Injured in a Crash on US-71B? Speak to an Experienced Lowell Car Accident Lawyer Today
Lowell is one of Benton County’s fastest-growing communities. Those who move to Lowell often do so for its Ozark country beauty combined with its convenient access to urban amenities.
US-71B plays a key role in connecting Lowell with other parts of Benton County, the state of Arkansas, and the United States. While this well-traveled highway is essential to Lowell’s economic and community development, it can also be dangerous for those who drive on it.
If you’ve been injured in a crash on US-71B and you suspect someone else’s negligence is to blame, speak to an experienced Lowell personal injury lawyer today. The team at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. can help. Contact us by calling (479) 361-3575 or use our convenient online chat.
What Makes US-71B Dangerous?
Roadway deaths in Arkansas have decreased in recent years – yet Arkansas still ranks fifth among US states for highest traffic crash death rates nationwide. In 2023, 590 people died in roadway deaths statewide.
While a death or serious injury may occur on any Arkansas road, some roads are more dangerous than others. US Highway 71B in Lowell poses several dangers common to fatal and serious injury crashes in Arkansas.
Large Trucks and Cargo
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Americold Logistics are located on the US-71B business loop in Lowell. Arkansas Self Storage is also located near these businesses on US-71B, as is a retail office for truck manufacturer Peterbilt.
While these companies play essential roles in trucking and logistics in Lowell and throughout Arkansas, the work they do can pose risks on the road. Large trucks turning or backing up near the driveways of these companies can block traffic. Improperly maintained trucks, improperly secured cargo, or driver error can lead to an otherwise preventable crash.
Speeding
Arkansas drivers have a responsibility to control their vehicles to avoid preventable crashes. A common way drivers fail to meet this duty is by driving too fast for road conditions.
Speed was a factor in at least 20 percent of all Arkansas roadway deaths in 2023. In many cases, drivers were obeying the posted speed limit – but they were driving too fast to prevent a collision with another car, a bicycle, or a pedestrian.
US-71B in Lowell challenges drivers to stay alert and maintain a safe speed. Many driveways and intersections line the roadway. Bicyclists and pedestrians are common, requiring drivers to slow down and stay alert. Arkansas’s changing weather poses additional challenges.
Bicyclists and Pedestrians
US-71B’s business loop, also known as Lowell’s North Bloomington Street, saw one pedestrian death and two bicyclist deaths in June 2025 alone. Bicyclists and pedestrians are especially likely near the McClure Avenue intersection, as McClure Avenue serves Lowell Elementary School, Lowell City Hall, and both Lowell and McClure Park. Only a short distance away lies the intersection of US-71B and Highway 264, in a busy downtown area that is also likely to attract those on foot and on their bicycles.
Drinking and Distraction
Between 2016 and 2020, 28.1 percent of deaths linked to unhealthy behaviors in Benton County resulted from drunk drivers causing fatal collisions, according to the state’s Department of Health. This percentage is higher than Arkansas as a whole, with 25.7 percent. In 2020, “excessive drinking” in Benton County also outpaced the state as a whole.
Drunk and distracted driving continue to cause preventable deaths and serious injuries on Arkansas roads, including on US-71B. Lowell is no exception.
Common Injuries in 71B Crashes in Lowell
Approximately ten percent of hospital admissions in Benton County each year result from injuries suffered in car accidents. Some of these injuries are fatal; others cause survivable but life-changing injuries.
Injuries that commonly result from car accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries, including skull fractures, facial injuries, and whiplash,
- Brain and spinal cord injuries, which may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis, and other serious injuries.
- Broken bones, which may require surgery to treat and can cause ongoing problems with pain and mobility, even when the bone has healed.
- Damage to internal organs and soft tissues was inflicted by the blunt force trauma of the crash.
- Scarring, amputation, or disfigurement from the accident itself or from surgeries required to save lives or repair damage.
The injuries caused by a car accident can be more than physical. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms are common after a car accident. You may also experience significant struggles with mood, memory, or attention related to a brain injury or to the difficulty of dealing with life after a serious injury.
After a crash, see a doctor as soon as you can. These injuries also deserve attention and proper medical treatment. Prompt medical treatment gets you on the path to recovery. It also helps create a record of what happened, so you can seek compensation.
Why You Need and Deserve the Help of an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Insurance companies work quickly to investigate a car accident. Yet insurers only have one goal: to protect themselves from paying the bills. At every stage, an insurance company will work to protect its interests – even at the cost of yours. An experienced Lowell car accident lawyer protects your interests. Your attorney levels the playing field and fights for the full, fair compensation you deserve.
Investigating the Crash
When you hire an experienced lawyer, their office gets to work right away investigating your case. They’ll collect paperwork, photos, and video. They’ll talk to witnesses when needed. They’ll do their best to understand what happened and protect your legal rights.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies is tough. It’s even harder when you’re struggling to recover from a serious injury or grieving the loss of a loved one.
When you work with a car accident lawyer in Lowell, you don’t have to talk to the insurance company alone. Instead, your attorney handles communication with insurance companies. You can focus on healing, instead of dreading yet another pointless round on the phone or reading yet another form letter.
What Are The Deadlines For Filing?
The clock starts ticking the moment a crash occurs. Insurance companies typically give injured individuals only a short time to file an insurance claim, often no more than a month or two. Arkansas law gives you only three years to file a lawsuit in court, or you lose the opportunity to file forever.
As anyone who has been seriously injured or lost a loved one knows, time seems to both race and stand still after a crash. It’s easy to lose track of deadlines, only to find out too late that you’ve missed one.
Your attorney handles deadlines for you. Your lawyer will calculate the exact deadline for each task required to secure compensation. The law firm will commit to meeting those deadlines, so you don’t lose valuable opportunities to get the compensation you need.
How is Fault Determined?
Many car accident injuries are preventable. They occur because someone failed to take due care to prevent harm. Failure can take many forms, like ignoring a red light, turning in front of a car that has the right of way, speeding, driving drunk or distracted, or failing to look out for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and others on the road.
The basic rules for determining fault in Arkansas are the same, but every case has unique facts. Applying the rules to the facts often requires the experience and focus of a personal injury lawyer.
Often, insurance companies will argue that you are partly or totally at fault for your injuries. Arkansas uses a modified comparative fault rule. If you are 49 percent at fault or less for your injuries, your total compensation is decreased by the percentage of your fault. If you’re 50 percent at fault or more, you recover nothing. This rule creates an incentive for insurers to try to prove you are 50 percent or more at fault. An experienced lawyer can help you push back and fight for compensation.
Speak to an Experienced Lowell Car Accident Lawyer After a US-71B Accident Today
After a crash, the insurance company will immediately launch an investigation, but they’ll only focus on facts that limit the amount they have to pay. For a complete picture of the facts, rely on an experienced Lowell personal injury lawyer to represent your interests.
Your attorney will:
- Investigate the crash to preserve evidence supporting your claim,
- Create a full, fair picture of what happened and what you need,
- Negotiate with insurance companies – and shut down any attempts to delay or misdirect your case,
- Protect your legal rights, and
- Prepare at every stage as if your case might need to go to trial.
The team at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. has experience helping those injured in crashes on Lowell’s US-71B. To learn more, contact our office today. Call (479) 361-3575 or use our online chat to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our Lowell personal injury lawyers.