Personal Injury Attorneys Representing Fayetteville Accident Victims
Fayetteville, home of the University of Arkansas and located just outside the Ozark Mountains and Ouachita National Forest, is the third-largest city in Arkansas. Fayetteville is centrally located among several major cities, including St. Louis, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Memphis. As a result, commercial truck drivers frequent the area in mass numbers. While this brings economic benefits, such activity also leads to an undesirable consequence: increased truck and big rig accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a wreck with a big rig, contact the Fayetteville truck accident lawyers of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz to discuss your situation and learn how we can help you through this difficult time.
Prevailing in a Truck Accident Case
A number of major highways run through and around Fayetteville, including U.S. Interstate 49, U.S. Routes 62 and 71, and Arkansas Highways 16, 45, and 112. Many trucking accident claims center around one of the drivers acting negligently, or failing to conform with the standard of care a reasonable person would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. An injured plaintiff must prove four elements to successfully allege negligence in a truck accident case: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Both federal and state laws impose special duties upon truck drivers to operate their vehicles in a safe, risk-free manner. In addition, a truck driver’s breach of that duty must have caused the injuries or damages suffered.
Finally, an injured plaintiff must have actually suffered injuries or damages in an accident. Our trucking accident lawyers have seen Arkansas residents suffer catastrophic injuries caused by collisions with 18-wheelers and commercial trucks, including broken bones, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, and even death. In a personal injury lawsuit filed in Arkansas, damages encompass a wide range of losses, including:
- Medical expenses, including hospital visits, surgery, and prescription medication
- Costs of repairing a damaged vehicle
- Loss of wages from missing work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
A large consideration in personal injury cases is the legal concept known as the statute of limitations. States maintain different laws on how long an injured victim has to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitation period in Arkansas, for example, is generally three years from the date of the crash. While this seems like a long period of time, evidence may disappear as time goes on. Further, witnesses’ memories can fade. Our truck accident attorneys can begin helping Fayetteville residents build their case immediately.
Our Approach When Representing Victims of Truck Crashes
Following a wreck, many commercial trucking companies will instantly begin trying to gather evidence to solidify their position. They may immediately hire experts to download ECM data from the truck, take measurements, and gather physical evidence. Further, they may try to take your recorded statement in an attempt to see if you will make an admission damaging to your claim. This is why it is important to contact a truck accident lawyer in Fayetteville before speaking to any insurance company.
When we represent an accident victim, we get to work immediately. We will want to obtain the police report created by the Fayetteville Police Department or Arkansas Highway Patrol, confirm ownership of the truck, and contact witnesses. We can also send a spoliation of evidence letter to minimize the risk of critical evidence being tampered with or destroyed. We can retain our own experts to download ECM data from the truck, which often provides information related to speed and braking maneuvers attempted. Accident reconstructionist experts can also be used to conduct in-depth analysis to identify the cause of the collision and any contributing factors, such as the roles of various drivers, vehicles, roadways, and environmental factors.
With significant injuries come significant losses. To help you recover your medical bills incurred or the cost of future medical treatment you may need, we can retain medical experts to analyze your records and evaluate your physical condition. If you were employed at the time of the crash but are now unable to return to work, vocational economists can testify as to loss of future earnings based on your work experience, education, and earning history. We carefully select experts in an effort to help maximize the recovery of our clients.
Speak With a Dedicated Arkansas Attorney Today
With over 30 years of experience handling personal injury cases, our automobile accident attorneys understand that every case is different. We utilize our resources and legal experience to devise a strategy so you can recover fair compensation for your injuries and damages. In addition to handling cases in Fayetteville, we serve the surrounding area in communities such as Springdale, Rogers, Harris, Elm Springs, and Black Oak. To set up a free consultation with one of our dedicated Fayetteville truck accident attorneys, contact our office toll-free at 800-529-4004 or complete our online form. With just one call, you will see why NST is the way to go.