Fayetteville Single-Vehicle Crash Attorneys
In 2018, 472 fatal crashes resulted in 516 deaths. There were 17 fatalities per 100,000 people and 1 death per 100 million vehicle miles driven.
In 2019, the leading cause of death in the U.S. was car accidents. The most common vehicle accidents in every state were head-on crashes, multiple-vehicle chain reaction crashes, side-impacts, and single-vehicle accidents. The major, and most common reasons for car crashes of all types include bad weather, defective vehicles, distracted driving, speeding, and DUI/DWI. In 2020, Arkansas had 366 single-vehicle crashes.
If you were involved in a recent single vehicle crash, contact our single car crash attorneys today. The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield brings years of experience and is here to help you, every step of the way.
Statistics of Single-Car Crashes in Arkansas
According to IIHS data, there were 163 vehicle occupants killed in crashes on Arkansas roads in 2018, which represents 32 percent of all vehicle deaths. Of those crashes, there were 187 SUV and pickup truck drivers and passengers who died in car accidents. A figure that represents 36 percent of all vehicle fatalities.
Large trucks and motorcyclists did not fare well in accidents either. Twenty-four truck occupants died in collisions, accounting for five percent of all fatal vehicle accidents. Sixty-six motorcyclists died in crashes, for thirteen percent of all vehicle deaths.
A total of 285 died in accidents involving a single vehicle, which accounted for fifty-five percent of all car crashes, and 231 died in accidents in which there was more than one vehicle, representing forty-five percent of all accidents.
What Happens After a Fayetteville Single Vehicle Car Crash
No matter what type of vehicle accident you have been in, whether it involved another car or it was a single-vehicle crash, there are some things you need to know in the accident aftermath.
Every accident in Arkansas involving property damage over $1,000.00 or results in the injury or death of another, no matter who was at fault, is mandated to report it to the Arkansas Office of
Driver Services (AODS) within 30 days of the crash.
The law also requires drivers to file a proof of insurance certificate within 90 days of the accident. Proof can be presented via:
- The accident report must show limits of $25,000, $50,000, and $25,000, or in the alternative state, the limits are at least equal to those required by Arkansas.
- A security deposit.
- A written release of liability signed by the other party in the crash (if there was one).
- A covenant not to file a lawsuit. It must be notarized, in writing, and signed by the adversely affected party.
- A written agreement, accepted by the affected parties, addressing the payment of damages in installments. Copies must be filed with the (AODS).
- A final civil judgment of non-liability from a court that is not a traffic court. A copy must go to AODS.
- A written statement by the adverse party of his insurance company saying they have reimbursed you for your property damage.
- A request in writing to AODS for a hearing to decide if there is a reasonable chance that judgment may be rendered against you for the accident. If this is not likely, the AODS may waive a security deposit.
- A copy of any petition for bankruptcy with a list of creditors and names of all involved parties.
If you have been in a single-vehicle crash, which happened as a result of a defective vehicle, or poorly maintained roads, there are various legal routes you may pursue. Talk to us at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield for further information about your legal rights if you have been involved in a Fayetteville single-vehicle accident.
Why Each Fayetteville Car Accident is Different
The law in Arkansas follows the comparative negligence doctrine, where more than one party is typically partially at fault for an accident. In the instance of a single-vehicle crash, caused by someone else, you may be able to recover compensation from the defendant. The amount recovered would be predicated on your possible share of liability for the crash. This is referred to as modified comparative negligence.
In general, this is helpful to know, as insurance company claims adjusters use accident reports to figure out who was at fault in a crash. This is not a precise method of calculating what a claim could recover, and the final decision relating to fault depends on the actual facts, reports, pictures, and documentation of the crash.
If the accident involved another vehicle, this is information you need to know. If you were involved in a single-vehicle crash and the only person involved, the circumstances may be different. At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, we can determine how to proceed with your claim as we review the circumstances of your accident. Every case is different. Every detail is different for each case. Every outcome is different based on the facts of the case.
Filling Out an Arkansas Car Accident Report
After any type of accident, the driver must file an Arkansas car accident report, which is four pages in length. This needs to be done carefully and meticulously, as insurance companies pour over every word. This means making sure you verify all the information in that report, including your personal information.
Answer all the questions very carefully and pay attention to what they are asking and how you answer the questions. You may find a question relating to a Blood/Breath/Urine Test being requested. If the answer next to that question is “Yes,” there is a possibility you were the survivor of a drunk driving crash.
Another item you need to pay attention to is at the bottom of the accident report – where the police enter the estimated damages and injuries from the crash. What is written in this portion of the accident report can make a large difference in how much compensation you receive.
Page 2 of the accident report is referred to as the Narrative section in which the police describe how the crash happened. You may disagree with it. Speak up and speak out, and mention the discrepancy to your Fayetteville single-vehicle crash attorney at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield.
This page may also have witness statements which can be useful for your attorney, and if you proceed to settlement or trial. Insurance company adjusters are also interested in this page to see if they can interview eyewitnesses and use any of the information to reduce a claim. Always speak to your Fayetteville single-vehicle crash attorney at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield for legal guidance.
On Page 3 of the accident report, you are going to find a diagram of your accident, no matter what type of crash it was. It is typically drawn by the police. Make certain that the diagram matches your memory of the crash. If the diagram does not match with what you recall, speak to your Fayetteville single-vehicle crash attorney. We can check and ensure your description is included in the official accident report. Insurance companies also pay very close attention to this page, again looking for things that can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Depending on the nature of the crash you were involved in, you may not need to pay too much attention to page 4 of the accident report. It is usually used for accidents involving commercial vehicles, such as 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers. If an 18-wheeler was somehow involved in your Fayetteville single-vehicle crash, and the accident report’s Hazardous Material section indicates the presence of hazardous materials, let your attorney know.
What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Single Vehicle Crash Claim
While you are not required or expected to know the law involved in sorting out who is liable for a wreck, it is helpful to be aware of the statute of limitations, Arkansas Code Section 16-56-105, for filing a claim is three years. Also, Arkansas follows the modified comparative fault rule. The clock for filing a claim begins on the date of the crash.
This means you may recover compensation as a plaintiff “only” if you were deemed to be “less” responsible than the other driver for the crash. By the way, the statute of limitations does not apply to car insurance claims. You must notify your vehicle insurer of your accident within a few days. If you miss the deadline for filing, the court would not hear the case.
If a defective vehicle, poorly maintained roads, being hit by another driver, rear-ended, or defective traffic signals were the cause of your Fayetteville single-vehicle accident, it may be possible to name the carmaker and other related entities and/or persons in a claim for compensation.
Contact the Fayetteville Office of Jason M. Hatfield Today
If you were involved in a Fayetteville single-vehicle crash, call us at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield at (479) 361-3575. Our dedicated team of single-vehicle crash accident lawyers is here to help.
Call us today for a free initial consultation and to find out what you can expect should you file a personal injury lawsuit. We know you have questions, and we can answer them. The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield is just one quick call away: (479) 361-3575.