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If you or a loved one was in a truck accident on I-40, I-30, or any of the other roads in Arkansas, you need an experienced Arkansas truck accident lawyer on your side.

At Caddell Reynolds Law Firm, we understand the devastating impact a truck accident can have on your life, and we’re here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and your options for financial recovery.

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Arkansas Truck Accident Lawyer Guide

• How Common Are Trucking Accidents?
• Who Can You Hold Liable in a Truck Accident Case?
• What Compensation Is Available to Truck Accident Victims?
• There a Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?
• Contact the Arkansas Truck Accident Lawyers at Caddell Reynolds Today

Why Choose Caddell Reynolds Law Firm for Your Arkansas Truck Accident Case?

When choosing a law firm to handle your Arkansas truck accident case, it’s crucial to select a team with the experience, resources, and dedication necessary to effectively represent your interests.

At Caddell Reynolds Law Firm, our attorneys have decades of combined experience handling complex personal injury cases, including numerous truck accident claims. We understand the unique challenges these cases present and have the in-depth knowledge required to navigate the complex federal and state regulations and industry-specific issues involved.

Taking on powerful trucking companies and their insurers requires substantial resources. Our firm has the financial and professional resources necessary to level the playing field and fight for the compensation you deserve.

We also understand that every truck accident case is unique, and every client has individual needs and concerns. When you work with Arkansas personal injury lawyers, you’ll receive personalized attention from a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to your success.

As a long-standing Arkansas law firm, we have deep roots in the community and a proven track record of securing significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

We’ve recovered millions of dollars for truck accident victims and their families, and we’re ready to put our skills and experience to work for you. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, we’re here to stand up for your rights and fight for the justice you deserve.

How Common Are Trucking Accidents?

Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that there are more than 4,000 traffic fatalities per year in accidents caused by or involving large commercial trucks. About 75% of those fatalities are suffered by people in other vehicles and roughly 10% of those fatalities are suffered by bicyclists, pedestrians, and other “nonoccupants.”

This number of annual truck accident fatalities is relatively small compared to the total number of traffic fatalities per year, but it is still harrowing, especially when factoring in serious injuries. In the last few years, more than 100,000 people have been severely injured in truck accidents, atop those who lost their lives.

According to a national transportation research study, Arkansas ranked fourth in the U.S. for the number of fatal truck accidents per one million people in a recent five-year period, behind Wyoming, New Mexico, and Mississippi.

According to NHTSA, there 123 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in Arkansas one recent year. Those crashes accounted for 13.4% of the state’s total fatal crashes.

Common Causes of Arkansas Truck Accidents

Truck accidents happen for several reasons, but most of them are linked to human error. Preventable mistakes, negligence, reckless behavior by truck drivers, trucking companies, truck manufacturers, and other responsible parties all contribute to truck crashes. Identifying the cause of a truck accident is crucial for holding the right parties accountable and pursuing compensation for injuries and damages.

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours under tight deadlines, making fatigue one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Even with federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations in place, some drivers exceed legal driving limits, increasing the risk of falling asleep at the wheel or having slowed reaction times.
• Distracted Driving: Despite strict regulations, distracted driving remains a significant risk among truck drivers. Activities such as texting, adjusting navigation systems, eating, or using onboard devices can divert attention from the road, leading to catastrophic accidents.
• Speeding and Aggressive Driving: To meet delivery deadlines, some truck drivers may speed or engage in aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating or unsafe lane changes. Given a truck’s extended stopping distance, even slight speeding can make it impossible to avoid a collision in time.
• Improper Loading of Cargo: An overloaded or improperly secured load can cause a truck to become unbalanced, increasing the risk of rollovers or jackknife accidents. Shifting cargo can also affect braking and steering, leading to loss of control.
• Mechanical Failures: Trucks require regular maintenance to operate safely. Worn brakes, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, or faulty lighting can all contribute to serious accidents. In many cases, the responsibility for these failures may lie with the trucking company, maintenance provider, or parts manufacturer.
• Poor Weather and Road Conditions: Arkansas’s varied weather—ranging from heavy rain to icy roads—can make driving large trucks even more hazardous. But the weather alone is often not what causes a crash; a truck driver’s failure to properly compensate for external conditions and adjust their driving accordingly can cause them to lose control and slam into other vehicles.
• Blind Spot Accidents: Large trucks have significant blind spots, or “no-zones,” on all four sides. Side-swipe accidents and collisions during lane changes often result, especially if the truck driver fails to signal or changes lanes suddenly.
• Driving Under the Influence: Although commercial drivers are held to strict drug and alcohol testing standards, incidents of driving under the influence still occur. Even small amounts of alcohol or drugs can impair judgment and reaction times, leading to devastating accidents.

When truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties fail to follow safety regulations or act responsibly, the consequences can be life-altering. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Arkansas, an experienced truck accident attorney with Caddell Reynolds Law Firm can help you understand your rights and options for compensation.

Do I Have a Truck Accident Claim?

Negligence is a legal concept that forms the basis of most personal injury claims, including those involving truck accidents. In simple terms, negligence occurs when a person or entity fails to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another individual.

To prove negligence in a truck accident case, four key elements must be established:

1. Duty of care: The defendant (the truck driver, trucking company, or other party) owed a legal duty to the plaintiff (the injured person) to act in a manner that a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. In the context of truck accidents, this means operating the vehicle safely and following all applicable traffic laws and industry regulations.
2. Breach of duty: The defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as a reasonable person would. This can include actions such as speeding, driving while fatigued, or improperly loading cargo.
3. Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In other words, the accident and resulting injuries would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s negligent actions.
4. Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence. These damages can include physical injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.

If you can establish these four elements, you may recover compensation for their losses through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Who Can You Hold Liable in a Truck Accident Case?

In some cases, multiple parties may share liability for a truck accident. An experienced truck accident attorney can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to identify all potentially liable parties and pursue compensation from each of them.

This approach helps ensure that the victim receives the full compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses. Some of the parties that may be held responsible in a truck accident case include:

The Truck Driver

If the truck driver’s negligent actions, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, caused the accident, they may be held liable for the resulting damages.

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies have a responsibility to properly maintain their vehicles, adequately train their drivers, and ensure drivers follow all applicable federal and state regulations. If a trucking company fails to meet these obligations and an accident occurs, you can hold them liable.

The Owner of the Tractor or Trailer

In some cases, the owner of the truck or trailer may be a separate entity from the trucking company. If the owner fails to properly maintain the vehicle or knowingly allows an unqualified driver to operate it, they may be held responsible for any resulting accidents.

Cargo Loading Company

Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift during transit, making the truck unstable and increasing the risk of an accident. If a third-party company loaded the cargo and did so negligently, you can hold it liable for any resulting accidents.

Truck or Parts Manufacturer

If a defect in the truck or one of its components, such as the brakes or tires, contributes to an accident, you can hold the manufacturer of the defective product responsible under product liability laws.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Truck crashes are often far more devastating than typical car crashes due to the massive size, weight, and structure of commercial trucks. An 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—nearly 20 times more than the average passenger vehicle. This sheer difference in mass means that collisions involving trucks generate far greater force upon impact, leading to severe injuries or fatalities. Additionally, the elevated height, long stopping distances, and large blind spots of trucks make them inherently more dangerous on the road.

When a passenger vehicle is involved in a collision with a truck, many truck accident survivors often suffer catastrophic injuries. The force of impact from a large truck can easily crush smaller vehicles, leading to long-term disabilities or life-threatening harm. Some of the most common injuries resulting from truck accidents include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The violent impact of a truck collision can cause the head to strike hard surfaces inside the vehicle, leading to concussions, skull fractures, or severe brain trauma. TBIs can result in memory loss, cognitive impairment, and long-term neurological issues.
• Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: The force exerted during a truck accident can damage the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. Even less severe spinal injuries can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and a decreased quality of life.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: The sheer force of a collision often results in broken bones. Fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis are common and can require extensive surgeries and rehabilitation.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding or damage to vital organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, or spleen. These injuries are often life-threatening and may not be immediately visible after the accident.
• Severe Burns: Truck accidents involving fuel leaks or hazardous materials can lead to fires or explosions. Victims may suffer severe burns, which often require skin grafts and lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, and other soft tissue injuries are common in high-impact crashes. While some neck and back injuries may seem minor at first, they can lead to chronic pain and long-term complications.
• Amputations and Crush Injuries: In severe cases, victims may suffer crushed limbs or require surgical amputations due to extensive tissue damage. These life-altering injuries can lead to permanent disability and emotional trauma.
• Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Beyond physical injuries, truck accidents can leave lasting emotional scars. Many survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or other psychological challenges that require long-term therapy and support.

If a negligent truck driver injured you, you don’t have to face the future with uncertainty. An experienced Arkansas truck accident lawyer can level the playing field and help you obtain the compensation you and your family deserve.

What Compensation Is Available to Truck Accident Victims?

Truck accident victims may recover compensation, known as damages, for the losses they have suffered in an accident. These damages include two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are quantifiable financial losses directly attributed to the accident. These may include:

• Medical expenses: This includes all costs related to medical treatment, such as ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation.
• Future medical expenses: If the victim requires ongoing medical care or treatment as a result of the accident, they may recover compensation for these future costs.
• Lost wages or income: If the victim is unable to work due to their injuries, they may be compensated for the income they have lost as a result of the accident.
• Loss of earning capacity: If the victim’s injuries prevent them from returning to their previous job or limit their ability to earn income in the future, they may recover compensation for this loss of earning capacity.
• Property damage: If the victim’s vehicle or other personal property was damaged in the accident, they may recover compensation for the cost of repairs or replacement.

Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are less tangible losses that do not have a specific dollar value. These may include:

• Pain and suffering: This refers to the physical pain and emotional distress the victim has experienced because of the accident and their injuries.
• Emotional distress: Truck accidents can be traumatic events that cause significant emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If the victim’s injuries prevent them from participating in activities they once enjoyed or limit their ability to live life to the fullest, they may recover compensation for this loss of enjoyment.
• Loss of consortium: This refers to the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy that a victim’s spouse or family members may experience because of the accident.

In cases where a tractor trailer accident results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. This claim can provide compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.

The specific damages available in a truck accident case will depend on the unique circumstances of the accident and the extent of the victim’s injuries and losses. An experienced truck accident attorney can help assess the full extent of your damages and fight for the compensation you deserve.

There a Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?

Yes, there is a deadline for filing a truck accident lawsuit in Arkansas, known as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is a legal time limit that dictates how long an individual has to file a lawsuit after an incident occurs. If you don’t file a lawsuit within this time period, you cannot seek compensation for their injuries and losses.

In Arkansas, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including truck accidents, is generally three years from the date of the accident. This means after a truck accident in Arkansas, you have three years from the accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties.

There are some exceptions to this rule that may extend or even shorten the filing deadline in certain circumstances. Consult a lawyer so you don’t miss this deadline.

While the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit is three years in Arkansas, it is always best to consult with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident occurs. This allows your attorney to investigate your case, gather evidence, and build a strong claim on your behalf. Additionally, some truck accident cases may involve claims against government entities, which may have shorter notice requirements or filing deadlines.

How Can a Lawyer Help With My Arkansas Truck Accident Case?

At Caddell Reynolds, our experienced truck accident attorneys can help you navigate the complex legal process following a truck accident and fight for the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the ways our lawyers can assist with your Arkansas truck accident case:

Investigating Your Accident

We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your truck accident to gather evidence and identify all potentially liable parties. This may involve reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, consulting with accident reconstruction experts, and examining truck maintenance records and driver logs.

Assessing Your Damages

Our attorneys will work with you and your medical providers to assess the full extent of your injuries and losses, including both economic and non-economic damages. We will consider your current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.

Communicating with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies can make dealing with a truck accident overwhelming and confusing. Our lawyers will handle all communications with the insurance companies involved in your case, protecting your rights and ensuring that you do not settle for less than you deserve.

Negotiating on Your Behalf

Many truck accident cases are resolved through settlement negotiations with the responsible parties and their insurance companies. Our skilled negotiators will advocate for your best interests and work tirelessly to secure a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your losses.

Representing You in Court

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial. We have extensive litigation experience and will vigorously argue your case in court to pursue the best possible outcome for you.

Providing Personalized Attention

At Caddell Reynolds, we understand that every truck accident case is unique, and every client has individual needs and concerns. We will provide you with personalized attention throughout the legal process, keeping you informed of developments in your case and answering any questions you may have.

Offering Contingency Fee Arrangements

We believe that everyone should have access to quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we offer contingency fee arrangements for truck accident cases, which means you pay no upfront costs and we only collect a fee if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

Contact the Arkansas Truck Accident Lawyers at Caddell Reynolds Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Arkansas, do not hesitate to contact the experienced attorneys at Caddell Reynolds. We are here to stand up for your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Let us handle the legal complexities of your case while you focus on your recovery and moving forward with your life.

Contact our Arkansas truck accident attorneys today at (479) 782-5297 or through our online form for your free, no-obligation consultation.

Contact us today to determine the compensation you deserve after your car accident. Call (479) 782-5297 or contact us through our website for your free consultation with one of our accident lawyers today. Our legal team will assess your claim, help you navigate the challenging aftermath of your accident, and get you the justice you deserve.

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Caddell Reynolds Law Firm – Fort Smith Main Office

122 N 11th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
P: (479) 782-5297

If You Have Been Injured, We Are Here for You