Getting hit by a car while walking should never happen, but when it does, the damage can be life-changing. Your pedestrian accident attorney in Conway, AR from LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers will make sure you understand your rights and what comes next.
With your Conway personal injury lawyer by your side, you can focus on healing while we focus on getting results. Our team has decades of combined experience with Arkansas personal injury law.
Common Pedestrian Accidents Reported in Conway
Pedestrian crashes happen more often than most people realize. Whether you were crossing the street, walking through your neighborhood, or heading into a park, it only takes one careless driver to change everything. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Conway, AR have handled all types of pedestrian accidents, and we understand how these incidents tend to unfold in this area.
Crosswalk Incidents Caused by Distracted Drivers
When a driver is not paying attention, even a marked crosswalk is not enough to keep you safe. We have worked with people who were hit while crossing legally, often in broad daylight, because a driver was texting, scrolling on a phone, or simply not looking ahead. Some drivers slow down but never stop, while others ignore signs entirely.
Pedestrian crashes in crosswalks are especially dangerous because the walker usually has no time to react. These injuries often include head trauma, broken limbs, and severe bruising. Our firm regularly sees these crashes near stoplights, school crosswalks, and areas with poor signage or faded paint.
Sidewalk or Shoulder-Related Collisions
Not every pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk. In many cases, a driver veers too far right or misjudges the edge of the road, hitting someone who is walking on a sidewalk or shoulder. This happens often near neighborhoods without proper barriers or where the road curves sharply.
Side-impact injuries from this type of crash can be just as serious as those from a direct hit. Pedestrians often suffer fractured hips, dislocated shoulders, or back injuries when a vehicle sideswipes them or forces them into a stationary object. Narrow roads with limited visibility are especially risky, and unfortunately, they are common in parts of Conway.
School Zone and Public Park Crashes
Areas around schools and parks are supposed to be safe places for kids and families, but we have handled many cases where a driver failed to slow down in time. These accidents tend to happen when children are walking to or from school, or when families are enjoying local parks like Laurel Park, Tucker Creek Trail, or Simon Park.
Some of the most heartbreaking cases involve drivers who ignored flashing school zone lights or sped through parking lots without watching for pedestrians. Even when speeds are lower, an impact can still cause serious injuries. Crashes in these areas are particularly frustrating because they are so preventable with just a little more care behind the wheel.
Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in Faulkner County
Some parts of Conway are simply more dangerous for pedestrians than others. These areas tend to have heavier traffic, poor visibility, or drivers who fail to slow down when they should. Whether you were hit while walking to school, crossing a busy road, or visiting a park, where your injury happened can shape the outcome of your case.
According to the Conway Area Transportation Plan and ARDOT crash data, the following locations in Faulkner County have been associated with higher pedestrian risk:
- Oak Street and Donaghey Avenue intersection
- College Avenue near Hendrix College
- Farris Road and Dave Ward Drive corridor
- Prince Street in front of Conway High School
- Bruce Street near the Senior Wellness and Activity Center
- Front Street around Simon Park
- Salem Road near commercial retail entrances
- Museum Road and Robins Street intersection
- Harkrider Street near Conway Regional Medical Center
Several of these intersections, such as Oak Street and Donaghey Avenue, have been identified as high-crash zones in recent city traffic safety plans. School zones along Prince Street and College Avenue consistently show increased pedestrian activity and driver violations.
Reports from ARDOT and local planning documents also point to areas like Salem Road and Harkrider Street, where infrastructure limitations and heavy traffic contribute to repeated crash incidents. Your Conway car accident lawyer can use location-specific data like this to help show how the conditions around you may have played a part in what happened.
How Arkansas Law Defines and Penalizes Driver Fault in Pedestrian Cases
When a driver hits someone walking, Arkansas law does not give them a pass. There are rules that make it clear what drivers should do when they approach crosswalks, near schools, and anytime people are nearby on foot. If you were hit by someone who was careless or in a hurry, you have the right to understand how those rules apply to your case.
Crosswalk and Failure-to-Yield Citations
Drivers are required to stop when a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk, but that does not always happen. Some drivers roll through intersections or look the other way, even when someone is clearly crossing the street. According to Arkansas Code § 27-51-1202, ignoring the right-of-way rules can result in citations, fines, and misdemeanor charges when someone is injured.
Whether the driver sped through a flashing sign or failed to stop completely, we take a close look at what happened. Our firm knows how to gather traffic camera footage, talk to witnesses, and review police reports to figure out where things broke down and why that matters for your claim.
Charges Involving Reckless or Distracted Driving
Reckless driving is a big problem in areas with high foot traffic. So is distracted driving. People checking their phones or speeding through yellow lights often do not realize how close they came to hurting someone until it is too late. These actions are dangerous, and when they lead to injuries, the consequences for the driver can be serious.
You might be wondering how long you have to file a claim. The statute of limitations in a car accident is generally three years. That window gives you time to heal and gather information, but waiting too long can make it harder to get what you are owed.
Additional Penalties for Violations in School Zones
Drivers are expected to slow down in school zones, but that does not always happen. Crashes near places like Conway High School or Ruth Doyle Middle School often involve people who were texting, speeding, or rushing through a flashing sign. These are the moments that cause serious injuries and change lives in an instant.
When a pedestrian is hit in a school zone, the penalties for the driver usually go up. These areas are protected for a reason, and judges tend to be less forgiving when a child or school staff member is involved. Your pedestrian accident lawyer in Conway, AR with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers knows how to build cases around these incidents and show exactly where the driver failed to meet their responsibility.
Common Injuries Pedestrians Sustain in Vehicle Collisions
Getting hit by a car can do serious damage, even if it does not look like a high-speed crash. When your body takes the full force of the impact, the injuries tend to be more painful, more complicated, and slower to heal. Our firm sees this all the time, and we know how these injuries can turn your whole life upside down in a matter of seconds. Here are some of the most common injuries we see in pedestrian accident cases:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
- Broken ribs and collarbones
- Pelvic fractures
- Crushed or broken wrists and ankles
- Internal bleeding
- Facial fractures or disfigurement
- Nerve damage or loss of sensation
- Torn ligaments in the knees or shoulders
- Hip fractures, especially in older adults
- Amputations or severely damaged limbs
- Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
It is one thing to be hurt. It is another thing to lose your independence, miss work, or have trouble sleeping because your body still hurts weeks later. Your pedestrian accident attorney with our firm works closely with your doctors and your care team to understand what your injury has taken from you and how we can document every part of your experience.
What Drivers and Insurers May Argue Against You
After a pedestrian crash, it can be frustrating to hear the driver or the insurance company try to shift the blame. This happens more often than most people expect. Even when the driver clearly made a mistake, you may still have to deal with accusations that you caused or contributed to the accident.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
Arkansas uses a comparative fault system, which means the insurance company can reduce or deny your claim if they believe you were even partially at fault. Under Arkansas Code § 16-64-122, compensation can be limited if they convince a jury that you were more than 49% responsible for what happened. That is why it is important to understand what to expect and how we prepare to push back.
Blaming the Pedestrian for Jaywalking or Distraction
One of the most common defenses is to argue that you were crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or not paying attention. They may say you stepped into traffic suddenly, were looking at your phone, or failed to use a designated crossing. Even if the driver was speeding or distracted, they will still try to make it look like the crash was your fault.
Our firm handles these arguments head-on by reviewing traffic signals, interviewing witnesses, and breaking down how the crash really happened. If you were using the road legally and the driver was not paying attention, we make sure the insurance company cannot twist the facts to their advantage.
Questioning the Pedestrian’s Visibility or Behavior
Another tactic is to claim you were hard to see. Insurance adjusters often point to dark clothing, bad weather, or dim lighting to say the driver did not have a fair chance to react. They may also try to raise questions about whether you had been drinking or acting erratically at the time of the crash.
These arguments can feel personal, but they are standard strategies used to lower payouts. Our team gathers the full context, including photos, body or dash cam footage, and surveillance video when available. You are allowed to walk through your neighborhood or cross a street without being blamed for someone else’s mistake. If you have questions about your insurance coverage, we also explain when to call your insurance company if it’s not your fault and how that conversation can affect your claim.
How Our Firm Builds Pedestrian Injury Cases in Conway
When we take on a pedestrian accident case, we do not start by looking for shortcuts. We start by listening to you. Once we understand what happened, we begin collecting the details that can make the difference between a weak claim and a strong one. Here are some of the steps our pedestrian accident lawyers with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers may take as we build your case:
- Reviewing your medical records and imaging reports
- Interviewing witnesses and gathering traffic camera footage
- Visiting the crash site to understand angles, signage, and visibility
- Working with experts to explain how the injury happened
- Collecting documentation to show how the injury affects your daily life
- Preparing every case as if it is going to trial
The more thorough we are at the beginning, the better positioned we are to challenge anything the other side may argue. Most often seen in malpractice claims, under Arkansas Code § 16-114-206, there are standards for expert testimony in injury cases, and we use that law to make sure our evidence is solid and admissible.
Our team pays close attention to every piece of information because your recovery depends on it. We do not take chances with your future, and your pedestrian accident lawyer will not back down when the insurance company pushes back.
Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Conway, AR
Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Conway, AR with LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers have decades of experience taking on serious injury claims and achieving successful outcomes. Whether you are still in the hospital or trying to get back on your feet, we are ready to help. When you are ready to tell your story, contact us online or call our offices to schedule your free consultation.
