Steps to Take After a Serious Car Accident on I-430 in Little Rock
I-430 is a dangerous highway in Little Rock, Arkansas. Although it covers less than 15 miles of roadway, it consists of several lanes and interchanges and is often used by drivers to connect to Little Rock’s downtown area. It is not unusual for traffic, congestion, and construction to occur frequently, increasing the chances of severe and fatal car accidents.
Recent car accidents that occurred on I-430 in Little Rock, AK
Unfortunately, I-430 is a well-known hotspot for car accidents in Little Rock, Arkansas. Four of the most recent car accidents that occurred on I-430 include:
- In October 2024, an accident occurred on Northbound I-430 close to Colonel Glenn Road. Due to this crash, traffic continued to build up and remained stopped or delayed for long periods of time. There were no details about what happened or who was involved. Instead, it was mentioned that crews were working at the accident scene, which caused the right shoulder to be blocked.
- In October 2024, a crash occurred on I-430 near the Crystal Hill exit, blocking the middle and right lanes while emergency responders helped those involved.
- In September 2024, three vehicles were involved in an accident on Southbound I-430 in Little Rock. This multi-vehicle crash happened close to Rodney Parham Road in the early morning. The cause of the crash and injuries are still unknown, but southbound traffic was blocked for some time.
- In September 2024, reports say that a man drove over 100 mph through a construction area on I-430 South. He crashed into another vehicle head-on, which resulted in a fatality as a fire broke out. The man who was hit head-on was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other victim was transported to Little Rock Hospital for minor and non-life-threatening injuries.
What should I do immediately after a car accident on the highway?
If you are involved in a car accident on a highway, such as I-430, there are several steps you should take immediately after the accident.
Move your vehicle
You must stop your vehicle immediately after an accident. If you keep going, you will be considered a hit-and-run driver, which can have serious consequences even if you are not at fault. When you stop your vehicle, you do not want to block traffic or get in the way of other vehicles that need to get by. To avoid this, you should move over to the side of the road or as close to the side as possible.
Check yourself, your passengers, and other individuals involved for injuries
If you are physically able to, you should check yourself, your passengers, and other individuals involved for injuries. If anyone has severe injuries, tell them to stay still and that you are calling 9-1-1 for help.
Dial 9-1-1 to report the accident
Next, you should dial 9-1-1 and report the accident to the authorities. The 9-1-1 operator will ask you a few questions, such as where the accident occurred, who was involved, and whether anyone was severely injured.
Speak with law enforcement and file a police report
Once law enforcement arrives, they will start looking around the scene, assessing the roadways, the vehicle damage, and each individual’s injuries and condition. They will also ask everyone involved various questions to get an accurate picture of what happened. While doing this, they will create a police report, which is critical to your case.
Exchange contact information with the other drivers
Before you leave the accident scene, you should make sure that you exchange contact information with the other drivers involved. This includes names, phone numbers, addresses, insurance company information, policy information, license plate numbers, VIN numbers, and more. You want to be able to provide this information to your insurance company.
Document the accident scene
It is highly recommended that you take photos and record videos of the accident scene. You should also write down any details you think are important to remember. When you leave the accident scene, you will likely have a lot to deal with, which can make it easy to forget certain details and information regarding your accident.
Seek medical attention
Seek medical attention immediately. You can ride in an ambulance or with another person to the nearest emergency room. The medical provider will make notes of your symptoms, perform an examination, and run various tests to determine whether you have any injuries and what type of medical treatment you need.
What should I do within the first few days or weeks following a crash on the highway?
Once you have begun following a medical treatment plan and are on the road to recovery, you should take a few other steps within the first few days or weeks following a crash on the highway.
Notify your insurance company about the accident
You should notify your insurance company within the first few days, detailing where it happened and who was involved. Keep the conversation as brief as possible because you do not want to provide any statements that could be used against you.
Hire a car accident lawyer
Arkansas car accident victims generally have three years to take legal action and seek compensation for their losses. You must hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Doing so ensures you file the claim by the deadline.
Gather evidence
This evidence can be photographs, videos, surveillance footage, dash cam footage, medical records, doctor notes, receipts, prescriptions, invoices, police reports, and more. The goal is to provide compelling evidence to strengthen your claim and back up your facts and statements.
Write in a journal
Many people who have been in serious highway car crashes experience long-term effects. Writing in a journal about the long-term effects and hardships you have experienced since the crash is a good idea.
File a car accident claim
While your attorney understands that you have a lot on your shoulders right now, you should try to remain in contact with them to ensure that your claim does not encounter any roadblocks.
Can I seek compensation for long-term injuries?
Yes, you can. You can seek compensation to cover your current and future medical bills, lost income, physical and chronic pain, disability, scarring and disfigurement, mental anguish, emotional distress, and more.
If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident on I-430 or another highway in Little Rock, please do not hesitate to contact the car accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer at your earliest convenience. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation today.
At Bailey & Greer, PLLC we do everything in our power to assuage those fears, and to help our clients find resolutions to their problems. Our Little Rock based law firm offers a wide variety of legal services to individuals and families throughout Arkansas. When you are hurt, you can trust the injury attorneys of Bailey & Greer.