiating with Insurers for Maximum Compensation

Dealing with insurance companies after a serious crash can be frustrating and intimidating.

These powerful corporations have teams of adjusters and attorneys looking for ways to minimize or deny valid injury claims.

Insurance companies are focused on protecting their bottom line, not paying out fair settlements to injured car accident victims.

A knowledgeable Little Rock car accident attorney acts as your advocate by:

• Handling all communications with the insurers on your behalf
• Calculating the true value of your car accident claim, including future damages
• Rejecting lowball settlement offers that don’t cover your losses
• Threatening litigation if the insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith
• Taking your car accident case to trial if necessary to pursue justice for you

You need an experienced legal professional to level the playing field against the insurance companies.

With an aggressive advocate fighting for you, you can focus on healing while your attorney pursues the best possible outcome for your case.

With an aggressive legal advocate in your corner, you can focus on your physical recovery while your car accident lawyer fights for the maximum monetary recovery in your case.

Common Injuries Sustained in Arkansas Car Accidents

Even a seemingly minor crash can inflict painful, debilitating injuries on drivers and passengers.

The violent forces generated by a collision can damage virtually any part of the body.

Car accidents frequently cause a range of car accident injuries, from relatively minor to catastrophic or even fatal.

Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury and paralysis
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Lacerations, burns and scarring
• Amputation or disfigurement

From broken bones to brain injuries, crash victims often face a long road to recovery.

Prompt medical care and ongoing treatment are vital, not only to facilitate healing but also to document the injuries for an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Extensive Treatment Often Needed After a Crash

Crash-related injuries often require far more than an emergency room visit.

Depending on the type and severity of harm suffered, an accident victim may need surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medication, assistive devices, and more.

More severe injuries may require emergency medical care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, and ongoing treatment for the victim to recover as fully as possible.

This treatment is not only painful and disruptive – it is also extremely expensive.

Medical care for serious injuries can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

When someone else’s negligence leaves you hurt, you shouldn’t have to shoulder this overwhelming financial burden on your own.

A car accident claim can provide critical compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

Long-Term Consequences of Car Accident Injuries

Crash injuries don’t just take a physical toll – they can impact your life in profound ways.

Your relationships, career, hobbies, and daily activities may be disrupted.

You may experience significant emotional trauma in addition to physical pain.

Many car accident victims suffer chronic pain, permanent impairments, and disabilities that drastically diminish their quality of life.

They may be unable to work or need accommodations to perform their job duties.

Some may need daily assistance with basic tasks.

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other emotional traumas are also common.

An experienced car accident lawyer will fight for compensation for all the ways your injuries have affected your life – not just your economic losses.

While no amount of money can erase what you’ve been through, it can ease your financial stress and provide resources for your recovery.

What to Do Immediately After an Arkansas Car Accident

In the moments after a crash, you may feel shaken, disoriented, angry, or scared.

It’s important to try to stay calm and take steps to protect your health and your legal rights.

The aftermath of a motor vehicle accident is chaotic, but the steps you take can have a big impact on your health and your legal rights.

Here’s what to do to protect yourself:

1. Call 911 to report the accident and request an ambulance if needed.
2. Exchange insurance and contact info with the other driver. Do not admit fault.
3. If possible, take photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries.
4. Get contact info for any eyewitnesses.
5. Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor.

Your health and safety should be your top priority after a crash.

If you are seriously injured, you may need to leave the accident scene in an ambulance.

Even if you can move independently, getting checked out by a doctor as soon as possible is wise.

Details to Note That Support Your Accident Claim

Seemingly small details can make a big difference in the outcome of your car accident claim.

Documenting important facts while fresh in your mind helps preserve valuable evidence.

As soon as you are able, write down the following details about the Little Rock car accident:

• The exact location, date, and time it occurred
• Weather, road, and traffic conditions
• Any traffic signs or signals at the scene
• The direction each vehicle was travelling before the impact

These are just a few noteworthy facts about the crash.

Keeping an injury journal where you record doctor’s appointments, medications, symptoms, and the impact on your daily life can also provide compelling evidence for your claim.

Keep track of all expenses related to the car accident and how your injuries have impacted your daily life.

This documentation provides valuable evidence for your personal injury claim.

Arkansas Car Insurance Laws and Minimum Requirements

To register a car in Arkansas, you must show proof of liability insurance coverage.

This type of coverage pays for injuries and property damage suffered by others if you cause an accident.

Arkansas law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance with the following minimum coverage:

• $25,000 per person bodily injury liability
• $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability
• $25,000 property damage liability

However, these minimum limits are relatively low.

With the high cost of medical care, even a moderately serious crash can quickly exceed $25,000 in damages.

If you are found at fault for an accident, you are personally responsible for paying any damages beyond your insurance limits.

Optional Additional Coverage to Protect Yourself

Most insurance experts recommend purchasing liability coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for better financial protection.

You can also add optional coverage for damage to your own vehicle.

You can also buy optional coverage for your own vehicle repairs and medical bills:

• Collision covers damage to your vehicle
• Comprehensive covers theft and non-crash damage
• Medical payments cover medical expenses for you and your passengers

Finally, you should strongly consider purchasing underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage.

This protects you if you are in an accident caused by a driver without insurance or insufficient coverage.

This minimum coverage may be insufficient if you cause a serious Arkansas car accident.

Purchasing additional liability coverage is strongly recommended to shield your assets.

Process for Filing an Auto Insurance Claim

Knowing what to do after an accident can be confusing, especially if you’ve never been through the insurance claim process.

Taking the right steps from the start helps your claim go as smoothly as possible.

After an accident, you must promptly report it to your insurance company, even if you were not at fault.

Provide them with basic facts about what happened, but do not give a recorded statement before consulting an attorney.

The other driver’s insurance company may contact you to ask for a statement.

Politely decline to discuss the accident and let them know you have retained a lawyer.

Anything you say to an insurance adjuster, no matter how innocent it seems, could be used against you later.

The at-fault driver’s insurance will likely contact you as well.

Do not discuss the details of the accident or your injuries, and never accept a settlement offer without legal advice.

Let them know you have retained an experienced Little Rock car accident attorney who will handle all communications on your behalf.

Arkansas Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits

After a serious car wreck, you may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation for your losses.

However, you don’t have unlimited time to take legal action.

In Arkansas, you have 3 years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses.

This may sound like a lot of time, but valuable evidence can be lost as time passes.

You may wonder why you must worry about a lawsuit if the insurance company is willing to settle.

The fact is that having a looming filing deadline gives you more leverage in settlement talks.

If the insurer knows your ability to sue and recover a larger amount from a jury is about to expire, they have less incentive to offer a fair settlement.

Acting Quickly Protects Your Rights

While you may be tempted to put off consulting with an attorney, doing so can risk your health and your legal rights.

The sooner you get legal advice, the better.

There are significant benefits to contacting Little Rock car accident lawyers as soon as possible after your crash:

• Evidence like vehicle damage and surveillance video can disappear
• Eyewitness memories can fade over time
• The sooner your attorney starts building your case, the better

Waiting too long to take action can be a costly mistake.

Arkansas law limits the time you have to file suit, and critical evidence can also be lost or destroyed as time passes.

If the statute of limitations expires before you file suit, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case.

You will then be barred from seeking compensation for your losses.

Consulting with Little Rock car accident attorneys right away is the best way to protect your rights.

Compensation Available Through a Car Accident Claim

If you’ve been hurt in a crash, you may wonder what your case is worth.

In Arkansas, accident victims are entitled to seek compensation for the full extent of their losses.

A serious car accident often leads to staggering losses for victims and their families.

Successful car accident claims can provide important compensation for:

• Medical expenses, current and future
• Lost wages from missed work
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life

Of course, no amount of money can undo the trauma of a serious wreck.

However, a fair settlement or jury award can provide critical resources to help you put your life back together.

It can pay your accident-related bills, compensate for lost income if you can’t work, and compensate you for your pain and suffering.

Factors Affecting Car Accident Settlement Amounts

Many accident victims want to know the “average” settlement amount for a car crash claim.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer or standard formula.

There is no “average” settlement for personal injury cases, as each crash has unique factors.

The compensation you ultimately recover will depend on issues like:

• Severity and permanence of your injuries
• Extent of medical treatment needed
• Amount of income and benefits lost
• Daily impact on your life and family
• Available insurance coverage

More severe, long-term injuries usually result in higher settlements and jury awards than minor injuries requiring minimal treatment.

Likewise, if you are disabled and unable to work, you can usually recover more than if you could return to work after a short recovery period.

A Little Rock car accident lawyer will calculate the full value of your claim, including projected future losses.

Your lawyer will then fight for a settlement that provides you with the necessary resources to rebuild your life.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Car Accident Claim?

Hiring an attorney is a very personal decision.

It’s natural to have concerns about the cost and whether you really need legal representation.

Technically, you are not required to have a lawyer handle your personal injury claim.

However, there are significant advantages to having skilled legal representation:

• In-depth knowledge of the law and court system
• Access to resources like expert witnesses
• Proven negotiation skills and trial experience
• Objectivity and freedom from the direct emotional impact of the accident

Studies have shown that accident victims who hire lawyers consistently recover more compensation than those who represent themselves – even after attorneys’ fees are paid.

Experienced attorneys know how to build strong cases and fight back against insurance company tactics.

What You Risk by Handling Your Own Claim

Choosing to handle your car accident claim without an attorney can be risky.

The insurance claims process is intricate and filled with traps for the unwary.

On the other hand, pursuing your personal injury claim alone involves serious risks:

• Inadvertently saying something that harms your claim
• Accepting an inadequate settlement out of financial desperation
• Missing filing deadlines or making other procedural errors
• Getting taken advantage of by the insurance company

Insurance adjusters are trained to find ways to pay as little as possible on claims.

They may use various tactics to get you to accept an unfairly low settlement, like making a “low-ball” offer before you know the full extent of your injuries or trying to get you to give a recorded statement that can be used against you.

Ask yourself if you are prepared to go up against a multi-billion dollar insurance company and its team of attorneys alone while also struggling to recover from your injuries.

For most car accident victims, the benefits of hiring a Little Rock personal injury attorney far outweigh the cost.

Compassionate Representation for Arkansas Accident Victims

The aftermath of a serious crash is a frightening and stressful time.

When you are struggling to recover from painful injuries and worrying about paying your bills, the thought of dealing with an insurance claim can be overwhelming.

You don’t have to go through this difficult time on your own.

Sean T. Keith, founder of Keith Law Group, has over 30 years of experience representing people injured by others’ negligence.

He is recognized by his peers for his skill and dedication, having been named among the Mid-South Super Lawyers and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.

Sean and his team have a proven track record of success in multifaceted car accident cases.

At Keith Law Group, we understand the profound impact a serious injury can have on your health, your career, your family, and your future.

Call us today at (501) 356-4180 for a free consultation.