At LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we have years of experience dealing with insurance companies. We mean it when we say, “When you bring us an injury case, it’s not just your case, it’s our case.” Our car accident lawyers can clearly explain what is and what is not covered if a crash occurs, and how to get what you deserve if an insurer refuses to do what’s right.
We will also provide straight answers to the practical questions people ask most: Do you have a claim? How much could it be worth under Arkansas law? How do insurance limits, rideshare policies, and UM/UIM coverage change the path to a recovery?
Below is some information about Arkansas car insurance requirements and how they apply to accident cases. Our law firm can help answer any additional questions you may have as part of a free consultation.
Arkansas Minimum Auto Liability: The Numbers You Must Carry
Arkansas is a “financial responsibility” state. Every owner or operator must be able to compensate for harm caused by a crash, and the most common way to fulfill this duty is through liability insurance.
The statutory minimums are often written as three numbers: 25/50/25. That means at least $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 total for two or more people in a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Proof of insurance can be presented in paper or electronic form, and officers or agencies can verify coverage through the statewide online system. The law OKs electronic images on a phone as acceptable proof within certain timeframes.
First-Party Benefits in Arkansas: What “PIP/Med-Pay” Actually Provides
Arkansas law requires that every private-passenger auto policy include first-party benefits by default. Statutes require minimum medical and hospital benefits of up to $5,000 per person, wage-loss benefits of 70% up to $140 per week for up to 52 weeks (with a separate provision for non-income earners to cover essential services), and a $5,000 accidental death benefit. These benefits are payable without regard to fault.
A policyholder may reject one or more of those benefits in writing. However, that choice removes an immediate source of bills-paid cash flow after a crash and can make short-term recovery harder, which is why people often ask us whether keeping med-pay makes sense. The decision depends on budget, health coverage, and risk tolerance, but the legal mechanism is clear: rejection must be in writing.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is also mandated by Arkansas law and is “offered by default,” but it may also be rejected in writing. The statute ties UM minimums to the same 25/50 thresholds used for liability coverage unless you buy higher limits. Underinsured motorist (UIM) is available as long as UM is carried; UIM addresses the situation where the at-fault driver’s limits are too low for your losses.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims: How They Work in Arkansas
UM coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no liability coverage, or in limited situations where the driver and the vehicle meet “uninsured” definitions under Arkansas law. UIM coverage fills the gap between the at-fault driver’s limits and your proven damages, up to your UIM limit. Arkansas’ UIM statute also spells out a notice-and-consent procedure when settling with the at-fault driver’s insurer at policy limits, including a path forward when the same carrier writes both the tortfeasor’s liability policy and your UIM.
When we prepare a UM or UIM claim, we will collect the liability policy information from the other driver, confirm your UM/UIM limits and any household policies that might apply, and build medical proof of the full value of your injuries. Our Arkansas car accident lawyers will then frame the claim so the carrier can audit the numbers and understand the exposure. If the record supports it and a carrier stonewalls, our car accident attorney will file suit and move discovery forward.
Rideshare and Delivery Drivers: Special Coverage Tiers That Change the Rules
Driving for a transportation network company (TNC) like Uber or Lyft changes insurance rules because Arkansas has separate requirements for “app on” time and for “on trip” time.
When a driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride, the law requires at least $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage in primary coverage. Once a ride is accepted and during the trip, TNCs must furnish at least $1 million in primary coverage.
Understanding Coverage in a Rideshare Accident
Those tiers matter after a crash. Claim routing usually depends on whether the driver was offline, waiting for a match, or actively transporting a passenger.
If you were a passenger, or you were in another car hit by a rideshare driver during a trip, the $1 million layer can apply. If the driver was just “online,” the 50/100/25 layer is the starting point. Delivery network statutes often mirror this structure for property damage and bodily injury limits.
Our attorneys will confirm the driver’s status and timestamped app data early. That simple piece of evidence can increase the available insurance by an order of magnitude. Our accident lawyers will request TNC logs, driver statements, and dispatch details, then match those records to the police report and witness statements. If the facts place the crash inside a covered tier, our car accident attorneys will press for immediate disclosure of policy information and claim numbers under the TNC statutes.
Proof of Insurance, Penalties, and Registration Issues
Operating without the required coverage triggers fines, potential plate seizure, and other consequences. Arkansas laws authorize electronic verification and permit impoundment or license suspension in certain instances of non-compliance. Courts rely on the online insurance verification system to confirm whether insurance was active.
Why Minimum Limits Often Fall Short After an Accident
The minimums exist to get a plate on a car and to keep a basic level of protection on the road. Those limits are not designed to cover the cost of injury care in a serious crash. A single ambulance ride, ER evaluation, imaging, and follow-up can consume a significant portion of $25,000. If more than one person is hurt, the $50,000 “per accident” cap can further limit compensation.
Motorists typically benefit by focusing on comprehensive protection, rather than just purchasing minimal coverage. That means considering higher liability limits to safeguard personal assets and purchasing UM/UIM coverage that matches or exceeds your third-party liability limits.
Our car accident lawyers will explain how stacked limits, household policies, and umbrella coverage could interact with your claim. When the numbers justify it, we will pursue every available layer until the economic and human losses are fully presented and paid.
What to Expect During the Legal Process in a Car Crash Case
It’s only natural that you want to have an idea of how your case will proceed if you suffer an injury in a car wreck caused by a negligent driver. The following is a quick look at what to expect:
Step 1: Intake, Coverage Mapping, and Early Proof
First, we will provide a free consultation. We will review your case with you and then outline its strengths and weaknesses.
Once you decide to work with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we identify all policies tied to the incident, including the at-fault driver’s liability policy, any household UM/UIM policies, umbrella layers, rideshare tiers, and endorsements. Our car accident lawyers will send preservation letters and request insurance disclosures in accordance with Arkansas law. Next, our car accident attorney will collect medical records and bills and prepare a damages summary.
Step 2: Gathering Evidence
We establish liability through documents and witnesses, including traffic crash reports, body-cam footage (if available), nearby surveillance footage, event data recorders, and physical evidence. We also work with accident reconstruction experts when needed.
Our Arkansas car accident lawyers will present the evidence clearly and concisely, making it easy to review and understand. When a commercial vehicle, rideshare, or delivery service is involved, our car accident attorneys will add the policy tier analysis and status logs described above.
Step 3: Demand and Negotiation
After your treating provider gives a prognosis, we prepare a written demand anchored to policy limits and Arkansas law. Our car accident attorneys will quantify future care and wage loss using provider opinions and vocational evidence. If the initial response falls short, our car accident attorney will escalate the matter with targeted evidence, then file suit where leverage is necessary.
Step 4: Litigation and Trial Readiness
LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers has a reputation. We are known for being willing to go to trial even for a few thousand dollars when principle is at stake. That is part of putting insurance companies on notice that we will not give up. Our Arkansas car accident lawyers will manage the case efficiently and keep it on a tight schedule. If a reasonable offer arrives late, our car accident attorneys will be prepared to evaluate it against trial value on the spot.
How Much Could a Car Accident Settlement Be Worth Under These Rules?
Every case sits inside the boundaries set by facts and coverage. The high-level drivers of value are:
- Policy Limits Available: A minimum-limits driver caps the voluntary payout at 25/50/25 unless other coverage is in play. With UM/UIM, you can reach your own limits once the tortfeasor’s carrier tenders. For rideshares, the $1,000,000 “trip” coverage can transform a claim.
- Medical Course and Prognosis: Documented diagnoses, treatment, residuals, and future care drive economic damages.
- Earnings Impact: Wage loss and reduced capacity require proof, but can significantly change the number.
- Credibility and Clarity: Jurors and adjusters respond to straightforward proof anchored in records.
We will value a claim in two ways: by determining a fair settlement amount and considering the potential compensation a jury could award if the case proceeds to trial. Our car accident lawyer will discuss both with you in plain terms. When litigation is the better path, our car accident attorney will outline the steps and timeline.
Med-Pay and UM/UIM: Common Car Accident Scenarios
Many people wonder how insurance works after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Here are a few scenarios that often occur, and how UM/UIM policies can impact a case.
Scenario 1: Not Enough Coverage
The other driver has only 25/50/25. Your hospital bills are already over $30,000, and two family members were hurt.
Our firm would pursue the at-fault limits first and then move to your UIM. Our car accident lawyers will send the consent-to-settle notice and keep your UIM carrier in the loop. If the same insurer writes both policies, Arkansas law provides a streamlined path to proceed after the liability settlement. Our car accident attorneys will follow that path to protect your rights.
Scenario 2: Hit-and-Run Accident
A hit-and-run accident occurs at night. The driver’s vehicle has no plate, and the accident leads to significant injuries. UM becomes the main source of recovery.
Our firm would develop proof of impact, police documentation, and medical causation. Our car accident lawyer will present the UM claim with the same depth we use against third-party carriers. If a fair number does not materialize, our car accident attorney will file suit against the UM carrier under the policy.
Scenario 3: Rideshare Collision
A rideshare driver hits you while carrying a passenger.
Our firm would pursue the TNC policy at the $1,000,000 level and document the driver’s status using company logs. Our car accident lawyers will demand timely disclosure and preserve data. If the status is disputed, our car accident attorneys will subpoena records to nail down the timeline.
Need More Info on Auto Insurance? Contact Our Arkansas Accident Attorneys
Has a crash turned your life upside down? Do you need help sorting your coverage before a problem arises? LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers is here to help. To schedule a free consultation with our Arkansas auto accident lawyers, contact our law offices online. You can also reach us by phone at (888) 220-7068.
