Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys in Arkansas
Out of all types of auto accidents, truck accidents are some of the most devastating and traumatic.
The injuries sustained by victims often cause lifelong disability or pain, making recovery difficult or even impossible. When you or a loved one sustains an injury in a trucking accident, you need an Arkansas semi-truck accident lawyer you can trust.
At Harris Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys have decades of experience helping victims take the fight to large corporations and insurance companies.
Here is everything you need to know about big rig collision claims and how an Arkansas truck accident lawyer can help.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Every accident, including those involving large semi-trucks, involves a variety of injuries that could be major or minor. These injuries carry certain financial, physical, and emotional burdens depending on their severity or prevalence. At the Harris Law Firm, our Arkansas truck accident attorneys have experience representing cases involving:
- Road rash,
- Whiplash,
- Lacerations,
- Bruises,
- Contusions,
- Broken bones,
- Internal bleeding,
- Back injuries,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Paralysis, and
- Amputated limbs.
Due to the size and weight of semi-trucks, the likelihood of sustaining a serious injury is higher than other crash types. For this reason, it’s essential to speak with a big rig accident attorney who understands the short and long-term costs of these injuries.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Arkansas
Semi-truck accidents are rarely straightforward. These vehicles’ sheer size and weight mean that even minor driver missteps or malfunctioning equipment can lead to catastrophic results. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Arkansas.
Defective Brakes
When a semi-truck’s brakes fail, the consequences can be disastrous. Defective or poorly maintained brakes are one of the leading causes of trucking accidents, especially on Arkansas’s hilly terrain. While truck drivers are responsible for inspecting their brakes, the manufacturers or companies responsible for maintaining the trucks may also bear liability.
An experienced Arkansas truck accident lawyer will identify whether faulty brakes were caused by manufacturing errors or poor maintenance and hold the responsible party accountable.
Driver Fatigue
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver fatigue contributes to many truck accidents. Fatigued drivers suffer from impaired reaction time, poor judgment, and lack of focus—all of which dramatically increase the risk of accidents.
If fatigue could have caused the crash, an attorney can review driving logs and GPS data to determine if the driver violated hours-of-service rules.
Reckless Driving and Speeding
Due to the immense size of 18-wheelers, speeding or reckless driving can quickly turn deadly. When truck drivers speed or weave through traffic, they put everyone around them at risk.
Arkansas state law requires truck drivers to operate their vehicles with a higher duty of care due to the risks posed by their size and power. A truck accident lawyer can help hold the driver accountable when they breach this critical duty.
Improper Cargo Loading
Improper loading or unsecured cargo can cause rollovers, jackknifing, or dangerous cargo spills. In these cases, multiple parties could share liability. A lawyer experienced in investigating these accidents can be the key to holding everyone responsible.
Companies responsible for loading must adhere to strict safety protocols to ensure their loaders distribute weight evenly and secure cargo correctly. In cases where improper loading causes an accident, multiple parties may share liability.
A lawyer who understands how to investigate cargo-related accidents can make all the difference.
Improper Truck Driver Training
Driving a commercial vehicle requires extensive training. When trucking companies allow undertrained drivers behind the wheel, they risk lives. A lack of experience handling blind spots, wide turns, or emergency maneuvers can quickly result in tragedy.
Lack of Vehicle Maintenance
Trucks that travel long distances must be regularly inspected. Worn-out tires, failing brakes, or defective lights are dangerous at highway speeds. When companies skip maintenance or fail to address known issues, they may be held accountable for resulting accidents.
Negligent Hiring
Companies that ignore red flags in a driver’s background—such as past violations, DUIs, or health concerns—put the public in danger. Failure to conduct background checks or properly evaluate candidates may amount to negligent hiring, creating liability when a crash occurs.
Trucking Regulations
While the FMCSA has strict regulations for trucks, companies sometimes ignore them. In fact, one of the most common causes of trucking accidents is hours-of-service violations.
According to FMCSA regulations, property-carrying truck drivers may only drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off. In addition, drivers must take a 30-minute break every eight hours on the clock.
However, hour limits don’t just apply to individual days. Truckers may not drive more than 60 or 70 hours within seven or eight consecutive days. Once a driver meets this limit, they must take 34 or more hours off before they start driving again.
Unfortunately, trucking companies often force drivers to work overtime due to tight delivery deadlines. This means that they end up driving while tired, putting others on the road at risk.
Potential Liable Parties in an Arkansas 18-Wheeler Accident
Unlike other types of accidents, trucking accidents may have several potentially liable parties.
Vicarious liability may play a part in accidents where the driver responsible is an employee of a logistics company. For example, the manufacturer of the truck may have included defective parts that made the truck unsafe to drive.
There may be many parties involved in the claim, including:
- The truck driver,
- The truck driver’s employer,
- The manufacturer of the truck,
- The manufacturer of the cargo,
- The truck mechanic, or
- The cargo loader.
This makes truck accidents slightly more complicated than other auto collision cases. With a multitude of possible causes, it’s important to collect as much evidence as possible for a truck accident claim.
Arkansas Comparative Negligence Law
Arkansas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that injured individuals may recover compensation as long as they are less than 50% at fault. However, their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.
For example, if your total damages are $200,000 but you are found 20% responsible, you would recover $160,000. If you’re 50% or more to blame, you are not entitled to any damages.
Trucking companies and their insurers often try to shift blame to reduce how much they must pay. Even a small increase in your percentage of fault can drastically affect your financial recovery. That is why it is critical to have an Arkansas truck accident lawyer who can push back against unfair allegations and present a clear, evidence-based case that protects your rights.
What If More Than One Party Is Liable?
It is common for multiple parties to share fault in a truck accident. In Arkansas, if more than one party contributed to the crash, each can be held severally liable. This means that each party is only responsible for the portion of damages that reflects their percentage of fault.
For example, if a trucking company is found to be 70% at fault and a maintenance contractor 30%, each would only be liable for their respective share of the damages.
You cannot recover the full amount from just one defendant unless that party is found to be solely responsible for the accident. Because of this, it is especially important to identify all potentially liable parties and to build a strong case proving their share of responsibility. At the Harris Law Firm, we work to identify all sources of potential responsibility and help you pursue every available path to compensation.
Handling Insurance Companies After a Truck Accident
Dealing with insurers after a truck accident can be intimidating. Unlike passenger vehicles, commercial trucks often carry multiple insurance policies, each covering different aspects of the accident.
For example, the driver may have one policy while the trucking company holds another. Some policies may have higher limits due to federal regulations, while others might attempt to limit coverage.
Big insurance companies hire strong legal teams to protect their clients. Their main goal is to save money for the insurance company that employs them—which is frequently at odds with making sure you get the compensation you deserve. These insurers often offer settlements far below what the injured party truly deserves, hoping the victim will accept out of financial desperation.
Our skilled attorneys know how to negotiate with multiple insurers. They will explore all avenues for compensation to ensure you receive the full value of your claim. With legal representation, you’re less likely to be taken advantage of by insurers who may attempt to settle quickly and cheaply.
Arkansas Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents
Like other states, Arkansas has a statute of limitations dictating how long a plaintiff has to file a claim. Under state law, victims of personal injury have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim.
However, exceptions may apply in some situations. For instance, when the injured person is a minor or if the defendant fraudulently conceals their identity, the time to file may be extended. To protect your right to sue, it’s crucial to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Arkansas as soon as possible.
After the statute of limitations expires, it’s unlikely that the court will hear your case. That’s why it’s imperative to hire a professional Arkansas truck accident lawyer to help you file your claim.
Determining the Value of a Truck Accident Case
There are a number of factors that affect the value of a truck accident claim. Ultimately, the case is worth whatever the jury decides.
However, there are a few things they may take into consideration when determining the value of your case, including:
- Your past, current, and future medical costs associated with the injury;
- The repair or replacement costs of your damaged property;
- Intangible losses such as pain and suffering; and
- The defendant’s conduct in the case.
Each of these factors falls into one of three categories: economic damages, noneconomic damages, or punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the actual financial losses incurred due to the accident. This specifically refers to any readily calculable damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, car repairs, etc. However, this also extends to things like prosthetics for amputated limbs, accessibility equipment, and transportation to appointments.
Noneconomic Damages
Non-economic damages are subjective losses. This includes things like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of quality of life, and other intangible losses. Typically, these damages don’t have a standard dollar value. Instead, an 18-wheeler accident attorney calculates noneconomic losses by multiplying the total economic damages by a whole number or assigning a per-day cost.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are much rarer than the other two types listed above, as the intention is to punish the defendant as opposed to compensating the victim. In some cases, juries award punitive damages when the defendant engaged in particularly egregious misconduct.
Average Truck Accident Settlements in Arkansas
Truck accident settlements in Arkansas vary based on the severity of injuries, financial losses, and the strength of the evidence. Some resolve for thousands, while others involving life-altering harm may result in multi-million-dollar payouts. Every case is unique, and settlement amounts reflect that.
Working with an experienced Arkansas truck accident attorney can make a significant difference in identifying the full value of your case and recovering fair compensation.
What Influences the Value of a Truck Accident Settlement?
Each claim involves a unique set of facts. However, certain factors are consistently important in determining the potential value of a settlement. These include:
- Injury severity. Long-term or disabling injuries often result in higher settlement offers.
- Medical costs. These include hospitalization, follow-up care, rehabilitation, and future treatments.
- Income loss and decreased earning ability. If your job is impacted, either temporarily or permanently, that loss may be factored in.
- Property damage. Vehicle repairs or replacement costs are typically part of the total recovery.
- Emotional and physical suffering. Pain, mental anguish, and lifestyle disruptions due to an accident are compensable under Arkansas law.
- Available insurance. The limits on trucking company policies may affect total compensation.
- Liability clarity. When fault is clearly established, your case is positioned more strongly during negotiations.
Our legal team at the Harris Law Firm strives to prepare every truck accident claim with a focus on detail, persistence, and client care. We use expert analysis and evidence collection to help strengthen your position from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas Truck Accidents
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Truck Accident?
Yes. These cases often involve multiple defendants, federal safety regulations, and complex insurance negotiations. An Arkansas truck accident attorney can gather key evidence, handle communications, and fight for the full compensation you’re owed.
How Do I Prove the Truck Driver Was At Fault?
Evidence such as black box data, driver logs, inspection reports, and eyewitness testimony can all help prove fault. Our attorneys strive to move quickly to secure and preserve these records before they disappear.
What If the Trucking Company’s Insurance Offers Me a Quick Settlement?
You should not accept a settlement without first consulting an attorney. Early offers are often far lower than the true value of your claim. Let a skilled lawyer review the offer and advise you before signing anything.
Tailored Legal Support from a Fatal Truck Wreck lawyer
Truck accidents are a major concern in Arkansas, particularly along heavily trafficked routes like Interstate 40 and US Highway 67. In 2022, there were 84 fatal accidents involving large trucks in the state, accounting for 9.9% of all traffic fatalities and ranking it third in the nation.
The surge in truck accidents in recent years highlights the growing danger on the roads, with a 27% increase in total traffic fatalities between 2019 and 2022.
After a serious truck accident, you’re likely facing physical pain, emotional stress, and uncertainty about your future. A seasoned fatal truck wreck lawyer from our team knows how to investigate crashes, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Our Arkansas Truck Accident Attorneys
At the Harris Law Firm, we know how difficult it is to manage a truck accident case during recovery. Large corporations often have a dedicated legal team to fight claims and lawsuits.
Their goal is to minimize your compensation as much as possible, even if that means denying your claim altogether.
Our tractor-trailer accidents lawyers in Arkansas understand this and manage every aspect of the case, including:
- Gathering evidence for your claim,
- Contacting potential accident witnesses,
- Negotiating with the defendant and their insurance company,
- Filing all necessary court paperwork in a timely manner,
- Explaining the process to you step-by-step, and
- Taking the case to court if necessary.
Without hiring an experienced Arkansas truck accident attorney, you may be at a severe disadvantage. We want to help you level the playing field and take the fight to those responsible for your injuries.
Trust an 18-Wheeler Lawyer from the Harris Law Firm
When you’ve been injured in a truck accident, securing experienced legal representation is critical. Truck accidents aren’t like other car crashes—they can involve multiple parties, unique regulations, and significant injuries.
We have more than one 18-wheeler lawyer who possesses the in-depth knowledge and courtroom experience necessary to go up against trucking companies, insurers, and defense attorneys. We focus on getting you the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your recovery.
Our team has decades of experience handling hundreds of truck accident cases, from rear-end collisions to catastrophic pile-ups involving multiple vehicles.
We have a strong track record of securing favorable client settlements and verdicts. When you’re facing a large corporation and an aggressive legal team, you need someone in your corner who knows the ins and outs of truck accident law in Arkansas.
Need a Truck Wreck Lawyer in Arkansas? Call Harris Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one sustains an injury in a truck accident, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We understand that the aftermath of a truck accident may be confusing and intimidating.
However, it’s important to act quickly and start building your case before the statute of limitations expires.
To schedule a free case review and speak with a commercial truck accident attorney, contact us online or call us at 662-335-4171. We proudly serve families and individuals throughout Arkansas from our practice in Greenville, MS.