Mena Car Accident Lawyer

After a car accident, the investigating officer who arrives at the scene will create a police report.

The report contains a summary of details about the crash. It will also include the officer’s professional opinion regarding how the accident occurred.

Police reports are crucial in helping attorneys determine fault.

There are two (2) ways to get a police report:

1. Request A Copy From The Police Officer

You can request a copy of the report from the police officer at the scene of the accident.

They will often give you a “crash receipt” with a unique identification number for the report.

You then need to contact the traffic division or Records unit, which handles the maintenance, storage, and release of accident reports and criminal reports generated within the Mena City Police Department.

If for some reason you don’t get the report at the scene of the crash, you can still call or visit Mena Police Department and provide them with your name and the date, time, and location of the accident.

This will help them find the police report.

Expect to pay a small administration fee before they send you a copy of the accident report.

2. Ask Your Insurance Provider For A Copy

The second way is to ask your insurance provider to send you a copy of the accident report.

If you want to obtain an accident report or have trouble getting one, or maybe you want to fill one of your own, a car accident lawyer can help.

Auto accident attorneys have experience in handling accident reports and can help you navigate this process.

Unfortunately, not all drivers are insured.

Statistics show that more people choose to drive with bare minimum auto insurance coverage; more than 16% of Arkansans are not insured.

Now more than ever, you must include uninsured and underinsured coverage (UM/UIM) on your policy to protect yourself.

In Arkansas, there’s a statute that mandates that insurance providers offer you uninsured motorist coverage, which can provide coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD).

If the at-fault driver is not insured or is underinsured, the UM/UIM coverage can be a lifesaver.

Should your property be damaged or in case you sustain injuries in a car accident, your carrier will pay some of the expenses.

However, note that this is an opt-out system. Therefore, while it will be provided to you by your insurance carrier, you can always opt-out.

Sadly, even underinsured/uninsured coverage doesn’t provide peace of mind because of bad faith insurance practices.

Your insurance company might try to wiggle its way out of its obligations. Sometimes, they might present policyholders with low-ball offers.

If you were involved in an auto accident in Mena with an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact a reputable car accident lawyer.

They can protect your rights when filing your insurance claim and make sure your claim is foolproof to get the full settlement for your claim.

One of the most common questions at the Keith Law firm from clients concerning car accident claims is:

“Do I have a case?”

To answer this question, we must review your car accident case, and we can only do that if you come in for a free no-obligation initial consultation.

Understanding the circumstances and facts surrounding your accident can help us determine whether you have a case.

This way, our attorneys can develop a personalized strategy tailored to help your case move along smoothly and lead to a quick and fair settlement.

Many people forget that insurance companies are for-profit businesses and will go to great lengths to find loopholes in your contract or manipulate the facts of your claim to avoid payment.

If your claim was denied, or you were offered an unreasonable settlement, don’t fret.

Our Mena car accident attorneys have helped many policyholders successfully claim compensation and can do the same for you.

We have witnessed insurance carriers incorrectly assign fault to policyholders to increase premiums and avoid payment.

The legal experts at Keith Law can review your policy, lodge a dispute claim, and help ensure you get the full amount for your claim.

Auto insurance is sure to play a significant role in any case filed after a car accident.

Arkansas requires vehicle owners to carry defined minimum amounts of coverage to operate automobiles legally on Arkansas’s roads and highways.

An auto accident attorney understands the different coverage available on your policy, which can simplify the claim process.

In some instances, even when the correct type of insurance covers you, your insurance provider may limit your payout.

In these situations, a lawyer can help determine whether you can proceed to file a dispute claim against your carrier.

Many people associate hiring experienced attorneys with spending a lot of money.

At Keith Law, there are no upfront costs, hidden fees, or charges.

We have a strict “No Win No Fee” policy that alleviates your financial burden as your claim is pursued.

We also offer a free initial consultation for car accident injury claims.

If you have been injured in a car accident, as a pedestrian, passenger, or driver, you may wonder how much the case is worth.

Considering that every case is different, it is impossible to say that there is such a thing as an “average settlement.”

To determine a fair settlement for your car accident case, the parties and their lawyers will likely consider auto insurance coverage, medical bills, car repairs, medical bills, and lost wages.

If you need to get a better picture of how much the average settlement for a car accident is, consult a reputable car accident lawyer.

Here’s a look at what you can recover from your insurance claim after a car crash in Mena based on Arkansas’s mandatory insurance requirements:

• $25,000 for property damage
• $25,000 for injury or death of an individual (yourself, another driver, passenger, pedestrian, etc.)
• $50,000 for injury or death of more than one individual in a single-car crash

Note that insurance carriers won’t pay more than the policy limits.

As a victim of a car accident in Mena, Arkansas, you may be wondering:

• “When should I contact a car accident lawyer?”
• “Do I need to recover first before contacting a lawyer?”
• “Should I just submit my insurance claim and wait to receive a check?”

It’s rarely that easy.

If you’re involved in a car crash, you should contact a lawyer right away!

Even when you expect to receive a settlement for the accident, hiring a lawyer helps.

After sustaining injuries from a car crash, you may be wondering what damages you can recover.

In Arkansas, car accident victims can recover three (3) types of damages:

1. Economic Damages
2. Non-Economic Damages
3. Punitive Damages

1. Economic Damages

These are monetary or compensatory damages awarded to the victim to help restore you to the financial position you were in before the accident.

Economic damages include, but are not limited to:

• Past, current, and future medical bills
• Rental car
• Lost income
• Lost future wages potential
• Modifications to your property

2. Non-Economic Damages

These are intangible damages or damages that cannot be quantified.

Non-economic damages are also awarded to compensate the victim for abstract losses – physical and emotional.

They include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Worsening of prior medical condition or injuries

3. Punitive Damages

These are awarded explicitly by the judge or jury to punish at-fault drivers for any reprehensible conduct.

Note that both non-economic and punitive damages are not meant to pay you back for expenses incurred as a result of your injuries.

Recovering maximum compensation for all damages in your car accident case is essential.

Especially if you sustained severe injuries, you might be facing financial difficulties in your life.

Plus, you could be forced to live with a disability. Simply put, your life might never be the same again after a car accident.

Mena car accident attorneys understand you want numbers.

You want to know what you can expect to receive for damages recovered in your car accident claim.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell the exact amount you can receive.

However, there’s no limit to the amount you can receive for damages recovered.

According to Arkansas Code § 16-55-208(b)(1)- (2):

• Punitive damages are capped at $250,000 or three times the amount of economic/compensatory damages (whichever is greater) and must not exceed $1 million.

Ultimately, knowing how much you can receive for recovered damages comes down to how your attorney can prove your case and how willing the jury is with awarding damages.

To understand how much your case is worth, contact our law offices.

Arkansas is a tort or fault state, which means that you must prove the other party’s negligence or fault to recover damages.

Proving fault can be challenging on your own. It often involves going through police reports, witness statements, reviewing city and state traffic laws, understanding “no-doubt” liability to persuade the insurance company, and court if you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

The accident was my fault – can I claim compensation?

Yes, you can still pursue compensation in Mena, Arkansas, even if you were partly at fault in causing property damage or your injuries.

Arkansas operates under “modified comparative” law.

Under this law, the damages you recover will depend on your degree of fault.

If you were 20% responsible, and the jury awards $300,000, your compensation is reduced to $240,000.

Yes, there are strict time limits set by Arkansas state laws.

For this reason, it’s crucial you speak with an Mena car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Generally, according to Arkansas’s statute of limitations for injury to person or personal property, you have three (3) years from the date of the crash to file the suit.

However, several factors can affect this time limit.

So please speak to our lawyers immediately if you’re injured on the roads.