Car Accidents
Helping Victims of Auto Accidents in Fort Smith
As you struggle to recover from the injuries you sustained in your accident, the financial burden associated with that process of recovery can be a lot to bear. Though this can all be overwhelming, you will need to remember that we have helped countless people who were in situations like your own. At McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm, our Fort Smith attorneys will do everything they can to help you recover compensation for your injuries so that you can put this all behind you.
Car Accident Claims in Fort Smith
Our Fort Smith attorneys possess the experience and the resources you will need to pursue any car accident claim, including those involving:
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Auto Defects
- Speeding Accidents
- Reckless Driving Accidents
- Road Defects
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Insurance Claims
There is no reason that you should have to shoulder the financial burden of an accident for which you are not responsible; our Fort Smith legal team will do everything they can to help you fight for the compensation you need. Our Fort Smith lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience representing victims of all types of automobile collisions.
What should I do now?
If you or your family has been affected by a car accident, you probably have a lot of important questions that you will need to have answered by a Fort Smith attorney, including:
- Who is responsible for the accident?
- Who will fix my car?
- Who will pay my medical bills?
- What will I do if I cannot go back to work?
Though there will be a lot to take care of after the accident, our Fort Smith legal team is here to explain everything and to help you get your life back on track.
What happens after my accident?
The 10 things you should do after your car accident.
At McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm, our Fort Smith attorneys will work closely with you to assess each of the damages you sustained in the accident, including: your property damage—the damage to your vehicle and to any other personal property, the severity of your injuries and the extent of medical care you will require, and the insurance coverage that is available from all the involved parties so that we may work to maximize the value of your case.
Even if it appears that there is little or no visible damage to your vehicle, you may have sustained injuries from the accident. Despite their minor appearance, low-speed, rear-impact collisions can cause spinal injuries that can affect you for the rest of your life. These cases generally require more expertise than others; therefore, it will be important to have a lawyer who has successfully handled these types of accidents before. Attorney and firm founder Joey McCutchen is a board member of CRASH, a California research team that invests millions of dollars in the science of these types of collisions. Additionally, our team partners with the experts at Digital Motion X-ray to help our clients identify injuries from low-speed collisions as soon as possible.
Depending on your accident, it may become necessary to retain accident reconstruction experts, engineers, medical specialists, and other professionals to make your claim even more clear to the jury. As part of this process, it may also be necessary to dispute the accident report itself, typically because police reports may be inaccurate or incomplete. With so much at stake, our Fort Smith attorneys only work with the most experienced accident reconstructionists to help us tell your side of the story and hold the responsible party accountable.
What if I don’t have injuries?
If you were in an accident in Fort Smith and were lucky enough to escape without any injuries, you may not need a lawyer. However, it is still a good idea to get checked out by your doctor since severe injuries may go undetected for some time. Still, if you were not injured, you will likely be able to handle your claim without a lawyer. To learn about how to pursue a property damage claim in Fort Smith on your own, click here.
What will McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm do for me?
The legal strategy that our Fort Smith attorneys develop with you will be intended to recover all of the damages you sustained as the result of the accident, including:
If you or your loved ones have been injured in a car accident in Fort Smith, you will need to do everything you can now in order to protect your present and future interests. Remember, do not be discouraged by the insurance company—they are simply looking to delay or deny your claim to make sure that they get away with compensating you as little as possible.
Do I need a Fort Smith auto accident attorney?
After an auto accident, most people believe that the insurance company of the responsible party will simply repair their car, pay their medical bills, and get them back to where they were before the accident happened. After all, that’s what insurance is for, right?
Unfortunately, many insurance companies are more concerned about protecting their bottom line than they are with taking care of you and your family after an accident. They will attempt to pay you as little as possible, oftentimes much less than you deserve in the hope that you will just go away. Alternatively, they will make you play the waiting game by delaying, denying, or defending your claim altogether.
As many accident victims in Fort Smith find out first hand, the less insurance companies pay out in claims, the more profitable they become. Don’t play the insurance company’s game; make the first move by calling the Fort Smith car accident attorneys at McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm.
Arkansas Car Accident Statistics
Public data made available by the Arkansas State Police and the Highway Safety Office indicate that in 2014 60,947 accidents occurred on Arkansas public roadways. This figure is a 4.3% increase from the previous year. Although the number of crashes increased, total fatalities decreased by 5.4%.
Of the 436 fatal collisions that occurred over the course of the year, 470 lives were claimed in these accidents. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol were a factor impacting 44% of these 470 deaths, claiming 206 lives. Thus, Arkansas’ alcohol-related fatalities exceeded the national average of 40% by 4%.
The most deadly month for individual drivers and passengers proved to be June with 56 deaths, followed by November with 50 deaths. Additionally, according to the collected data, the time of day that a collision was most likely to occur was between 3 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. The number of crashes that occurred in this window of time, 15,377, account for over a quarter of the yearly figure of 60,947 crashes.
Compared to other road systems, state highways were the site of the majority of annually recorded crashes. Crashes on state highways in 2014 accounted for 79% of fatal crashes and 62% of total crashes.
- State Highway – 37,519 crashes
- City Street – 20,158 crashes
- County Road – 3,270 crashes
While the majority of collisions occur in urban areas, rural areas are largely the site of fatal collisions. Only 19% of all annual collisions occurred in rural areas compared to 81% of the collisions occurring in cities and urban centers. Despite this, rural collisions account for 66% of fatal collisions, while urban collisions accounted for only 34% of fatal accidents.
Fort Smith had the second largest number of total collisions statewide, with 2,997 crashes. Fort Smith follows only behind Little Rock which saw 7,335 collisions in 2014. If you have been injured in a Fort Smith collision caused by another person, reach out to a lawyer from McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm today. We understand how complicated your financial situation can become and we are ready to help you deal with the obstacles your injuries have caused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of the people that we work with are reaching out to a lawyer for the first time. Though the process of hiring a lawyer can seem intimidating to some, the team at McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm is committed to making the process as intuitive as possible. If you are considering hiring a Fort Smith car accident attorney, we know that you have questions, and we are here to make sure that all of your concerns are addressed. Read over our frequently asked questions and get in touch with us today at (479) 783-0036 to dive into the specifics of your case with a member of our team.
How Does Car Insurance Work in Arkansas?
The state of Arkansas follows a traditional fault-based system regarding car insurance. This means that if you are injured in an accident caused by someone else, the at-fault party’s insurer will ultimately be responsible for covering your expenses. At a minimum, Arkansas requires drivers to obtain coverage for the following:
- $25,000 covering bodily injury or death
- $50,000 covering total bodily injury or death
- $25,000 covering damaged property
In addition to this coverage, Arkansas drivers can choose to purchase more comprehensive coverage to protect themselves in the event of an accident. This form of insurance is referred to as personal injury protection (PIP). However, since Arkansas is not a no-fault insurance state, you are not required to purchase this form of coverage.
How Do I Get The Compensation I Need?
Typically, pursuing the compensation that you are owed can be done in three ways, by filing a personal injury claim, by filing a third-party claim with the responsible party’s insurer, or by filing with your insurance company who will likely file a subrogation claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. Recovering the total amount of compensation that you deserve can be complicated to do alone, especially if you are already dealing with considerable pain and expense. If you hire a lawyer to manage your personal injury case, you have a better chance of reaching a satisfactory settlement expediently.
When Should I File?
Ark. Code § 16-56-105 requires injury victims to take legal action within three years of being injured in an accident. This means that for most injury victims the clock starts ticking the same day that the accident occurs. While three years may seem like a long time, if you are serious about collecting the maximum amount of compensation, you should reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Giving your lawyer a healthy amount of time to investigate, value your claim, and build your case will yield the best possible results.
Consult with a Car Accident Attorney in Fort Smith
If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident anywhere in Fort Smith, you should speak with a Fort Smith car accident attorney, at McCutchen Sexton Napurano – The Law Firm to begin assessing the legal action that may be available to you. To discuss the particulars of your claim with one of our personal injury attorneys, please call our offices at (479) 783-0036 or take a moment to fill our web contact form.
