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Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Champions for the Injured
National Law Firm with Local Roots
Content Reviewed by: A. Parker Trotz
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
A Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer can help you recover compensation after a drunk driving accident. A lawyer will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and initiate a civil suit if necessary.
A drunk driving accident is one of the most tragic types of car accidents. In the blink of an eye, lives are permanently altered for the worse, all because one person chose to get behind the wheel while under the influence.
A drunk driver’s negligence can bring death and life-altering injuries. Even when physical recovery is possible, it is common for victims to be strapped with excessive amounts of medical debt, lost wages, and sometimes the inability to return to work.
The Little Rock car accident lawyers at NST Law help clients gain the compensation they need after a drunk driving accident leaves them facing consequences they shouldn’t have to bear alone.
Table Of Contents
- Drunk Driving Accidents in Little Rock
- Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney After a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident
- Time Limits on Filing a Little Rock Drunk Driving Lawsuit
- Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident in Little Rock
- Liability in a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident
- When to Contact a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
- Cost of a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Little Rock
- Verdicts & Settlements Obtained by NST Law
- Call the Champs at NST Law
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Drunk Driving Accidents in Little Rock
Little Rock serves as Arkansas’s capital city and the most heavily populated city in the state. Its size and central position in Arkansas make Little Rock a hub for government, culture, education, and tourism.
As a busy urban central and popular destination, Little Rock is no stranger to heavy traffic—and with traffic comes accidents.
Between 2015 and 2019, Pulaski County saw 1,731 alcohol-related car accidents involving impaired drivers. The drunk driving accident numbers in Little Rock and the surrounding area reflect the greater issue of drunk driving across the state.
In just the first three months of 2022, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) reported 1,827 convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, placing alcohol-related DUIs in the top ten most frequent driving convictions in the state.
The Toward Zero Deaths initiative by the Arkansas Highway Safety Office is working behind the scenes to reduce Arkansas’s annual crash fatality rates, with a particular emphasis on impaired driving. Yet deaths and injuries related to drunk driving continue to plague Arkansans, especially those living in and around the state’s busy capital city.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney After a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving is both dangerous and illegal, and it has steep consequences. Unfortunately, none of these consequences benefit those most in need of justice—the innocent victims of a drunk driver’s negligent acts.
Legal action taken against a drunk driver is a criminal matter that goes through criminal court. In addition to jail time and a suspended license, drunk drivers in Little Rock face fines that can reach thousands of dollars.
However, this money goes to the government, not the accident victim. The law does little to protect a victim’s finances after a drunk driving accident causes financial loss.
Suppose you were in a Little Rock drunk driving accident and got injured. In that case, the only way to pursue compensation would be to go through civil court—and for this, you need a capable personal injury attorney fighting on your side.
Time Limits on Filing a Little Rock Drunk Driving Lawsuit
You have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit over a drunk driving accident in Little Rock. Arkansas state law carries a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
However, it can be a costly mistake to wait to pursue compensation after a drunk driving accident brings injury or the death of a loved one. The process of gaining compensation for damages caused by a drunk driving accident begins with insurance.
Your Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer will initiate the process by negotiating with your insurance company and possibly that of the other driver.
Ultimately, if an insurance company refuses to negotiate or won’t adequately compensate you, your attorney will file a civil lawsuit on your behalf. The statute of limitations deadline refers to this filing date.
It takes time to undergo negotiations and build a legal case. Waiting to contact a lawyer puts you at risk of missing the deadline for legal action.
Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident in Little Rock
Compensation after a drunk driving accident is unique to each accident. Part of your attorney’s job will be to assess all areas impacted by the accident and establish a target goal.
You can seek compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. For any claims, you must be able to provide evidence of the losses. Compensation can cover items including:
- Medical bills
- Physical therapists
- Assistive care
- Medical devices
- Lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Diminished quality of life
Insurance companies are motivated to negotiate because it is usually cheaper and less time-consuming than court proceedings.
However, if you are unable to arrive at a satisfactory settlement, your attorney can pursue a civil suit. Once in court, you can be awarded compensatory damages to cover your losses. Arkansas law puts no limit on the compensatory damages that can be awarded after a drunk driving accident.
In some cases, a court may also award punitive damages. These are ordered in addition to compensatory damages and are intended as a punishment for gross negligence.
Although there are some exceptions, Arkansas law caps punitive damages at $250,000 or three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded, not exceeding $1 million.
Liability in a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident
After a drunk driving accident, you will need to establish liability to gain compensation. Liability is a matter of negligence and fault.
Negligence is a legal concept that refers to a failure to show reasonable care for the safety of another. For example, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol clearly shows negligence.
Arkansas is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that when liability is established, each party involved is assigned a percentage of fault for the accident. As long as you bear less than 50 percent of the fault, you can recover damages from the other driver. However, if you are assigned any fault for the accident, the compensation value awarded is reduced by that percentage.
Car insurance in Arkansas follows an at-fault system. This means auto insurance policies only cover you if you weren’t at fault unless you’ve opted for additional coverage.
Fortunately, proving negligence after a drunk driving accident can be easier than in other types of motor vehicle accidents because drunk driving is an inherently negligent act.
When to Contact a Little Rock Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Don’t wait to contact a Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer. A lawyer will immediately assess your case. This is especially important when an accident involves drunk driving.
It is important to ensure that a police investigation is conducted correctly, especially by testing the other driver’s blood alcohol concentration level. If the protocol is not correctly followed, you risk evidence of the other driver’s intoxication getting thrown out.
Without legal protection, your insurance representative could likely ask leading questions to disqualify you from receiving a higher payout amount. Unfortunately, clients often rob themselves of money they would otherwise be owed because of the information they share with the insurance representative.
It is important to allow an informed legal professional to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf. In nearly every case, a policyholder receives greater compensation with the help of an attorney. A Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer knows how to make your policy work in your best interests.
Cost of a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Little Rock
Car accident lawyers commonly work on a contingency agreement with clients. In this arrangement, you only pay for legal services if your lawyer successfully achieves a settlement or verdict. Payment is rendered as a percentage of the overall compensation value and comes directly from the settlement or verdict.
Contingency fees encourage clients to seek justice after an accident leaves them with a financial loss; they aren’t left with a hefty bill for legal services if a case is unsuccessful. It also makes it possible to procure a Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyer without worrying about the cost.
Verdicts & Settlements Obtained by NST Law
The champions for the injured at NST Law have recovered significant compensation for plaintiffs injured in automobile accidents:
- $1.5 million for an elderly couple who were involved in a catastrophic car wreck
- $255,000 for a 21-year-old in a rollover accident
- $500,000 for a passenger in a drunk driving crash
- $6.3 Million for an accident resulting in the death of retired 65-year-old man
Call the Champs at NST Law
NST Law is a national leader in personal injury law. Over the past 32 years, we have recovered over $2 billion for the clients we represent. Our many successful settlement and verdict outcomes demonstrate how routinely we achieve positive results.
Our car accident settlements show that we regularly secure six- and seven-figure outcomes for clients injured by another driver’s negligence. We are also proud to share the words of former clients whose lives were changed for the better by our passionate, dedicated representation.
The Little Rock drunk driving accident lawyers at NST Law are champions for the injured. If you or a loved one has suffered damages at the hands of a drunk driver, gaining fair compensation for your losses is possible. Contact NST Law today and let a Little Rock drunk driving accident attorney get started on your case.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is essential to gather as much information relevant to your accident as possible. You should obtain medical bills and treatment information from your physician. Police reports, insurance information, and contact details for any witnesses to the crash are all helpful. Your attorney will ask for other information as required.
Do not give any recorded statements to your insurance company or the other drivers following a car accident. An insurance company can use these statements against you in a personal injury case.
Don’t accept settlement offers following an accident without speaking to an attorney first. If you do, you may be settling for less than you deserve.
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.
Our Little Rock Office
WEST LITTLE ROCK OFFICE
4 Shackleford Plaza Suite 211
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone:Â 501-381-3391
Fax:Â 501-891-5036
Downtown Office
425 W Capitol Ave, Ste. 780
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-435-0000
Fax: 501-406-1849
Client Successes
$3,000,000.00
Obtained in tractor-trailer accident case for a husband and wife that suffered traumatic injuries.
$2,200,000.00
Recovered in car accident case against construction company in which our client suffered a traumatic brain injury.
$1,500,000.00
Received for a woman injured in car accident while on the job, who sustained numerous fractures and underwent several surgeries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)