Driving. For most of us, it’s a daily activity, but as commonplace as it may seem, getting behind the wheel also comes with inherent risks.

Every year, tens of millions of car accidents occur around the world, and almost 3,700 people are killed every day in crashes involving cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, or pedestrians, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to these, the resulting injuries, fatalities, significant financial costs, and potential risks to drivers and passengers become glaring.

While many factors contribute to these accidents, one of the primary causes is the actions of drivers themselves. Understanding the reasons behind these actions can help us anticipate and lessen the risk to ourselves, our families, and others we share the roads with and promote safer driving for everyone.

Like many other states, Arkansas sees its fair share of wrecks each year. While many of those individuals who are involved walk away from them unscathed, unfortunately, that’s not the case for others.

Head injuries, most of which lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), often occur.

If you’re curious about how common head injuries are after a car accident, keep reading where we’ll deep-dive into what readily available data says about this.

Due to the exponential rise in work zone accidents, the Arkansas Department of Transportation created Slow Down, Phone Down, a statewide zero-tolerance work zone safety campaign. It urges drivers to slow down and put their phones down, as those are the two most common causes of work zone accidents.

Construction zone speed limits are always posted, and you will see the tell-tale signs, orange cones, barrels, etc. before the construction site begins. Accidents in construction zones are easy to avoid if drivers take proper safety precautions. We’ll explain several things that can happen if safe driving habits in a construction zone aren’t followed.

According to United States Department of Transportation (DOT) data, car crashes are one of the leading causes of death among children under 13.

Following car seat laws in Arkansas is a simple yet important step toward reducing traffic deaths.

One out of four children who die unintentional deaths do so in motor vehicle collisions. But we have the power to save thousands of lives a year. The use of a car seat can reduce risk of injury for young children by 71–82%, and proper seat belt usage cuts the risk of death or serious injury in half for older children and adults.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Little Rock, Pulaski County, or the surrounding area, you may already have a sense of what you’re up against. With mounting medical bills, missed paychecks, and insurance adjusters constantly questioning your version of events, securing the compensation you are owed can feel like an uphill battle.

At McMath Woods P.A., we partner with our injury clients to collect and evaluate as much evidence as possible. One of the most critical pieces of evidence in any car accident claim is the police accident report. Let’s take a more in-depth look at how to get a police accident report in Arkansas, the information it contains, and when you are obligated to call the police to the scene of an auto accident.

Becoming involved in a vehicle accident is stressful, whether you are fully or partially at fault for it or didn’t contribute to its occurrence at all. 

Arkansas law affords you the right to seek compensation for your injuries and other accident-related damages by filing a claim with the at-fault motorist’s insurer so long as you are deemed to be less than 50% liable for its occurrence. 

However, not all drivers who are at fault for a crash survive it. What options do you have for seeking compensation for your damages in situations like these?

Wrong-way accidents are relatively rare compared to other types of accidents—like rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, or blind spot accidents. Wrong-way collisions are estimated to comprise roughly 1% of motor vehicle fatalities—about 300-400 deaths a year.

When a wrong-way accident does occur, the outcome is usually quite severe. A wrong-way collision is typically a head-on collision or a high-speed sideswipe. This involves two vehicles driving directly toward one another prior to impact. The force of collision often leaves drivers and passengers with catastrophic injuries. Many wrong-way accidents are fatal to vehicle occupants, especially those in the front seat.

In many cases, you can still recover compensation for your injuries even if you were partially responsible for the crash. However, the amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive may fluctuate based on your degree of fault.  

It is also important to note that each state has its own unique laws regarding how fault is determined in car accidents. In some states, a concept known as comparative negligence is used. Here in Arkansas, the modified comparative negligence doctrine applies. We’ll tackle how that figures into your accident case when you were partially at fault. 

Even when there are stop signs or traffic lights, intersections can be tricky places to navigate. Any time that you are dealing with multiple lanes and flows of traffic there is the potential for serious harm, including T-bone accidents.

After the initial impact in a T-bone accident, one car is often pushed off its original course and into other lanes of traffic. This creates an opportunity for a second impact, more injuries, additional vehicle damage, and even death.

Intersections can be confusing even for the most well-seasoned drivers. It may even seem like everyone approaches red lights and stop signs a little differently, some choosing to stop while others quickly roll through.

While you might be tempted to simply go along with what everyone else is doing, it is best to stick to the rules of the road to help limit the risk of an accident or serious injuries.