Arkansas Personal Injury Law Firm
At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A., we help injured Arkansans understand their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve. We investigate the facts, deal with the insurance company, and build a case aimed at getting you what you are actually owed. When the unthinkable happens, call the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. at (479) 888-5098.
PERSONAL INJURY
Getting hurt because of someone else's carelessness can cause medical bills to pile up, work to become impossible, and leave you wondering how to pay for it all. Insurance adjusters start calling almost immediately, often before you have seen a doctor for a full evaluation, and they are trained to get you talking before you understand what your case is really worth.
Arkansas law gives injured people a path to recover compensation, but that path has rules, deadlines, and traps that can cost you your entire claim if you miss them. Waiting to take action, even for a few weeks, can weaken a case that would otherwise be strong.
If you are dealing with the aftermath of a personal injury, call the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. today at (479) 361-3575 to receive a risk-free consultation with one of our experts. We have the experience you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is the best way to get the upper hand on insurance companies and win the compensation you deserve. Get Started Now.
What kinds of accidents does Arkansas personal injury law apply to?
Personal injury law applies whenever one person's negligence causes harm to another. Negligence means someone failed to act with reasonable care and that failure caused injury.
This covers far more than car accidents. It includes slip-and-fall accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, workplace injuries, and wrongful death claims. Each type of case follows the same basic structure. You must prove the other party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a direct result.
A grocery store, for example, owes customers a duty to keep floors free of hazards. If an employee mops a floor without posting a warning sign, and you slip and break your wrist, that store likely breached its duty.
Medical malpractice cases work a bit differently. Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-114-206 requires you to prove a doctor failed to meet the accepted standard of care in their field. This usually requires expert testimony from another medical professional.
No matter what caused your injury, the underlying question stays the same. Did someone else's carelessness cause you harm? If the answer is yes, Arkansas law likely gives you a right to compensation. Our firm evaluates cases across all these categories to determine the strongest path toward recovery for you.
What damages are available in a personal injury case?
Compensation in a personal injury case falls into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable losses like past and future medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
Non-economic damages cover harder to quantify losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Together, these are known as compensatory damages.
Arkansas does not cap non-economic damages in most standard personal injury cases, unlike other states. This matters because pain and suffering compensation can often exceed medical bills in serious injury cases.
What about punitive damages?
We call these punishment damages. They are only allowed in cases of willful and wanton conduct or a conscious disregard for safety. Examples of when these damages are allowed are when defendants cause harm while engaged in intentional torts, drag racing and driving while intoxicated.
Rules under arkansas law
Punitive damages are different. These are awarded to punish especially reckless or intentional conduct, not just to compensate you. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant’s bad conduct and, for the most part, is not directly associated with the victim’s injuries.
Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-55-208 limited punitive damages. However, these limits were declared unconstitutional in the 2011 case Bayer CropScience LP v. Schafer. Therefore, caps do not apply to punitive damages.
Calculating damages
Calculating the full value of your claim takes experience. Insurance companies love to lowball pain and suffering because it is subjective. They hope you do not know what similar cases have settled for in Arkansas courts.
We build detailed damage claims backed by medical records, expert opinions, and documented life impact. This approach helps ensure you are not leaving money on the table simply because your pain cannot be itemized on a receipt.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?
Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-56-105 sets a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. This clock starts running on the date of your injury.
Miss this three year window and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how strong your evidence is.
Some claims have shorter deadlines. Claims against government agencies, cities, or state employees often require a notice of claim within a matter of months, well before the standard three year deadline applies.
Waiting to contact an attorney creates real risk beyond the filing deadline itself. Evidence disappears. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Witnesses forget details or move away. We recommend reaching out as soon as possible after any injury caused by someone else's negligence. Early involvement lets us secure evidence, properly document your injuries, and build your case while the facts are still fresh and available.
How can working with an attorney help my case?
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize what they pay you. You deserve the same level of advocacy on your side. Studies consistently show that injured people who hire attorneys recover significantly more compensation than those who negotiate on their own, even after accounting for legal fees. An attorney can:
Accurately assign a value to your claim
Gather evidence, including medical records
Negotiate with insurance companies
Talk to witnesses and medical experts
Handle filing deadlines and other rules of the court
File a lawsuit on your behalf if absolutely necessary
What is a modified comparative fault standard?
Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-64-122 governs how fault gets divided between parties in an injury case. This is called modified comparative fault. Under this rule, you can recover damages even if you share some blame for what happened, as long as your fault stays below 50 percent.
If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, Arkansas law bars you from recovering anything. If your fault is below that threshold, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of blame.
Say a jury awards you $200,000 but finds you 15 percent responsible. Your final recovery would be $170,000.
Insurance companies understand this rule well and use it against injured people constantly. Adjusters often push blame onto victims early, sometimes before an investigation is even complete.
This is exactly why you should avoid giving recorded statements or accepting blame at the scene of any accident. Let evidence and legal counsel accurately establish fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Experience. Dedication. Compassion.
30 years of legal experience helping personal injury victims
The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. represents injured Arkansans on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we win your case. We will review your case, explain your options, and help you understand what your claim may be worth before you make any decisions.
Call us at (479) 888-5098 to schedule your free consultation. If you are unable to come to our office due to your injuries, we will come to you.