What to Do If You’re Injured in a Truck Accident on I-40 in Little Rock

When a passenger vehicle is involved in an accident with a semi-truck, the results are often dangerous, catastrophic, or even deadly. This is because a fully loaded semi-truck is over 20 times the size and weight of a passenger car, which can lead to a lot of vehicle damage and severe and life-threatening injuries.

A multi-truck accident recently occurred on I-40 close to Little Rock, shedding light on the dangers of truck accidents and how devastating they can be.

About the truck accident that occurred on I-40

According to THV11, there was a truck accident involving three different 18-wheelers less than an hour outside of Little Rock in late August. One of the 18-wheelers was carrying military explosives, which resulted in those within one mile of the accident scene needing to be evacuated. The initial cause of the accident was a grassfire that led to congestion on I-40. Then, the three semi-trucks collided with one another, and one driver tragically lost their life.

The Brinkley Police Chief, Ed Randle, described what he saw happen the day of the accident by saying, “We had a couple of accidents…trucks backing into trucks, a public truck hit some passenger cars.” He also said that traffic was entering in three different directions, 70 East, 70 West, and 49 South. As a result, chaos occurred on the highway.

4029 News stated that over 20 miles of traffic was delayed and backed up for hours. The grass fire, which occurred around mile marker 211 at about 5:30 P.M., led to the three semi-trucks colliding and the fear that the military equipment could be explosive.

What should I do after a truck accident on I-40 in Little Rock?

If you are ever involved in a truck accident on I-40 or any other highway near Little Rock, there are several steps you should take, such as:

• Call 9-1-1: The first thing you should always do after a truck accident is to call 9-1-1. This will ensure that the authorities know that you have been involved in an accident, where you are, and that you need medical assistance as quickly as possible.
• Speak to the police: After the responding officers arrive at the scene, you may need to answer several questions. For example, they may ask what you were doing before the accident, where you were headed, how fast you were going, and whether you made any errors or mistakes. The officers will also examine the accident scene, the damage to the semi-truck and your vehicle, and each person’s injuries to determine what may have caused the crash and who could be at fault.
• Ask for the truck driver’s information: Although you may be shaken up, it is important that you remain calm and cordial with the truck driver and ask for their contact information. This may include their name, phone number, address, employer name, and insurance policy information.
• Document the scene: Take pictures of the vehicle damage, record videos of the area around the accident, take photos of your injuries, and write down the time, date, and weather conditions.
• Seek medical care: Victims involved in truck accidents frequently suffer severe and life-altering injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, crushed bones, internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, and more.
• Consult with a Little Rock truck accident attorney

How do I handle insurance claims after a truck accident?

After you have begun the healing and recovery process, you may be ready to file an insurance claim for your truck accident. Before you start, it is important to know that this process can be difficult and time-consuming. Here are six tasks you must complete to file an insurance claim after a truck accident:

1. Inform your insurance company about the accident: Within a few days, you should inform your insurance company about the truck accident. You should keep this phone call as brief as possible, as you do not want them to misconstrue anything you say.
2. Establish fault: Next, you should begin working with your attorney to establish fault in the accident. Determining who is at fault for a truck accident can be very difficult. This is because most truck accidents consist of multiple liable parties, which means that your attorney will need to dissect the entire accident and determine who is responsible for your injuries and other losses. Without this information, you cannot file an accident claim.
3. Collect evidence: Once you have determined who is at fault, you should collect as much evidence as possible to prove your side of the story. The recommended pieces of evidence that you should collect are photographs, surveillance footage, dash cam footage, black box data, trucking company records, cell phone records, drug tests, medical records, police reports, and more. Your attorney can help you gather this information.
4. Make sure that you meet all deadlines: The Statute of Limitations in Arkansas gives truck accident victims three years from the date of the accident to file a truck accident claim. Before you file a claim, you should make sure that you have not missed this deadline. Once you have an attorney, they will also help you remain on a consistent schedule when filing paperwork, submitting evidence, and moving forward with the insurance claims process.
5. Tell insurance agents to call your lawyer: Even though you may think that you can handle speaking with insurance agents on your own, it is important to know that these agents are not on your side and may use your words against you.
6. Do not take less than you deserve during negotiations: When you receive your first settlement offer from the insurance company, you may be tempted to hurry and take it. However, you should instead discuss the offer with your attorney and determine whether it is close to what you deserve. The first settlement offer is almost always a low-ball offer as the insurance company knows you are desperate to pay off your bills and expenses and move forward with your life. Instead, you can use this time to sit back and allow your attorney to handle negotiations with the insurance company until you achieve a fair and accurate settlement.

Who is responsible for damages in a truck accident?

Multiple parties could be responsible for damages in a truck accident, including:

• The truck driver: If a truck driver makes a mistake while driving, they can be liable for your damages.
• The trucking company: A trucking company can be responsible if it hires an inexperienced or unlicensed truck driver, fails to provide adequate training, or encourages the truck to violate certain laws or regulations.
• Loading crews: Loading crews can be held liable for damages if they do not make sure that the load is balanced, evenly distributed, safe, and secure.
• Truck mechanic or maintenance company: A truck mechanic or maintenance company can be responsible if they fail to repair the semi-truck.
• The manufacturer of the truck or its parts: If the truck has a malfunctioning or defective part, the manufacturer may be liable for your damages.

At Bailey & Greer, our Little Rock truck accident lawyers have decades of experience assisting clients with various truck accidents. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free case review today.