Bentonville Car Accident Attorneys
The experienced attorneys at Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield P.A. in Bentonville know exactly what to do following a car accident. They know how important it is to take these steps. If you don’t, you risk losing your chances of recovery against the other driver.
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Car accidents occur every day in Arkansas. No matter how safely you drive, you or a family member can still be seriously injured in an auto accident. Afterward, you will have to speak with the police, seek medical treatment and deal with the insurance companies, all while making sure your family is taken care of and bills are paid.
At some point in your life, you’ll probably get into a car accident. Very few of us make it through life unscathed. The problem is, when we learn how to drive, nobody teaches us what to do if we get into a car crash. That’s why you need to rely on the experience of Bentonville car accident lawyer Jason M. Hatfield P.A.
Having an attorney represent you during the claim process can help. The insurance company will take you more seriously. They’ll also be less likely to take advantage of you.
What are the first steps to take after car accident?
The three basic things you need to do after a crash in Arkansas is:
- Call 911 – You need to make sure an officer comes to investigate the scene. They’ll provide you with a police report. Your lawyer will need the information in this report to prove your claim.
- Arrange for medical treatment for your injuries – Even if you think you’re okay, you need to get checked out by a doctor. The cops can arrange to have an ambulance come and take you to the hospital.
- Call an experienced auto accident lawyer – You need to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let a skilled accident lawyer handle the legal side of things.
Car Insurance Laws in Arkansas
All drivers in Arkansas are required to carry auto insurance. There are certain minimum levels of coverage you must maintain. The mandatory minimum insurance rules in Arkansas include:
- $25,000 for the death or injury of a single individual
- $50,000 for the death or injury of multiple individuals in a single collision
- $25,000 to cover property damage
If the other driver is at fault and doesn’t have the required insurance, you’ll have an issue. Your attorney will have to help you file a claim under your uninsured motorist’s policy.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
If you’re injured in a car accident, you should speak with an attorney immediately. Your lawyer will be able to deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They’ll work hard to get your claim paid.
Your attorney is going to demand that you be compensated for your losses. This includes any current medical bills and medical treatment you may need in the future. If your insurance claim is denied, your lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
Your attorney will deal with the insurance adjuster. They’ll also deal with the defendant’s lawyer should a lawsuit be filed. They’ll gather the evidence necessary to prove your case. You can focus on recovering from your injuries while your Bentonville car accident lawyer handles the legal side of things.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bentonville Car Accident Lawyer?
You can meet with one of our experienced car accident lawyers for free. You can sit down with someone who will review your case and evaluate how much it may be worth. Your lawyer will ask you questions about your case and look at the information you have.
If you choose to retain one of our lawyers, we’ll represent you on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay anything unless and until we win your case. If we don’t get you any compensation, you pay nothing.
Keep in mind, as our client, you will be responsible for some fees and expenses, regardless of the outcome. We may ask you to provide payment for these expenses while we work on your case.
Five steps to take after a car accident
If you have been involved in an auto accident, there are several things you need to do. You have to ensure that you get the required medical attention. You’ll also want to file an insurance claim. In order to successfully file your claim, then you’ll need certain information. To maximize your compensation, take the following steps.
What can I get for damages from my car accident?
Your Bentonville car accident lawyer is going to fight to get you the compensation you deserve. If you suffer serious injuries, you’ll be entitled to certain damages. Ideally, these damages will be covered in your insurance settlement. However, your lawyer may need to file suit if they’re unable to negotiate a fair settlement. Some of the damages your attorney will demand may include the following:
Current and future medical expenses
Loss of income
Rehabilitation expenses
Diminished earning capacity
Physical and emotional pain and suffering
Loss of quality of life
What should I do to help my case after a car accident?
If you’re involved in a car accident, there are certain things you need to. You’ll have to make sure you receive the medical treatment you need. You also need to file an insurance claim. Ideally, the insurance company will pay your claim and you’ll get your money in a week or so. However, it’s not always this simple.
You’re going to need certain information in order to file your insurance claim. This is why you need to call the police immediately after your accident. They’re going to provide you with a police report. This report will have a lot of very valuable information regarding your Bentonville car accident.
While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, gather as much information as you can. Take pictures of the scene and the vehicles. Talk to witnesses and see if they saw anything. Take notes of the other car information and license plates for all the vehicles involved.
Three possibilities for fault:
- The other driver was 100% at fault
- You were 100% at fault
- All drivers were partially at fault
Determining Fault
The adjuster will make sure your medical bills and car repairs are paid for. Then they’re going to assign fault for the accident. This means one of three things will happen: they determine the other driver is totally at fault, or they determine you were totally at fault; they believe both drivers were partially at fault.
Be sure you are fairly compensated
Once the insurance company has made its decision on fault, it will let you know how much money you’re entitled to. If you don’t believe they’ve fairly assigned liability, your Bentonville accident attorney can appeal the claim.
Having an attorney represent you during the claim process can help. The insurance company will take you more seriously. They’ll also be less likely to take advantage of you. Your attorney has years of experience handling these types of cases. They’ll try to negotiate a settlement that fully compensates you for the accident.
How can an attorney help?
Having professional legal assistance on your side during the claim process tilts the balance in your favor. When you hire a lawyer, the insurance company is bound to take you more seriously. Your rights will also be protected and the insurance company won’t be able to take advantage of you.
Proving Liability
When we take a car accident case, we collect as many facts as we can about the accident. We can reach out to accident injury experts, reconstruction experts, and other specialists who can provide key information to help win your case.
Often, we find evidence that strengthens our case, such as phone records, driver logs, insurance information, and social media account information. We also look for evidence of negligence against other defendants responsible for manufacturing defects or road construction hazards. We may obtain information about illegal driving activities.
Handling Insurance Companies
In addition to proving fault we present the best arguments and evidence to insurance companies in order to obtain the maximum recovery.
An insurance adjuster may sympathize with your situation, but they ultimately follow protocols to deny claims and offer lower settlements to unrepresented individuals. Insurance adjusters are audited to ensure that they do not overpay claims. Our injury attorneys negotiate with and take action against insurance companies that act in bad faith after an automobile accident.
Car Accident Fact Sheet
Our law firm handles all types of auto accident cases including those that involve, professional drivers, truck drivers, uninsured or under-insured motorists, individuals engaging in illegal driving activities, and wrongful death. Learn more about Arkansas car accidents with our fact sheet graphic:
Additional types of personal injury cases we handle
Motorcycle accidents
Some of the more dangerous types of accidents are motorcycle accidents. There is nothing there to protect you other than a plastic helmet. Car drivers tend to have problems seeing motorcycles. This is listed as the number one cause of these crashes.
Truck Accidents
These accidents tend to be very serious. The size of a tractor trailer is just too much for a passenger car to handle. Your truck accident lawyer in Bentonville may have to file suit against both the driver and his employer. They’ll make sure all possible defendants are named in your claim.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one dies as a result of an accident, you may have a claim for wrongful death. Most of these cases involve negligence. Your lawyer will have to prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. If so, you may be entitled to damages.
Contact our Bentonville Auto Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
30 Years of legal experience in helping personal injury victims
No matter what type of injury you suffer in Bentonville, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers can help. They’ll work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. You need to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let our lawyer handle the legal side of things.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Bentonville, Arkansas. Let them handle the legal side of things while you focus on getting well. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.