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Little Rock Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

We know motorcycle cases and won’t let insurance companies push you around.

Paul Teutul Sr. is a paid spokesperson

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Why Choose Us?

For decades, the experienced and skilled legal team at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton has successfully advocated for motorcycle accident victims throughout Arkansas and Tennessee. Our lawyers have won multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements for our injured clients across the state. With four offices, 25+ attorneys, and  100+ legal staff, we are ready and willing to fight for you after a serious motorcycle accident. Here, you are never just a number—you are our number one priority.

We Protect Bikers - Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be frightening. You may find your entire life turned upside down in the blink of an eye. Even while you are struggling to recover, insurance companies and creditors might begin to pressure you and your family. During this time, many accident victims are tempted to take the initial settlement offer, so they can pay their expenses and support their families. Often this settlement is much less than what you need to recover and put your life back together after a tragic motorcycle accident. Never sign anything without first speaking to an experienced Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer.

At Rainwater, Holt and Sexton, our Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyers offer compassionate and aggressive legal representation from the start. We understand the complications that can arise after a motorcycle accident, and we know that insurance companies will stop at nothing to reduce their own liabilities. We also know that motorcyclists face an uphill battle when trying to collect the compensation they deserve, and without an attorney on their side, they may fail to secure the money they need to recover. We have helped injured motorcycle riders and their families throughout the state of Arkansas and the city of Memphis, TN for years. Our excellent track record is one of the reasons why so many accident victims continue to recommend us to their friends and families after a devastating accident.

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Why Do I Need an Attorney?

 Did you know that in accidents involving multiple vehicles, ⅔ of all motorcycle accidents are caused by another driver violating the motorcyclist’s right of way? The motorcycle rider almost always suffers the majority of the injuries, many of which are life-threatening. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 28x more likely to sustain serious injuries in an accident. When you are left with crippling injuries and growing medical expenses, the driver who was at fault for the accident should be held liable for the damages they have caused. An attorney can help you hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions while protecting your legal right to fair compensation.

What to Do After A Motorcycle Accident

 
  • Call 911 – If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, your number one priority should be seeking medical attention. This is best done by calling 911 or directing someone at the scene of the accident to call for you. Calling 911 will alert emergency response teams to your location, and it will also ensure that the police arrive on the scene to prevent further injuries.
  • Assist Wi Police Report – When the police arrive at the scene of your accident, remain calm and work with them while they fill out their accident report. Answer any questions they may have but avoid saying anything that could imply fault. An accident report is an invaluable piece of evidence that can be used to establish liability after a crash.
  • Snap Pictures – If you are not injured badly, snap some pictures at the accident scene. Take photos of the intersection, traffic lights, vehicle damage, and any other surroundings that may help your case.
  • Collect Evidence – Gather eyewitness information, including their names and phone numbers. Be sure to write down the make, model, and year of the other vehicles involved in the accident. Collect the other driver’s insurance card data and identifying information.
  • Call Rainwater, Holt & Sexton – Your next step should be to call Rainwater, Holt & Sexton as soon as possible. You need a tough law firm on your side after a tragic motorcycle accident, and our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help.

Learn More About What to do After a Little Rock Motorcycle Accident

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Drivers often fail to recognize a motorcyclist in their path. This is the number one cause of motorcycle accidents each and every year. Other common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

  • Left Turn – When other vehicles fail to recognize an oncoming motorcyclist, they can inadvertently make a left turn directly into the biker. This can cause serious or fatal injuries.
  • Changing Lanes – Inattentive drivers often fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes. This can be disastrous for motorcycle riders and can push bikers into other traffic or off of the road.
  • Rear End – Rear-end accidents can be devastating for bikers who lack the protection to absorb such hits. Without a bumper on their motorcycles, even rear-end accidents can cause significant injury.
  • Dooring – These accidents occur when the driver or passenger of a parked car opens their door into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.
  • Speeding – Speeding is one of the main causes of motorcycle accidents, both single vehicle accidents, and multi-vehicle crashes.
  • Defects – Manufacturers of motorcycles, motorcycle parts, and tires have a responsibility to issue safety recalls when their product is dangerous or defective. Failure to do so can lead to serious and catastrophic motorcycle accidents.
  • Poor Weather – Snow, sleet, rain, and ice can increase the risk of getting into a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists should avoid riding in inclement weather whenever possible.
  • Poor Road Design – Poor shoulder design, inadequate turns, potholes, and defective traffic signals can all result in serious motorcycle accidents. In some cases, the city, county, or state entity responsible for designing and maintaining that road may be liable for the accident.

Results & Case Studies

$1,900,000
Motorcycle Accident Leg Amputation
$245,000
Motorcycle Accident 3rd Degree Burns/Severe Skin Abrasions
$125,000
Motorcycle Accident Leg Injury
See More Case Results

Get Compensation for Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries

In Arkansas and Tennessee, motorcycle accident victims are allowed to recover compensation for a variety of damages – both economic and non-economic. Examples of economic damages include medical expenses, rehabilitation, long-term care, loss of future earnings, lost wages, and bike damage. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, PTSD, and loss of companionship.

At Rainwater, Holt, & Sexton, we know how traumatic motorcycling injuries can be. That’s why we work tirelessly with our clients and their medical team to ensure that they have the money they need to recover from their injuries and handle any long-term complications that could arise. Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented motorcycle and accident victims who have sustained serious injuries, including:

Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can be life-threatening and even fatal. Accident victims who sustain a TBI may need assistance performing basic daily care and may be unable to work and provide for their families. These injuries can result in permanent brain damage and disability.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Accident victims who sustain a spinal cord injury could suffer from partial or complete paralysis. They may live with nerve damage, pain, numbness in their extremities and permanent disability for the rest of their lives. These injuries are costly.
Road Rash
Severe and deep abrasions can damage skin tissue, resulting in long-term disfigurement. Victims are often required to undergo multiple painful surgeries and skin grafts on the road to recovery.
Disfigurement
There are some injuries that will never heal. Horrific fractures, abrasions, road rash, and lacerations can all result in permanent disfigurement. Accident victims will need money to help pay for medical expenses, reconstructive surgeries, prosthetics, and therapies.
Amputation
Motorcyclists are at an increased risk for sustaining severe trauma to their extremities in an accident, resulting in an amputation. Prosthetics are often costly and accident victims may need years of therapy to regain their mobility and learn to live their lives after an amputation.
Fractures
Motorcycle riders can sustain serious fractures that could result in long-term disability, pain and suffering. Serious fractures may require numerous surgeries , extensive hospitalizations, and months of therapy in order to heal.
Psychological Injuries
Motorcycle accident victims are at an increased risk for suffering psychological damage after an accident. Examples include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Muscle Damage
Even and slow speeds, motorcycle riders can sustain serious muscle injuries.  They can cause injury to the delicate nerves, muscles, and tendons in the body.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
The forces of a motorcycle accident can be extreme and result in serious internal bleeding and organ damage. These injuries can be life-threatening and can result in permanent damage to the delicate organs and tissues in the body. Liver damage, punctured lungs, ruptured spleens, and kidney damage are all common after a serious accident.

Motorcycle Accidents in Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock Deadliest IntersectionsArkansas roads are dangerous for motorcyclists. In 2021, 85 motorcyclists lost their lives on highways, freeways, and county roads across the state. Over the past five years, fatal motorcycle accidents have risen by 23 percent. From 2019 to 2021, fatal motorcycle crashes jumped 51 percent.

The increase in motorcycle fatalities in Little Rock and across the state is primarily due to speeding, reckless driving, and drunk driving. In Arkansas, 28% of fatal motorcycle accidents in 2020 involved the use of alcohol, with 21% involving a rider over the legal limit.

A decline in helmet use also contributes to many fatal Arkansas motorcycle crashes. Arkansas law does not require motorcyclists over 21 to wear helmets while riding motorcycles – even though helmet use can reduce the risk of injury by 70 percent and the risk of death by 42 percent.

However, even when motorcyclists follow the laws and ride safely, other drivers cause many of these crashes when they fail to recognize them on their roads.

Where do many of these accidents occur? Motorcycle accidents in Little Rock can happen on any road or freeway in the city. These crashes can ruin lives forever, from rear-end motorcycle accidents on W 3rd St to deadly collisions on the I-630.

In Little Rock, some of the most deadly roads and intersections where motorcycle accidents occur include:

  • I-630
  • I-30
  • W. Roosevelt Road
  • I-440
  • I-40
  • Asher Avenue and University Avenue
  • N College Avenue and E Joyce Boulevard
  • Shackleford and 1-430 with 179
  •  N 46th Street and W. Walnut Street

It’s not just the city streets that are dangerous for bikers. Rural roads in Arkansas are also hazardous. A recent study found that Arkansas’ rate of motorcycle fatalities was the 3rd highest in the United States – only Mississippi and Texas motorcyclists fared worse. Many of those accidents occurred on rural roads across the state.

Arkansas Statue of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Cases

The clock starts ticking the moment you get into a motorcycle accident in Arkansas. The law only allows injured motorcyclists a specific amount of time to file a claim to collect compensation. This is called the statute of limitations. In Arkansas, injured motorcyclists only have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Once you miss this deadline, you cannot file a lawsuit.

However, there are exceptions to every rule. Arkansas Code § 16-56-105 outlines the statute of limitations and the exceptions. One exception to the state’s statute of limitations is if the motorcycle accident victim is under 21 at the time of the crash. If this is the case, the clock doesn’t start until they turn 21. They then have three years from this date to file their claim.

Arkansas personal injury law is complex. As such, injured motorcyclists should speak to an experienced Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss their legal options after their accident. Even if you do not believe you have a case or are worried you missed the deadline, we want to talk to you!

Motorcycle Risks and Scenarios

Motorcycle accidents can be hazardous, often resulting in severe injury or death. Several factors can contribute to a motorcycle accident, some of which are unique to motorcycles.

Lane Splitting

Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist drives between two lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars. This can cause accidents when drivers change lanes without seeing the motorcyclist.

Lane splitting is legal only in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada. In Arkansas, no law prevents motorcyclists from lane splitting. However, most drivers do not realize that motorcyclists may ride between the lanes. When they do, they can startle other drivers and cause them to swerve into oncoming traffic or the motorcycle itself. In 2014, lane splitting was a factor in 17% of all motorcycle accidents in California.

Blind Spots

Blind spots are also a problem for motorcyclists since they are less visible than cars. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of all collisions between motorcycles and other vehicles happen because the driver didn’t see the motorcycle. And in many cases, these accidents could have been avoided if the driver had been more aware of their blind spots.

Intersections

Riding through an intersection in Arkansas is dangerous if a car turning left doesn’t see the motorcycle. In fact, 42 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involved a motor vehicle turning left at an intersection and into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.

So, what makes intersection accidents so dangerous for motorcyclists? There are a few factors. First, motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles on the road, so they can be more challenging to see, especially when another vehicle is making a turn. Secondly, motorcycle riders don’t have the same level of protection as people in passenger cars or trucks. When a motorcycle collides with another vehicle, the rider is likelier to be injured or even killed.

Finally, motorcycles accelerate faster than other vehicles, making it difficult for riders to stop in time if another vehicle pulls out in front of them. All these factors combine to create a situation where intersection accidents are hazardous for motorcycle riders.

Low Visibility

Visibility issues are also common for motorcyclists since they are smaller than cars and often ride in groups. Low visibility means motorcyclists are more likely to get hurt or killed in motorcycle accidents. In fact, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accident.

There are a few reasons why poor visibility is such a big issue for motorcyclists. First, it’s harder for drivers of other vehicles to see motorcycles when it’s dark. Second, headlight glare can make it difficult for oncoming traffic to see motorcycles, especially when there’s rain or snow on the road. And finally, reflective clothing and equipment are less effective in low-light conditions.

Wearing brightly colored clothing and using reflective tape can help make motorcyclists more visible. But it is up to other drivers to look out for motorcyclists on the road.

Riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a car, but there are ways to minimize the risks. Wearing proper safety gear, such as a helmet, boots, and protective clothing, can help protect you in an accident. Following the rules of the road and being aware of your surroundings can also help reduce the risk of an accident.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s vital to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected.

Motorcycle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

1

How long do I have to file a claim in Arkansas? If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Arkansas, you must act quickly. Accident victims have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim.

2

Do I have to wear a helmet? In Arkansas, riders over the age of 21 are not legally required to wear a helmet when riding. However, safety experts urge everyone to consider wearing a helmet when riding. Wearing a DOT-approved helmet is the best way to reduce the risk of sustaining deadly head injuries.

3

What if I am hit by an uninsured driver? If you have purchased UM/UIM insurance, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance company. Your attorney can help you determine how to obtain the maximum compensation after a crash.

4

The insurance company said I was to blame for the accident – can I still collect? Arkansas uses a modified comparative fault rule in cases of personal injury. This means that even if you are partly to blame for the accident, you can still collect compensation. However, if you are found to be 50% or more at fault, then you are not eligible to collect any compensation.

5

What if I am uninjured? Do I still need to call 911? Yes! Even if you believe that you are uninjured, you still need to file a police report after an accident, and you should be examined by a medical professional. Failure to do so could jeopardize your ability to file a claim. Without a police report, it will just be your word against theirs.

We Are Taking Care of You

Our experienced injury attorneys will evaluate your case, examine all aspects of your accident, and explain your legal options, so you can choose the path that is right for you and your family.

Best of all – we offer this free of charge. It’s our no fee guarantee!

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