Experienced Arkansas Truck Accident Lawyers Help Those Injured in Benton County
When two cars collide, serious injuries can result. When a car crashes with a fully loaded 18-wheeler, the damage can be even more devastating.
After a truck accident, you may struggle with everyday tasks like eating, bathing, or dressing. You may fear you’ll never return to work or to the hobbies you once enjoyed. You may face a life full of uncertainty. And you may wonder how you’ll fight for the compensation you need when you’re already fighting so hard to recover from your injuries.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The experienced Benton County truck accident attorneys at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A., can help.
Arkansas Truck Accident Statistics
From 2020 to the present, Arkansas has lost 600 to 700 people each year in vehicle accidents. 2021 set a five-year high with 693 deaths, while 2023 set a five-year low with 607 deaths. As of April 2024, 176 people had lost their lives on Arkansas roads.
A study by TRIP, a transportation research nonprofit, placed Arkansas in the top five deadliest states for large truck crashes. Between 201 and 2021, Arkansas averaged 30 truck crash deaths per 100,000 people each year – more than any US state except Mississippi, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Why are truck accidents in Arkansas so deadly? Federal statistics show that truck collisions on rural roads are more likely to cause serious injuries and deaths than crashes on interstate highways or in urban areas. Arkansas ranks third in the US for the share of large trucks that use rural roads – after Nebraska and Indiana. With more trucks on these roads, the risks to Arkansas drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are higher.
Truck accidents also cause serious injuries and death nationwide In 2021, the United States recorded 523,796 large truck accidents. These included 101,000 crashes that caused injuries and 4,444 collisions that caused at least one death. Semi-trucks were involved in 53 percent of all fatal truck crashes nationwide in 2021, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Common Injuries in Benton County Truck Accidents
Any body part can be seriously injured in a truck accident. Many truck accident survivors suffer multiple injuries. Severe injuries can also prove fatal in a truck crash.
Common Benton County truck accident injuries include:
- Head, neck, and back injuries. Damage to the bones and tissues of the head, neck, and back can cause ongoing problems with pain and mobility.
- Brain and spinal cord damage. These injuries can cause permanent paralysis or other impairments. They are among the most expensive and difficult injuries to treat.
- Broken bones. Broken bones may require surgery to fix. Even when bones have healed, lingering pain and movement issues can be a constant reminder of the crash.
- Amputation. Whether a result of the crash or from medical need, amputation permanently changes the body – and how a person moves and functions in daily life
- Burn injuries. In a crash, burns from fire, electricity, or exposed chemicals can all cause severe injury, scarring, and intense pain.
- Scarring and disfigurement. Both a crash and any necessary surgeries afterward may result in permanent scars or disfigurement.
In addition to physical injuries, a crash survivor may experience psychological and emotional difficulties. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other mental and emotional health issues are common after a life-altering event like a truck crash. These injuries may not leave physical marks, but they have a real impact on your daily life.
Time Limits and Compensation in a Benton County Truck Accident Case
Bringing an injury claim to court can be confusing. Many Arkansas residents have little experience with the court system. Navigating court rules can be confusing, but it is essential to winning a claim and receiving compensation.
Arkansas sets time limits on filing injury claims. In Arkansas, a claim must be filed within three years of the date of the accident in most cases. Few exceptions exist, and they are narrow. If a claim isn’t filed within three years, the injured person loses the chance to bring their case to court.
Calculating when the three-year deadline ends can be complex. It’s best to speak to an experienced attorney as soon as possible. A Benton County truck injury lawyer can help you determine exactly when the deadline falls in your case and protect your legal rights.
When an injured person files a claim, they’re typically seeking compensation for the losses they suffered in the crash. Courts often categorize these losses into two groups: economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Losses
Economic losses are financial losses. They’re dollar amounts you lost due to the crash. If the crash hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have lost or spent this money.
Common economic losses in Benton County truck collisions include:
- Medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Property damage,
- Future medical costs, and
- Future lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working ever again.
Other economic losses can also occur. An experienced lawyer can help you calculate the exact amount you should seek for economic loss in your case.
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses are real losses, but they are tougher to calculate from a bill or receipt. Common non-economic losses in Benton County truck crashes may include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Scarring and disfigurement,
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and
- Mental and emotional anguish.
There are other types of possible non-economic loss as well. Talk to a dedicated Arkansas truck crash injury attorney to learn more about non-economic losses and how they may apply to your case.
What to Do After a Truck Crash in Benton County, Arkansas
When a truck accident occurs, take the following steps as best you can. If you cannot follow any of these steps, an attorney may be able to help you get any needed information.
Think safety first. Move people out of the way of traffic, and move any affected vehicles if possible. If someone appears to be severely injured, however, do not move them. Instead, use vehicle lights, brightly-colored objects, and similar items to warn oncoming traffic about the collision.
Call 911. Contact emergency services as soon as possible.
Get medical attention as soon as you can. After a severe crash, emergency first responders may rush you to a hospital immediately. If this doesn’t happen, see a doctor as soon as you can after the crash. Some crash injuries aren’t obvious in the stress and adrenaline of a crash. A doctor can examine you and provide a treatment plan.
Gather and store information safely. If you can, take pictures, draw a diagram, or jot down notes at the scene. Try to capture what you saw, heard, and felt as the crash occurred. Get contact information from the truck driver, any witnesses, and any police officers, if possible. Store this information, along with all paperwork from your doctor and vehicle repair shop, in a safe place.
At each step, prioritize safety. Only take these steps if you can do so without endangering yourself or others.
How an Experienced Benton County Truck Collision Lawyer Can Help
Filing a truck accident claim can be tough. Court rules are complex. Trucking companies often have attorneys who specialize in protecting the company – which means these lawyers will fight aggressively to prevent you from receiving compensation, even if you are clearly entitled to receive it.
An experienced, dedicated attorney on your side can balance the scales, giving you a fair shot at receiving the compensation you need. Your lawyer can:
- Investigate your claim thoroughly, gathering evidence to demonstrate you were not at fault.
- Negotiate with insurance companies, protecting your interests so you can focus on healing from your injuries.
- Build the strongest possible case for the compensation you need and deserve.
- Protect your legal rights at every step, from filing an insurance claim to taking your case to court if necessary.
Truck accident claims can be complex for many reasons. Not only will a truck company’s attorneys fight to avoid liability, but questions of who is at fault can get complicated fast. For example:
- A truck driver may have caused the crash from fatigue – which might not be obvious until the truck’s logs are examined closely for false entries.
- A truck’s maintenance team may have done maintenance or repairs incorrectly or chosen to skip needed tasks – a situation the driver might not know about until it is too late to prevent an accident.
- A company responsible for loading freight may have done so incorrectly, causing the truck to swerve or tip. Driver error might add to the risks in this situation.
- A trucking company may have failed to follow trucking laws and regulations, hiring drivers who aren’t qualified or who cannot pass a mandatory drug screening.
- Others on the road, such as other drivers or construction workers, may have created conditions that triggered the crash.
With so many possibilities at stake, protecting yourself with the help of an experienced attorney is vital. If you’ve been seriously injured in a semi-truck crash, contact the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. today at (479) 361-3575 today. We’ll schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with an experienced Benton County truck accident attorney.