Arkansas Auto Accident Attorney
It takes time to grasp the full impact of your car wreck. At first, you may not realize how fast medical bills, lost wages, and car repairs add up.
When you are recovering from a car wreck, you need time to heal. Making phone calls, signing paperwork, and tracking down police reports may turn into a full-time job. Accident victims don’t have the time or the resources to negotiate with insurance companies after their crash. Your time is better spent attending doctors appointments and focusing on rehabilitation.
During this time, the services of an experienced Arkansas car accident lawyer can be invaluable. An Arkansas car accident lawyer at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Injury Lawyers can handle the complicated details and help you determine the full amount of damages you could be owed, so you can focus your energy on your recovery.
Do I have a case?
One of the most common questions we get asked is: “How do I know if I have a case?” That’s a complicated question that depends on a number of specific factors. Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula for determining whether or not you have a case. Only an experienced car accident attorney can make that determination after reviewing the circumstances of your accident.
Perhaps a better question to ask yourself is: “Should I call a lawyer?” And you can answer that question right now by considering these three criteria:
Were you injured in the auto accident?
A personal injury attorney can only help you if you suffered injuries as a result of your accident. If you suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be able to collect the money you need to pay your medical bills and rehabilitation expenses.
Was the accident your fault?
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you might have a personal injury claim. If you don’t know whether or not you were at fault, review the accident report or contact the reporting officer. An attorney can also help you determine fault with a copy of the accident report. Even if you believe that you may be partially to blame for the accident, it’s important to speak to an experienced attorney. In some cases, there may be multiple parties responsible for your accident and for your injuries. Your lawyer will be able to investigate your accident closely to determine who the liable party is.
Did you sign anything from the insurance company?
Most of the time, if you’ve already accepted a settlement offer from the insurance company, an attorney can’t help you. Before you sign any settlement documents, be sure to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer. Your lawyer can review your case to help determine if you are receiving a fair settlement that will cover all of your expenses.
If you meet the above criteria, you should call an experienced law firm immediately. Although it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a case, it does qualify you for a free consultation. Most attorneys can determine whether or not you have a case with a short conversation. Contact us anytime. We’d be happy to speak with you.
Our Auto Accident Case Results
See More Case ResultsWhat types of compensation can I receive?
Injured accident victims may be eligible to collect compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. The driver responsible for the accident is also responsible for paying these damages. While no two accident claims are quite alike, injured accident victims can seek compensation for:
Auto Accident Resources
Will I have to go to court?
After an accident, the majority of accident victims are hurt, tired, and trying to put their lives back together. The last thing on their minds is heading to court. Luckily, the majority of personal injury claims are resolved without ever having to go to trial. Trials are expensive and time consuming for insurance companies as well.
Even though most claims are settled out of court, it’s important to choose a law firm that tackles each case as if it were going to trial. If the insurance company denies your claim or refuses to offer a fair settlement, then you can rest assured knowing tenacious and skilled litigation attorneys are representing you.
At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, our personal injury attorneys are able to file your car accident claim and see you through the entire legal process – from the discovery stage, all the way to trial. We can help you present your claim to the insurance company, before filing suit, in a way that will maximize your recovery from the start. If you do need to file a lawsuit because you have not been offered a fair settlement, we can prepare your case and help you obtain maximum compensation, without ever having to go to court.
What should I do after a car accident?
Approximately 10 million car accidents occur in the United States each and every year. If you are involved in a car accident, the steps you take immediately after the accident could significantly impact your ability to file a claim. Here are steps you can take after an accident.
Pull over and call 911
Calling 911 immediately alerts the police and emergency medical personnel to the accident scene. Prompt medical care is necessary if someone has been seriously injured.
Share insurance information
Ask the other driver to exchange car insurance information. You will need this information to determine who pays for damages and your attorney will need this information to begin the negotiations process. Don’t admit fault, however, even if you believe you are the responsible party. If the other driver is uninsured obtaining current contact information is critical.
Gather evidence
If you aren’t injured, take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles. Take pictures of the intersection and any other helpful information, such as skid marks and other cars. Collect the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. This will be helpful to your attorney when establishing fault.
Obtain a police report
A police report is invaluable when establishing liability after a crash. Without a police report, it becomes your word against the other driver’s and this will make collecting compensation more difficult.
Contact a car accident attorney
An attorney will ensure that you do not miss any critical deadlines for filing a claim and protect your rights to maximum compensation. Without an attorney on your side, insurance companies often offer accident victims a low-ball settlement that is just a fraction of what they need to truly recover from their accident.
What are common injuries after a car accident?
Car accidents often result in injury. These injuries can range from minor broken bones to more severe traumatic brain injuries. Victims can suffer a variety of injuries that should be covered by the insurance company including, but not limited to:- Broken bones
- Brain injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Head and neck injury
- Lacerations and bruises
- Muscle damage
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Internal organ damage
- Disfiguration
- Amputation
- Injuries related to airbag deployment
Long Term Effects of Car Accident Injuries
- Chronic pain
- Decreased mobility
- Decreased flexibility
- Reduced quality of life
- Reduced range of motion
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Medication dependency
Even a low-speed accident can cause a significant injury that can take weeks or even months to fully recover from. Soft tissue injuries, for example, can be difficult to diagnose after a car accident but can result in permanent and chronic pain if not treated quickly. They can make it difficult to work, enjoy life, and maintain relationships.
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to fully understand the scope of the injury and the long-term effects you may endure. Some of the long-term effects of car accident injuries include:
Why should I hire an attorney after an auto accident?
After an accident, insurance companies gather information and work diligently to reduce your claim. Why? Because their main interest is in protecting their shareholders – not injured accident victims. For this reason alone – you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side.
Hiring a car accident attorney ensures that your rights to compensation will be protected throughout the legal process. It means that insurance companies won’t be able to offer you a low-ball settlement so you can obtain the money you need to address your injuries and recover.
Here are reasons to hire an attorney after your car accident:
- Avoid missing critical deadlines to file a claim
- Understand the full scope of damages
- Proving liability is complicated
- Liability laws are different in different states
- Avoiding financial losses
- Protecting your rights against insurance companies
Tips for dealing with the insurance company
We would never advocate that you deal with the insurance company alone, but if you must, don’t sign anything until you’ve asked yourself three important questions:
- Will the settlement offer from the insurance company be enough to pay all my current and future medical expenses?
- Will it fully compensate me for all the paychecks I’ve missed due to my injuries?
- Does their offer take into account my pain and suffering or the strain put on my family?
If you can’t answer “yes” to all three of these questions, stop speaking with the insurance company immediately and give us a call.
Even if you believe that the insurance company’s settlement is fair and will cover your expenses, it’s best to speak to one of our lawyers before signing any settlement agreement. What happens when your injury doesn’t quite heal the way you anticipated or you begin to lose time at work because of chronic pain or disability? What if you need more money in the future to pay for revision surgery or to correct a complication?
At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, our Arkansas-based attorneys know that car accident injuries don’t always heal as expected. Insurance companies will try to pay as little as possible, which often results in injured accident victims trying to recover without the money they need. That’s why we fight aggressively for our clients to get the money they need and deserve.
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