AR personal injury case & accident info
Arkansas is no stranger to accidents and personal injuries. Maybe you were the one who experienced a life-changing incident, or perhaps it was a family member or friend. Either way, someone could use a strong support system.
If you or someone you know is bringing a personal injury suit in the state of Arkansas and needs more information, Enjuris has answers.
Arkansas personal injury law: the basics
Arkansas statutes online
This is where you'll find Arkansas's code, which determines how long people have to bring lawsuits, any damage caps on personal injury rewards, and other relevant information.
To read:
Arkansas's car accident statutes of limitation
In Arkansas, you have three years to bring both personal injury claims and property damage claims.
That doesn't mean the whole lawsuit has to be completed in three years; that just means the initial paperwork must have been filed with the court.
Car accident lawsuit time limits by state
To read:
Arkansas damage caps
Damages are what plaintiffs (AKA victims) collect as compensation after an injury or loss. This can take the form of an award from a jury after deliberation or a settlement between parties prior to the end of litigation.
Damage caps in Arkansas have been in a recent state of flux. As of 2017, the state legislature had debated a measure to cap non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, mental anguish) in personal injury suits. This "tort reform" bill originally limited non-economic damages to $250,000, but after passing it back to the House, the cap was raised to $500,000.
Attorneys' fees are also capped at 33.3% of the total award. Voters will be examining the issue in the state's 2018 election.
As it stands right now, there are only caps on punitive damages (damages intended to punish a defendant). There is an interesting twist, however; if the plaintiff proves by "clear and convincing evidence" that the defendant intentionally harmed the plaintiff for the express purpose of harm, there is no cap.
If the plaintiff does not prove this by clear and convincing evidence, then punitive damages are capped at $250,000 or three times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever is greater, not to exceed $1 million. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-55-208(b)(1)- (2). Either party can request that periodic payments be made if a judgment is more than $100,000. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-114- 208(a)(1)(A).
Arkansas Damage Caps
| Type of Damages | Type of Cases | Limits | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Economic (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) |
Personal Injury |
None |
N/A |
|
Non-economic damages (pain & suffering, mental anguish, etc.) |
Personal Injury |
None |
N/A |
|
Punitive damages (to punish for malice or ill intent) |
Personal Injury |
3x the amount of compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is greater |
|
| Exceptions | |||
|
Claims against a municipality, such as a town, city or county |
Personal Injury/Civil |
Based on insurance |
|
|
Worker's compensation |
Personal Injury/Civil |
$10,000 in medical bills, payouts subject to maximum |
Ark. Code. Ann. § 11-9-509; Calculation by Special Funds Division |
|
Products liability |
Personal Injury/Civil |
Modified comparative fault (depending on your % of responsibility, damages might be reduced accordingly) |
No economic loss rule (Farm Bureau Ins. Co. v. Case Corp., 878 S.W.2d 741 (Ark. 1994). |
Accidents & injuries in Arkansas
Need a lawyer?
Accident worksheets
Your First Meeting with an Attorney
A worksheet to prepare for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney – what to bring, what they'll ask
Download in PDF format
Documents & Evidence Checklist
Checklist of 30 items to help you prepare for making a personal injury or accident claim
Download in PDF format
Personal Injury Attorney Interview Sheet
Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case
Download in PDF format
Damages/Expenses Worksheet
Damages worksheet to track expenses for your injury claim (medical treatment, property damage, lost wages, prescriptions)
Download in PDF format
Post-Accident Journal Form
Sample accident journal/diary to help you document the effect on your daily life
Download in PDF format
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
Hiring a lawyer in Arkansas
Consultations for personal injury representation are usually free -- at least, the first meeting is. After that, lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means that their office will receive a third of the eventual reward, plus office expenses.
If the client's case ends up going to trial, the percentage might rise to 40% of the eventual reward or judgment. These numbers aren't set in stone, so don't be taken aback if your lawyer suggests something different. Find your state page here.
Want to hire a lawyer and need some help?
Check out some of our best articles:
Examples of personal injury cases and accidents
Personal injury cases (also known as a tort lawsuit) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Auto accidents, medical malpractice and premises liability (slip/fall) are a few examples of the most common types of personal injury cases, but there are many more. In fact, torts are among the most common legal actions in the United States. Read more
Read our complete guide to finding the right injury attorney for your case. Read insights from Enjuris attorneys and lawyers across the USA on when and why you need to hire a car accident attorney. Learn more
Need a lawyer?
Law libraries in Arkansas
There are many issues you can solve on your own if you know where to look. And if you don't, a law librarian will always be available to help you. They are generally legally trained and can help you both with texts or online sources like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock: William H. Bowen School of Law Library
- University of Arkansas: Young Law Library