A serious car accident on Interstate 49 or anywhere in Bentonville can change your life in an instant. Your Bentonville personal injury lawyer knows what you are up against, from painful injuries to unexpected financial strain.
LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers brings decades of combined trial experience to every case we handle. Contact our car accident lawyers in Bentonville, AR today for a free consultation to discuss your options and protect your rights.
Why You Need a Bentonville Car Accident Attorney After a Crash
Car accidents often come with unexpected pain, stress, and expenses. If you are trying to heal while dealing with pushy insurance adjusters and confusing paperwork, legal support can make a huge difference. Your Bentonville, AR car accident attorney with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers is here to take the pressure off and help you focus on your recovery.
What Our Legal Team Can Do for You
When you work with an experienced car accident lawyer, you get someone who knows how to protect your rights from the very beginning. Our team will gather important evidence like crash reports, medical records, and witness statements to build a strong case.
Your attorney will also handle all communication with the insurance company. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will prepare your case for trial and advocate for you in court. At every step, you will have someone in your corner who understands what you are going through and knows how to fight for the best outcome.
Why Acting Quickly Matters After a Car Accident
Time matters after a car accident. You generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arkansas Ark. Code § 16-56-105,. Waiting too long can weaken your case by making it harder to find evidence or track down witnesses.
Acting quickly also allows your Bentonville, AR car accident attorney with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers to preserve important documents and data before they are lost. From the start, we will make sure your case stays on track, all deadlines are met, and nothing important slips through the cracks.
Common Causes and Types of Car Accidents
Traffic accidents in Bentonville, AR happen more often than most people realize. From the high-speed stretches of I-49 to congested local roads like Walton Boulevard and Central Avenue, it only takes a moment of distraction or a poor decision behind the wheel to cause serious harm.
Our firm helps people across Northwest Arkansas who have been injured in all types of collisions, whether the crash involved heavy rain, dense traffic, or reckless drivers. Every collision has its own details, but certain behaviors and circumstances appear again and again. Understanding these common causes can help you figure out what went wrong and who may be responsible for your injuries.
Why Car Crashes Happen
Some of the most serious car accidents we see are linked to speeding, reckless lane changes, and aggressive driving. When drivers push beyond the speed limit or ignore basic traffic rules, they reduce everyone’s margin for safety. These behaviors are especially dangerous on tight curves, wet roads, and areas with lots of foot traffic.
Distracted driving accidents are also on the rise across Bentonville. Phones, in-car technology, and even food can take a driver’s attention off the road at the worst possible moment. When someone looks down at their screen while heading through a busy intersection or switching lanes, the results can be devastating.
Different Accident Types We Handle
We handle a wide range of crash cases involving different vehicles, road conditions, and driver roles. Commercial truck accidents are especially dangerous due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. These crashes often cause severe injuries and may involve multiple parties, including the trucking company and maintenance contractors.
Our firm also works with clients injured in motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and Uber accidents throughout Benton County and surrounding areas. Whether you were hit crossing the street or riding as a passenger in a rideshare, our car accident attorneys in Bentonville, AR are here to support you.
Compensation in a Car Accident Claim
The majority of damages awarded in car accident cases fall under the category of compensatory damages, meaning that they are intended to compensate you for your financial losses. Common factors our car accident lawyers consider in calculating these types of damages include:
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Expenses associated with emergency medical care and treatment after an accident
- The cost of nursing care or assistance with daily living tasks in the home
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
It may be easier to quantify medical expenses and property damage expenses than intangible losses such as pain and suffering or loss of consortium. However, with your car accident lawyer on your side, it is quite possible to put an accurate dollar amount on these damages, enabling you to recover a significant amount of compensation.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to seek punitive damages, which are intended to punish defendants who behave in an illegal or outrageous manner. Although they are not often awarded in car accident cases, the court may decide to impose them if, for example, you were seriously injured by an intoxicated motorist with a long history of DUI on their record.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Bentonville
If you were just in a crash on I-49 or a busy intersection at Walton Boulevard, you are likely dealing with confusion, shock, and a rush of uncertainty. It helps to know that a few simple steps can make a big difference later when you file your claim. Whether the crash was minor or severe, the way you respond in those first moments can protect both your health and your legal rights.
Immediate Steps You Should Take
Start by checking for injuries. Even if you feel fine, it is important to get medical care right away. Some injuries do not show symptoms until hours or days after a collision.
Calling 911 will also bring emergency responders and police to the scene to file an official report.
While you wait, take photos of the damage, the surrounding road conditions, weather, and anything else that helps tell the story of what happened.
Be sure to get names, contact information, and insurance details from the other driver. You should also gather contact information from any witnesses who saw the crash.
Once you are treated for any injuries, keep all your records, including medical bills and doctor notes. Your car accident attorney will need those documents to support your claim.
What If the Other Driver Is Uninsured or Leaves the Scene?
Hit-and-run crashes and uninsured drivers are more common than you might think. If the other driver leaves or refuses to share insurance information, do not panic. Arkansas law (under Ark. Code § 23-89-403) requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage with every auto policy. Most drivers have at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage and $25,000 for property damage under this policy.
In these cases, our car accident attorneys can help you file a claim directly with your own insurer under your UM policy. The process is similar to filing with the other driver’s company, but it comes with its own rules and timelines. If you feel unsure about what to do next, your car accident attorney in Bentonville, AR can step in and make sure everything is handled properly from the start.
What You Should Know About Talking to Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies after a crash can feel intimidating, especially when you are still trying to heal and make sense of what happened. You might assume the adjuster is there to help, but their main priority is minimizing what the company has to pay.
That is why it is so important to protect yourself early in the process by understanding how these conversations work and when to bring in legal support.
When Insurers Are Not on Your Side
Insurance companies often appear helpful at first, but their loyalty is to their shareholders, not to you. The adjuster’s job is to settle the claim quickly and for as little money as possible, even if your injuries have not been fully diagnosed or treated.
In many cases, insurers will offer an early settlement before you even understand the full cost of your medical care, time off work, or the emotional toll the accident has taken. These lowball offers are designed to end the case fast. If you accept one too soon, you may not be able to go back and ask for more later.
How Our Attorney Can Step in to Help
Your car accident lawyer can take over all communication with the insurance company to prevent missteps and protect your claim. This includes reviewing any settlement offers, pushing back against unfair tactics, and handling all of the paperwork so you can focus on getting better.
Our car accident attorneys know how to deal with insurers who attempt to use Arkansas’ comparative negligence laws to limit your recovery. We can gather the right documentation, prove liability, and help you avoid accidentally accepting blame. With a legal advocate in your corner, you do not have to handle the pressure alone.
How Arkansas Car Accident Laws May Impact Your Case
Arkansas car accident laws can dramatically affect the outcome of your personal injury case in ways that may surprise you. From how fault is divided to what your insurance company must cover, every detail matters when you are pursuing compensation. We want you to feel confident about the legal process and the protections available to you under state law.
Modified Comparative Fault in Arkansas
In Arkansas, car accident claims follow a modified comparative fault system, outlined under Ark. Code § 16-64-122. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of the blame is less than 50%. However, your total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
For example, if you were awarded $100,000 but found to be 20% responsible, you would receive $80,000. This system makes it especially important to have clear evidence and a strong legal advocate on your side. We carefully investigate the details of each crash so we can push back against unfair claims of shared fault and help you recover the full amount you deserve.
Minimum Insurance Requirements in Arkansas
All Arkansas drivers are required to carry liability insurance to legally operate a vehicle according to Ark. Code § 27-22-104. The current minimum limits are $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These limits may seem like a safety net, but serious crashes often exceed them quickly.
When coverage is limited, it can complicate your ability to recover the full amount of your losses. If you were hit by someone carrying the bare minimum, we will review every possible source of compensation, including umbrella policies or other liable parties. Our goal is to make sure you are not left paying for someone else’s mistake.
How UM/UIM Coverage Can Affect Your Claim
Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is optional in Arkansas, but it can make a major difference after a serious crash. This coverage protects you if the at-fault driver does not have insurance or has too little to cover your damages. It can also apply in hit-and-run accidents, which are more common than most people realize.
We strongly recommend reviewing your policy and confirming whether you have UM or UIM protection. If you do, we will help you file a claim directly with your own insurer to access those funds. Many people do not realize they have this coverage until they need it, and we are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys in Bentonville, AR Today
You can count on your car accident lawyers in Bentonville, AR from LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers to assist you with every aspect of your personal injury claim, from determining who is at fault for the accident to filing a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to offer full and fair compensation.
Our Arkansas car accident lawyers have several years of experience advocating for injured people, and our strong negotiation skills have helped clients receive the maximum compensation for their injuries. For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation, please call our office or use our contact form to get started today.