Arkansas has plenty of open roads for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Whether you ride as part of your daily commute or wait for the perfect Sunday afternoon, motorcycles are a part of life for many Arkansas residents and tourists who appreciate the local lifestyle and scenery.
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are not uncommon, and the results can be very serious. Per mile traveled in the U.S. in 2019, the number of motorcyclist deaths was nearly 29 times higher than the number of car occupant deaths.
If you or a loved one is involved in a motorcycle accident, you need an Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyer who understands your legal rights.
At the Harris Law Firm, PLLC, our trusted motorcycle accident lawyers will represent you and help you navigate the legal process. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Arkansas, we can help.
Send us a message or call (662) 335-4171 today for a free consultation.
Key Takeaways
What Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Victims Should Know
Motorcycle accident claims involve their own set of rules. Here’s what matters most.
- Motorcyclists Face a Much Higher Fatality Risk:
Motorcyclist fatalities occur at a rate nearly 29 times higher than car occupant deaths per mile traveled. - Arkansas’s Helmet Law Depends on Age:
Riders under 21 must wear a helmet, while riders 21 and older can choose, though all riders must wear eye protection. - Arkansas’s Comparative Fault Rule Has a Cutoff:
You can recover damages if you’re less than 50% at fault, but you’re barred from recovery entirely at 50% or more. - Don’t Accept a Settlement Without Advice:
Insurance companies often offer less than a claim is worth, so it’s best to consult an attorney before accepting anything.
Arkansas Motorcycle Laws
Laws for motorcycles differ by state.
These laws are important to know for general safety and because obeying all laws will be beneficial for your case.
- Riders over the age of 21 do not have to wear helmets. All riders under 21 must wear a helmet.
- All riders in Arkansas must wear eye protection.
- Daytime headlights are necessary.
- Carrying a passenger requires a passenger seat.
- Passengers cannot be under the age of nine.
All other standard vehicle laws apply to motorcycles in Arkansas. Even if you broke the law and were partially responsible for the accident, you may still be able to recover damages. Arkansas uses the rule of modified comparative fault. This means that as long as you are less than 50% at fault, you can still file a claim. Your Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyer can help prove or disprove fault.
Ready to Speak to an Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
We want to hear from you, simply fill out the form below and we will contact you to set up a consultation. We just need some brief information:
What Type of Compensation Is Available in a Motorcycle Accident Case in Arkansas?
Injuries in motorcycle accidents can vary greatly from minor lacerations to broken bones, torn muscles, burns, organ damage, head injuries, and even death. The severity of the injury and the circumstances of the accident can have a big impact on what you can recover.
Here are some of the most common damages:
- Medical expenses: This includes emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, hospital bills, medication, and future expected medical expenses based on a prognosis from your treating physician.
- Lost wages: You may recover lost wages from a resultant inability to work, and you can recover damages if your overall earning capacity has decreased because of the accident.
- Property damage: Motorcycles are expensive. Keep a record of all repairs or the total cost of replacing the bike and other damaged property.
- Pain and Suffering: This is one of many losses that are not directly related to a price tag. Others include post-traumatic stress, embarrassment, anxiety, and other psychological conditions caused by the accident.
- Loss of consortium: The victim may be entitled to compensation if the accident has a significant negative impact on their spousal relationship. This includes loss of physical intimacy.
Your Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to walk you through the type of compensation you may be entitled to.
Our Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Attorney | W. Noel Harris
W. Noel Harris is the founder of Harris Law Firm, PLLC, and has dedicated more than four decades to representing individuals and families harmed by the negligence of others. Since earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981, he has focused his practice on personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and complex litigation. Licensed to practice in Arkansas, Mr. Harris is recognized for his extensive courtroom experience, multimillion-dollar case results, and membership in numerous respected legal organizations, including the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is committed to providing skilled, compassionate, and results-driven representation for injured clients.
Riders Face Real Risk
A Motorcycle Accident Can Be Devastating in an Instant
Motorcyclists are far more vulnerable than car occupants in a crash, and the injuries that follow can be severe and life-changing. Harris Law Firm is here to help you pursue the compensation you need to recover.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Arkansas?
Your first priority after you or your loved one is in a motorcycle accident is to seek medical attention. Injuries from motorcycle accidents are rarely minor, but it is important to be checked out by a doctor even if you don’t think you’re hurt. Immediate care helps prove that the crash caused your injuries, even if they don’t surface immediately. This chain of events may impact your claim.
Contact the police and make a report as soon as possible. It helps your case if an officer is present at the scene to make impartial observations and take statements from witnesses.
If you are physically able, gather some of your own evidence at the scene. Witness contact information and photos could be especially valuable for your case.
Call your insurance company as soon as it is reasonable to do so. Arkansas is an at-fault state which means that the person causing the accident is responsible for the damage. Your Arkansas motorcycle accident attorney will know who to file your claim with, how to gather and interpret evidence, value your claim, and, most importantly, how to negotiate with insurance companies.
Don’t let the insurance provider lure you into taking a quick but tiny settlement offer that only benefits them. Let us get you the compensation you’ll need to put your life back together.
Before You Accept Any Offer
Talk to Us Before You Sign Anything From the Insurance Company
Insurance companies often move quickly with an early settlement offer, hoping you’ll accept before you understand your claim’s true value. Let our team review any offer and fight for what you’re actually owed.
Cases We Handle in Arkansas:
Contact an Experienced Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle accidents can be life-changing, and you deserve dedicated representation that you can trust. At the Harris Law Firm, PLLC, we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients because we understand what it takes to build a strong legal case in Arkansas.
Our personal injury team does not get paid unless you do, which means there are no upfront or hourly fees. Contact us online or call (662) 335-4171 to schedule your free case consultation and find out how we can help.
Common Questions
Arkansas Motorcycle Accident Claims: Frequently Asked Questions
Motorcycle accident cases raise questions riders don’t always expect. Here’s what our Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyers hear most often.
It depends on your age. Riders under 21 are required to wear a helmet, while riders 21 and older can choose not to. All riders, regardless of age, must wear eye protection and ride with daytime headlights on.
Yes. Arkansas follows a modified comparative fault rule, so you can recover damages if you were less than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can’t recover anything if you’re found 50% or more at fault.
You may be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, property damage to your motorcycle, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. An attorney can help identify every category that applies to your case.
No, not without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance companies often offer far less than your claim is actually worth, hoping you’ll accept before understanding the full extent of your damages. A lawyer can review any offer and negotiate for fair compensation.
Know the Risk Areas
Mapping Arkansas’s Motorcycle Accident Hotspots
Motorcyclist fatalities occur at a rate nearly 29 times higher than car occupant deaths per mile traveled, and certain settings, from busy college corridors to the Ozark Mountains’ famous scenic routes, carry extra risk. As an Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyer, Harris Law Firm has represented riders hurt in crashes across the areas below. Explore the map or the list to see where risk runs highest and what to do if you’re hurt while riding.
Interactive map loading… select a location from the list to explore Arkansas’s motorcycle accident hotspots.
Hotspot areas above are illustrative, based on well-known Arkansas college towns and motorcycle touring routes. Every accident is different — contact Harris Law Firm to discuss the specifics of yours.
Hurt While Riding in One of These Areas?
Schedule a free consultation with an Arkansas motorcycle accident lawyer today.
Local Resources in Arkansas
If you’ve suffered a motorcycle accident anywhere in Arkansas, these statewide resources can help with emergency medical care, accident reporting, transportation, vehicle recovery, and other essential services. While these organizations can provide immediate assistance, consulting an experienced Arkansas motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Police & Public Safety
Arkansas State Police (ASP) – Patrols Arkansas’s interstate highways, state highways, and rural roadways, responding to serious traffic crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, DUI incidents, and fatal collisions across the state. Troopers investigate crashes, prepare official accident reports, and assist motorists statewide. Call 911 for emergencies or 501-618-8000 for non-emergency assistance. Visit Website.
Arkansas Department of Public Safety (ADPS) – Oversees statewide public safety agencies, including the Arkansas State Police, and provides information on traffic safety, emergency preparedness, and law enforcement services. Visit Website.
Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) – 1 State Police Plaza Dr, Little Rock, AR 72209, United States. Coordinates statewide emergency response, disaster recovery, and public safety operations during emergencies affecting Arkansas residents. Call 501-683-6700. Visit Website.
Accident Reports & Records
Arkansas State Police Crash Reports – Obtain official traffic collision reports for crashes investigated by the Arkansas State Police throughout the state. Request Report.
Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Traffic Information – Provides statewide road conditions, highway alerts, construction updates, travel advisories, and incident information for Arkansas motorists. Visit Website.
Medical & Emergency Care
UAMS Medical Center – 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States. Arkansas’s only Level I Adult Trauma Center, providing 24/7 emergency care, trauma surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic treatment, intensive care, and rehabilitation for patients with traumatic brain injuries and other serious injuries. Call +1 501-686-8000. Visit Website.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital – 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202, United States. Arkansas’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, offering specialized emergency care, pediatric neurosurgery, rehabilitation, and treatment for children with traumatic brain injuries. Call 501-364-1100. Visit Website.
Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock – 9601 Interstate 630 Exit 7, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States. Provides 24-hour emergency services, advanced imaging, surgery, intensive care, and rehabilitation services for accident victims throughout Central Arkansas. Call 501-202-2000. Visit Website.
Rental Car Services
Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Multiple Arkansas Locations) – Offers insurance replacement rentals, daily vehicle rentals, SUVs, and long-term rental options throughout Arkansas. Visit Website.
Hertz Car Rental (Arkansas Locations) – Provides rental vehicles and insurance replacement transportation for accident victims across the state. Visit Website.
Budget Car Rental (Arkansas Locations) – Offers affordable rental vehicles and insurance replacement rentals at locations throughout Arkansas. Visit Website.
Transportation Services
Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) – Provides statewide highway information, road conditions, traveler resources, and transportation updates for Arkansas motorists. Visit Website.
Amtrak Arkansas Service – Passenger rail service connecting Arkansas communities through stations including Little Rock, providing transportation options for individuals unable to drive after an accident. Visit Website.
Rock Region METRO – Provides fixed-route bus, paratransit, and on-demand public transportation services throughout Central Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, and surrounding communities. Visit Website.
Mental Health & Support
Arkansas Department of Human Services – Division of Aging, Adult, & Behavioral Health Services – 700 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72201, United States. Provides statewide behavioral health resources, crisis intervention services, treatment referrals, and support for individuals coping with the emotional effects of traumatic injuries. Call 501-682-1001. Visit Website.
NAMI Arkansas (National Alliance on Mental Illness Arkansas) – 1012 Autumn Rd #1, Little Rock, AR 72211, United States. Offers mental health education, peer support programs, family resources, advocacy, and referrals to counseling services throughout Arkansas. Call +1 501-661-1548. Visit Website.
Arkansas Department of Health – Injury & Violence Prevention Program – Provides injury prevention education, public health resources, and connections to community support services for Arkansas residents recovering from serious injuries. Visit Website.