Articles Posted in Car Accident

Drivers hitting the roads for Thanksgiving have a greater risk getting in a accident, according to one recent study. Some people have named the day before Thanksgiving “Black Wednesday” because car accidents increase between 8 p.m. that evening and 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.

Although I see that auto accidents increase during this time, I see many different reasons in our law practice. The most obvious reason for the dramatic increase in car accidents in Arkansas is more people are driving at night and in unfamiliar places. However, I believe that is only one of the reasons. The weather around this time of the year also plays a huge part in the uptick in car crashes in Arkansas as well as people driving under the influence of alcohol. DWI accidents are typically very serious and involve serious injuries. Arkansas drivers need to be aware that accidents increase this time of the year and we must all be diligent in making sure the roads are as safe as possible.

If you or a loved one are involved in an Arkansas car or truck accident, please seek medical attention immediately. I have seen many cases where injuries go undiagnosed for a long period of time because people wait to seek medical attention believing that they do not have the money to cover the medical bills. An Arkansas lawyer can help make sure auto medical payment insurance (Med-pay) and health insurance cover these expenses. Please contact an Arkansas injury lawyer if you have any questions.

A recent article I read indicates that more automobile accidents occur the week following daylight savings. I was surprised to read the effects the one-hour time change has on our bodies. In addition to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, the time change also increases our chances of injuries at work, an increase in heart attacks, developing cluster headaches, and apparently more time is spent surfing the internet this week. Attached is a link to the article I read if you would like to read more about the effects the time change has on our bodies. http://now.msn.com/daylight-saving-effects-include-more-accidents-headaches

Use extra precaution this week when you’re behind the wheel to avoid car accidents or at work. It’s always a hard adjustment to fall back because we have enjoyed those long days, but soon we will all be more adjusted to the change and driving home in the dark at 5:30 or 6:00 will be the norm again. If you need to speak with an Arkansas accident attorney, please contact the Pfeifer Law Firm. Take care and drive safely.

Some things should be done before, during and after an auto accident. Before an auto accident, it is important for all of us to know what is covered under our auto insurance policy. We should know the insurance deductible, liability limits, towing, and rental car coverage. We also need to know whether medical payments and underinsured/uninsured motorist’s coverage is part of the insurance policy.

After an auto accident, it is important that the accident victim remains calm and only gets out of the vehicle if it is safe. It is important that the police or other law enforcement officials are called to the scene and exchange information with the other driver. This information should include their name, address, phone number, insurance company name and policy number. One important item to ascertain is witness names and addresses. Oftentimes, I meet with clients who know and spoke with witnesses at the scene but they are not included in the accident report. Unfortunately, the client did not get their names assuming that the accident report would include this information. It is almost impossible to figure out their names and addresses after the wreck if they are not part of the accident report. Therefore, it is very important to get this information at the time of the wreck.

Obviously, photos and/or video of the accident scene and damages to the vehicles are important.

Benton police are investigating a pedestrian accident that left one man dead after he was hit by a vehicle. According to the news report, the Benton Police Department responded to a call of a pedestrian accident on the I-30 South Service Road. Unfortunately, the pedestrian died from injuries suffered in the accident.

Pedestrian accidents almost always cause serious injury and death. The Pfeifer Law Firm has helped families through this difficult time. It is important that the facts of the pedestrian accident are fully understood and investigated. Oftentimes, we find that important information is not included in the accident report and the individuals involved as well as the investigating officer need to be interviewed as soon as possible to gather all the relevant facts.

Insurance companies often look for reasons to deny the claim or find fault with the pedestrian. It is important that an Arkansas injury lawyer become involved in the claim as soon as possible to make sure phony excuses by the insurance company do not jeopardize an injured person’s personal injury claim.

People convicted of drunk driving should have ignition interlock devices installed on their cars to keep them from starting the automobile if they are intoxicated. Federal safety officials are now backing this car accident safety plan.

The National Transportation Safety Board said this DWI accident policy could be a major factor in preventing traffic collision deaths, especially wrecks caused by a wrong-way driver. About 60% of wrong-way accidents involve an intoxicated driver according to government officials.

An alcohol ignition interlock is a device that prevents the engine from starting until the driver breathes into a device that measures alcohol content to see if it is lower than prescribed limits. Unfortunately, the alcoholic beverage industry opposes a blanket requirement for first time offenders. Some in the industry support ignition interlocks for first-time convictions of people who posted a blood-alcohol content of .15 or higher.

I am amazed reading about a massive dust storm swirling reddish-brown clouds over northern Oklahoma that triggered a major accident along an interstate near Arkansas. According to news reports, the interstate had near blackout conditions.

The storm caused a multi-car accident. According to news reports the interstate accident involved nearly three dozen cars and tractor-trailers. The dust storm was likely caused due to the lack of rain This is the time of year that many farmers prepare for winter crops by loosening the dirt.

This type of accident occurs in Arkansas from time to time. It is important that Arkansas drivers keep a proper lookout for major dust storms as they travel along Arkansas roads. Complicated liability issues often emerge in wrecks that involve burning fields and dust storms. It is important that someone involved in a wreck contact an Arkansas car accident lawyer to discuss their legal rights as soon as possible after a wreck.

A very unfortunate accident occurred in Sharp County. Four emergency responders were injured while helping at an accident in Sharp County. According to news reports a car lost control in a curve, hit a tree, and came to rest nearby. While emergency personnel were helping with the crash, another vehicle lost control and hit the workers. This accident shows how dangerous EMT, police and fire department jobs are when responding to a accident.

It is important that drivers who approach an accident scene use extreme caution. Ambulance, police and fire personnel need to work wherever the accident happened and must help injured drivers and passengers in the disabled auto. Therefore, drivers approaching wrecks must slow down and avoid the accident scene if possible. Oftentimes, subsequent crashes occur when a driver pays more attention to the accident scene than on the road ahead. This auto accident law firm has handled these types of accident cases. However, they could have easily been avoided if the driver was more cautious. We all owe these emergency responders the utmost respect and should show them respect by using extreme caution when approaching accident scenes.

Whether you’re driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, or walking, it is important to remember some safety tips that could save your life. At Pfeifer Law Firm, we are committed to helping you understand your roadway rights under Arkansas law and recover monetarily when you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, but we also strive to help answer questions and educate through our car accident, personal injury, road safety and rules of the road blogs. Do you ever wonder who has the right of way when you’re at an intersection? Do you ask yourself, Should I walk facing traffic or with the flow of traffic? Hopefully you will find these tips on road safety helpful to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you on the roadways.

Tips for Pedestrians on the Roadways

-Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers -Wear bright/light colored clothing

One of the biggest challenges is getting young teenage drivers to understand that their actions behind the wheel can have serious implications. I recently read an article concerning a driver simulation computer that involves simulated driving and interactions with police, judges and emergency medical personnel in an 20-minute experience featuring a real judge, actual sheriff’s deputies and EMTs.

According to the article, the teen drivers were moved by the post accident simulation of personal injuries and court simulation. Unfortunately, distracted driving is very serious and can lead to serious injury in car accidents. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pointed out recently that distracted driving accounts for about one in 10 road fatalities – 3,092 deaths in 2010. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also released statistics finding that 58% of high school seniors admitted to texting or e-mailing while driving during the previous month.

Arkansas law makes texting while driving illegal for teen drivers. The Arkansas Law bans drivers of all ages from sending text messages while driving, except in emergencies. Another Arkansas driving law bans the use of cell phones by drivers under age 18, except in emergencies. This Arkansas motor vehicle law prohibits anyone age 18-20 from using a cell phone while driving unless the person is using a hands free device or in an emergency.

I recently read a story about a study put out by Michelin North America that documents how common tailgating is in Arkansas and around the country. According to the study, 74% of drivers say someone tailgated them in the past six months. But only 11% admit to tailgating someone else.

The study also states that almost half of automobile drivers surveyed don’t know the proper recommended distance to keep behind the car in front of them.

In an Arkansas car accident case, the jury is provided the following instruction found in the Arkansas Model Instructions.