Anyone hurt in Arkansas due to someone else’s negligence may pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible. In addition to paying for your medical fees, they can be liable for any additional losses you incur.
Although remaining calm and collected right after a car crash is difficult, doing so is crucial. What you do next can affect your future well-being and ability to recover compensation.
- Move your car: If possible, move to the side of the road to prevent further injuries or accidents.
- Check for injuries: Once in a safe spot, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Avoid moving anyone who feels intense pain or is bleeding.
- Call 911: Reporting the incident will allow the police to come to your location, assist you and document what happened.
- Collect evidence: Take photos and videos of the scene, ensuring that you capture the exact positions of the vehicles, any damage, and the surroundings. If there are witnesses in the area, request their contact information. Their testimonies may help piece together the events that led to the accident.
- Exchange information: Obtain the name, phone number, insurance information, license plate and vehicle registration number of the other motorist. Give them yours, too.
- Notify your insurance provider: Reach out to your agent immediately in compliance with your policy and for better chances of securing coverage.
Consider reaching out to an attorney
After handling immediate concerns, consider seeking compensation for damages. As the person bringing the claim, you bear the burden of proving that the other driver’s negligence led to your injuries. This is where the evidence you’ve gathered comes in.
Moreover, since Arkansas uses modified comparative negligence, the court will assign each party fault based on their contribution to the crash. You can still collect compensation if you’re partially responsible, but your percentage of fault will reduce the total settlement amount.
Given the complex nature of personal injury cases, it may be best to leave the legal aspects in the hands of a professional. After doing what you can at the scene, you can step back and allow an attorney to handle the rest.