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.

Driving at night can be harder than the daytime—it’s dark, there might not be streetlamps to help you see, and the other cars’ headlights could cause a glare. This is frustrating because headlights are necessary at night, but sometimes they just seem too bright.

Even the most minor of car accidents can result in injuries for a driver or a passenger. One of those injuries that people usually get from an auto wreck is a concussion. A concussion happens after a blow to the head or after the head has been violently shaken. Your brain suffers from trauma inside your skull, swells, and causes damage.

Soft tissue injuries might seem like they’re not as serious as a broken bone or another severe injury that can happen in a car accident, they can still greatly affect your everyday life if you don’t get checked out and treated right away. When it comes to whiplash, it’s important to go to the doctor because if it’s left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your head, neck, and back.

Even at low speeds, victims of car accidents can suffer from whiplash. After you’ve been in a collision where you think you suffered from whiplash, or where you don’t think you have any injuries at all, you need to see a medical professional. That way, your doctor can make a treatment plan and ensure you heal as quickly as possible from your injuries.

After a car accident where your head was whipped back and forth, you could have whiplash. This is what to do if you think you have whiplash after your wreck.