When an 80,000-pound truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you’re likely facing physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. It’s overwhelming and unfair, but you shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone.
Talk with an experienced Little Rock truck accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent truck driver. At Bailey & Galyen, we are deeply familiar with the impact these accidents have on truck crash victims and their families, and it’s an honor to fight for the justice and life-changing compensation they deserve.
With decades of experience, we provide more than legal representation—we offer compassionate support during one of the most challenging times in your life. Whether you’re struggling with medical bills, lost wages, or the grief of losing a loved one, our Little Rock truck accident attorneys are committed to fighting for you.
Schedule A Free Consultation Today!
Little Rock Truck Accident Guide
- Why Choose Bailey & Galyen for Your Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
- What Causes Truck Accidents in Little Rock?
- The Different Types of Truck Accidents
- Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
- Do I Have a Truck Accident Claim?
- Don’t Fight With the Insurance Companies
- Who Can Be Held Liable in a Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
- What Compensation Is Available to Little Rock Truck Accident Victims?
- Is There a Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?
- How Can a Lawyer Help With My Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
- Contact a Little Rock Truck Accident Lawyer at Bailey & Galyen Today
Why Choose Bailey & Galyen for Your Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident cases are highly complex. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, the law firm you choose can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. When your future is at stake, you need a firm with knowledge, experience, resources, and skill. At Bailey & Galyen, our reputation is built on our commitment to our clients and achieving results in the toughest cases.
When you hire Bailey & Galyen for your truck accident claim, we provide:
- Decades of experience: Our firm has over 40 years of personal injury practice, including extensive work with truck accident cases. We understand what it takes to hold negligent parties accountable.
- Personalized representation: Every case is different, and we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs. Your experience matters to us, and we fight for the outcome that you deserve.
- Proven results: Our attorneys have a long track record of obtaining top-dollar settlements and verdicts for accident victims, helping them rebuild their lives after tragic accidents.
- Local knowledge: As your Little Rock truck accident lawyers, we understand the nuances of Arkansas law, local accident trends, and the specific challenges these cases present.
- No upfront fees: We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay anything for our services unless we win your case.
- Full-service support: From gathering evidence to negotiating settlements, we handle every step of your case so you can focus on healing.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Little Rock?
Interstate 30, I-40, and U.S. Route 67 are major trucking corridors in Little Rock, making commercial truck accidents an unfortunate reality. These roads see heavy truck traffic every day, and just a single minor error or lapse of attention can cause a deadly accident.
According to a recent national transportation study, Arkansas ranks fourth in the nation for truck accident deaths per capita. In recent years, nearly 100 people annually have lost their lives in Arkansas truck crashes. Hundreds more have been injured, many of them seriously.
The tragedy of truck accidents is that most are entirely preventable. These devastating crashes often occur because truck drivers, trucking companies, and other involved parties fail to act responsibly. Identifying the root cause is critical to holding the right parties accountable and preventing future tragedies.
Truck Driver Errors: The Leading Cause of Truck Accidents
Truck driver negligence is responsible for most truck crashes. When drivers fail to meet the demands of operating such massive vehicles, the consequences can be devastating. Common driver-related errors include:
- Driver fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to exhaustion, slowing reaction times and impairing judgment. Federal hours-of-service regulations limit driving hours, but violations are common and contribute to many accidents.
- Distracted driving: Using a phone, eating, or operating an in-cab device can divert attention from the road. In busy areas like the intersections near downtown Little Rock, even a moment of inattention can lead to disaster.
- Speeding or reckless driving: Large trucks need more time to stop and are harder to control, especially when drivers exceed safe speeds or fail to adjust for traffic conditions.
- Traffic violations: When trucks run red lights or stop signs, fail to yield, make illegal lane changes, and tailgate, they put others at risk of serious injury.
- Failure to account for adverse weather: Rain, fog, and icy roads common to Arkansas winters demand extra caution. Drivers who ignore these hazards risk losing control of their vehicles and causing crashes.
- Driving under the influence: Alcohol or drug use impairs reaction time and decision-making, so it can be extremely dangerous for any driver, especially one behind the wheel of a massive truck.
Trucking Company Negligence: Pushing Profits Over Safety
Trucking companies play a critical role in ensuring the safety of their operations, but too often, their focus on profits leads to negligent practices. These include:
- Pressuring drivers: Unrealistic delivery deadlines can push drivers to exceed legal driving hours or speed.
- Negligent hiring: Failing to properly screen drivers for qualifications, training, or past violations can put unqualified truckers behind the wheel.
- Inadequate training: Operating an 18-wheeler requires specialized skills, and a lack of thorough training can lead to dangerous mistakes in high-pressure situations.
- Improper vehicle maintenance: Regular inspections and repairs are essential, but neglecting these responsibilities can lead to equipment failures, such as brake malfunctions, tire blowouts, and inoperable lights.
Cargo Loading Errors: An Overlooked Danger
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can destabilize a truck and make a truck driver lose control. Cargo-related truck crashes happen when:
- Cargo is overloaded: Exceeding weight limits puts strain on brakes and tires, making it harder for drivers to control the truck.
- Unbalanced loads: Poorly distributed cargo can cause rollovers or difficulty navigating curves, such as those on Cantrell Road and the I-30 and I-630 interchange downtown.
- Improperly secured freight: Loose items can shift during transit, destabilizing the vehicle.
Defective Parts: When Manufacturers Share Responsibility
Mechanical failures caused by defective parts can also contribute to truck accidents. In such cases, liability may extend to the manufacturers of faulty components, such as:
- Brakes: Malfunctioning brake systems can make it impossible to stop in time to avoid a collision.
- Tires: Tire blowouts from defects or wear can cause sudden loss of control.
- Steering systems: Defective steering components can make it difficult for drivers to maintain safe control of the vehicle.
The Different Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are usually more severe than other vehicle crashes because of the immense size and weight of commercial vehicles. The space between the bottom of the trailer and the ground is also higher than the average vehicle’s bumper—a deadly mismatch when cars and trucks collide.
Types of truck accidents we see throughout Arkansas include:
Jackknife accidents: When a truck’s cab and trailer fold at an angle, blocking multiple lanes of traffic, other vehicles often have no chance to avoid a collision.- Rollover crashes: Trucks can tip over due to excessive speed, unbalanced cargo, or sharp turns, creating a domino effect for surrounding vehicles.
- Rear-end collisions: A fully loaded truck requires hundreds of feet to stop. When a driver speeds or follows too closely, rear-end accidents become almost inevitable.
- Underride accidents: Smaller vehicles can become trapped underneath a truck’s trailer in an underride collision, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.
- Override accidents: Overrides usually occur when a tractor-trailer rear-ends a smaller vehicle and rides over the top of it, crushing the passenger vehicle’s occupants.
- Side-impact collisions: Often occurring at intersections, these crashes can crush smaller vehicles caught in a truck’s blind spot.
Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accident injuries are often severe, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care. At Bailey & Galyen, our Little Rock truck accident attorneys fight to ensure you’re compensated for the full scope of your injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Head injuries can lead to cognitive impairments, emotional changes, and permanent disabilities.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may result in partial or total paralysis, requiring lifelong medical care.
- Broken bones: High-speed impacts can lead to multiple fractures, often requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
- Burns: Collisions involving flammable materials can cause life-threatening burns, leading to scarring and disfigurement.
- Internal injuries: The force of impact can rupture organs, requiring emergency medical intervention.
- Psychological trauma: Many victims experience anxiety, depression, or PTSD after a serious truck accident.
Do I Have a Truck Accident Claim?
Successfully resolving a truck accident claim involves demonstrating that another party’s negligence caused your injuries. Your Little Rock truck accident lawyer must establish these four elements to demonstrate that someone else’s negligence caused your accident and injuries:
Duty of care: The truck driver, trucking company, or another party had a legal obligation to act responsibly and safely.- Breach of duty: They failed in this obligation, whether by speeding, violating traffic laws, or engaging in another form of negligence.
- Causation: Their failure directly caused the accident and your resulting injuries.
- Damages: You suffered tangible and intangible losses, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Don’t Fight With the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies make the claims process notoriously difficult for claimants who don’t have a personal injury lawyer to represent them. Insurance adjusters often offer quick, low settlement deals to accident victims or deny claims altogether. With a skilled Little Rock truck accident attorney on your side, you won’t have to worry about these potential pitfalls.
- Lowball offers: Insurers may undervalue your claim, hoping you’ll accept less than you need and far less than you deserve.
- Disputed liability: They might try to shift blame onto you or minimize the other party’s fault, which could help them pay less under Arkansas’s modified comparative negligence rule.
- Delays: Dragging out the process is a common strategy to pressure victims into settling.
Insurance companies recognize us as trial lawyers, and they know that we mean business. If they refuse to offer a fair settlement in your case, we are prepared to argue your case in court. The prospect of a trial before a judge or jury usually motivates insurance companies to offer fair deals faster.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
Liability in truck accidents often extends beyond the driver. Bailey & Galyen will investigate all potential responsible parties and sources of compensation, including:
- Truck drivers: Drivers can face liability when negligent actions like speeding or violating trucking safety regulations
Trucking companies: When improper maintenance, poor hiring practices, or violations of federal regulations contribute to an accident, trucking companies can be liable.- Manufacturers: Defects in parts or equipment can lead to accidents, making manufacturers potentially liable.
- Cargo loaders: When unbalanced or improperly secured cargo causes the truck driver to lose control, the person or company responsible for loading the cargo can face liability.
- Government entities: Poor road design or maintenance may also play a role in causing Arkansas truck wrecks.
What Compensation Is Available to Little Rock Truck Accident Victims?
Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of damages, including:
- Medical expenses: This includes hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost wages: If you’ve missed work due to your injuries, you may be compensated for lost income and reduced earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: This accounts for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
- Property damage: You can recover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
- Wrongful Death: If the unimaginable has happened and you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may be able to claim compensation for loss of financial support, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, and a range of other damages
- Punitive damages: In cases of extreme negligence, additional compensation may be awarded to punish the at-fault party.
An experienced Little Rock truck accident attorney with Bailey & Galyen will work with you to determine the full scope of your damages and losses.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Arkansas is generally three years. However, the timeframe may vary depending on the details of your case. To protect your claim, contact our team of Little Rock truck accident attorneys as soon as possible.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My Little Rock Truck Accident Case?
A lawyer provides invaluable support after a truck accident. At Bailey & Galyen, our Little Rock truck accident lawyers will:
- Investigate your case thoroughly to gather crucial evidence
- Identify all liable parties to maximize your compensation
- Identify and estimate all of your past and future damages
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies and defense attorneys
- Represent you in court if the insurance companies refuse to settle fairly
- Provide guidance and reassurance every step of the way
Contact a Little Rock Truck Accident Lawyer at Bailey & Galyen Today
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Little Rock, A personal injury lawyer in Little Rock is here to help. We are committed to 100% client satisfaction and give every case the time and attention it truly deserves. We know you place a lot of trust in the firm you choose to handle your truck accident case, and that is a responsibility we take to heart.
Call us today at (501) 596-6253 or online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an accomplished Little Rock truck accident lawyer at Bailey & Galyen.
Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law – Little Rock Office
2200 Brookwood Dr # 100
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 501-596-6253
