Arkansas car accidents are no strangers to the headlines. Occasionally, you’ll read about an accident on a highway or interstate that injured multiple people, closed lanes for hours, and caused delays for other motorists. For instance, in April 2023, seven people were killed and three more injured in car collisions on Arkansas roads.
In fact, these accidents have become so common that many people don’t even think about them anymore. However, you should be aware of certain factors behind these mishaps if you live in Arkansas or plan on driving through here anytime soon.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of car crashes in this state:
Current State of Car Accidents in Arkansas
According to a report by The Zebra, Arkansas is one of the top states in the country for car accidents. In fact, it ranks third overall, after Mississippi and South Carolina, when it comes to fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes.
This shows that the number of vehicle accidents in Arkansas is not a rare scenario, so it is vital to know the reasons that can lead to them.
What to Do If You Are Injured in a Car Accident?
If you are injured in a car accident, it is essential to get medical attention. Call 911 and have medical personnel assess your injuries at the accident scene if possible. You should also contact your insurance company immediately after an accident and ensure they know about any medical treatment you receive due to being hurt in an auto collision.
Most states have mandatory auto insurance policies for such situations. For instance, in Arkansas, minimum auto insurance requirements are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability. The treatment costs will be deducted from the auto insurance policy.
If someone else was at fault for the accident, you should document everything at the scene. For instance, you can take photographs, talk to eyewitnesses at the spot, etc. These can be provided as evidence when you file a lawsuit against the person at fault.
Lastly, you should hire an attorney to help you with the lawsuit and settlement processes. A lawyer will have the knowledge and expertise to help get you the best settlement possible. However, not all attorneys are equal. Hence, you must select one with expertise in car accident cases and trials; you never know.
Additionally, your lawyer should be someone from the locality where the accident occurred. This is because connections and knowing how to work around can help a lot in courtrooms; a local lawyer will know these things very well. For instance, three people died, and one was injured in a crash in Fayetteville. Suppose your accident also occurred in this place; then it is best to hire a Fayetteville car accident lawyer.
Contributing Factors to Car Accidents in Arkansas
Many factors contribute to car accidents in Arkansas and can be fixed by drivers, law enforcement officers, and legislators. Here are some common factors to consider.
Distracted Driving and Cell Phone Use
Distracted driving is a severe problem, and it can have devastating consequences. Distracted driving occurs when you take your eyes off the road for over two seconds. It’s important to remember that distractions can come from anywhere, even inside your car.
If you’re using phones or any other devices while operating a vehicle, they must be mounted securely so they don’t become loose in their mounts during sudden stops or turns.
Impaired Driving
When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are responsible for your safety and that of other drivers. If you choose to drink alcohol or take drugs before driving, then there’s a good chance that something bad could happen.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that one out of every three traffic fatalities involves alcohol-impaired driving, with some states having even higher numbers than others. If we talk about Arkansas, its alcohol-related fatalities were around 25% of total fatalities in 2020, which is lower than the national average of around 31%.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Speeding and reckless driving are two of the most common factors in car accidents, and both can be dangerous. It’s important to note that reckless driving isn’t just illegal; it’s scary too. And speeding will make you less safe behind the wheel if you’re not careful enough while going fast.
It is common to blame highways for speeding and reckless driving. People often say that speeding accidents usually occur on interstate roadways. However, that’s not completely true. Drivers feel that these roadways are more dangerous, which is true.
According to Keith Law Group, Highway 12 in Northwest Arkansas is one of the most dangerous places for drivers. Horrific accidents occur every 11.4 miles on this highway.
However, this is also why drivers are more careful on these roads and don’t speed. In fact, data from 2020 shows that 87% of all speed-related traffic fatalities in the U.S. happened on non-interstate roadways.
Poor Road Conditions and Infrastructure
Poor road conditions can result from poor infrastructure, maintenance, or weather. Poor infrastructure doesn’t get fixed because it’s not considered important enough.
For example, suppose you live in a town with potholes all over the roads, and no one has fixed them for years. This will lead to more accidents as people swerve around them or hit them at high speeds because they’re less visible than other objects on the road.
Poor maintenance means that things like guardrails aren’t replaced when needed. Instead, they just stay broken until they fall off completely. Again this makes driving dangerous because you don’t know what condition your car will be in after driving through an area with a missing guardrail. You could end up crashing into another car or hitting something else on your way through it.
Efforts and Initiatives to Reduce Car Accidents in Arkansas
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) is working to improve road conditions, including:
- Improving traffic flow through construction projects, such as adding or upgrading lanes, adding shoulders and turning lanes, building roundabouts, and signalized intersections.
- Reducing the number of travel lanes in some areas that don’t need as many due to low traffic volumes or other factors.
- Increasing safety through better lighting at night and installing rumble strips along highways so drivers know when they’re drifting from their lanes.
- AHTD also works with law enforcement agencies across Arkansas to increase enforcement efforts against distracted driving behavior like texting while driving.
Challenges and Future Directions
Several challenges must be overcome for Arkansas to reduce its car accident rate. First, the state needs to invest more money into public transportation options like buses and trains so people have more reliable ways of getting around without driving their cars. This would reduce traffic congestion and prevent accidents caused by highway speeding vehicles.
Secondly, Arkansas should make roads safer by installing guardrails along highways with significant drop-offs from embankments or overpasses. There are many other things that the government can do, such as:
- Adding sidewalks in urban areas
- Improving streetlights
- Putting up stop signs at intersections with no crosswalks
- Posting speed limit signs along rural roads where high speeds are common
- Providing better signage along roadways so drivers know where they’re going before they get there
Conclusion
Arkansas has seen a steady increase in car accidents over the past few years. We need to address this as a community, and it starts with each of us making better choices on the road. If you or someone you know has been injured by an Arkansas car accident, contact our law firm today for help filing an insurance claim against the responsible parties.
