Big Rigs Cause Major Injuries in an Accident Indicates Arkansas Injury Lawyer

Little Rock, AR (Law Firm Newswire) June 27, 2011 – The highways of the nation are crawling with traffic. Just about seven out of every 10 vehicles is a big rig.

“It is not much of a surprise that big rigs accidents are quite common, not when you have as many of them on the roads as the statistics indicate – just about seven out of 10 vehicles are 18-wheelers. The more of these big guys you have, the higher your accident rates,” said Michael G. Smith, an Arkansas injury attorney and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas.

Who causes those big rig versus car accidents? That is a good question and one that varies, given the circumstances. It may be that the big rig driver changes lanes without taking a good look in his mirrors, or it may be that just when he goes to change lanes, someone moves into his blind spot. Perhaps car drivers are dogging the big rig, getting too close to the tail end. If that rig slows down, the driver too close to the semi usually ends up under it.

There are also drivers who, for whatever reason, pull right out in front of an oncoming rig. The writing is on the wall in that case. The trucker cannot stop and may not be able to swerve. If they can swerve, this often results in a jackknife accident. “In other words, if you are driving in the presence of big rigs, get educated and stay out of their way. It may save your life,” Smith said.

In the aftermath of a rig versus car crash, even though the injuries are fresh and pain clouds clear thinking, act fast to contact an Arkansas injury lawyer. Preserving evidence of the wreck is crucial in cases like this. If the plaintiff has not contacted a lawyer, they run the risk of evidence being lost or misplaced; evidence that could help them win a good settlement in court.

“When we look for evidence, we’re searching for the trucker’s log book, the black box, the maintenance log book for the truck and the trucker’s driving record. We don’t leave any stone unturned, but in order for us to provide the maximum legal assistance to a trucking accident victim, we need to be there within hours of the wreck,” Smith said.

Take the case of the trucker who rammed into another light truck in the middle of a major intersection during morning rush hour. The 18-wheeler driver said he had a green light. The light truck driver said he had a green light. Since there cannot be two green lights at once, the plaintiff’s lawyer demanded the truck’s black box and called in an expert witness; an accident reconstructionist. The end result? The trucker had a red light and ignored it, trying to run a yellow. The jury found for the plaintiff, who would never walk again.

If faced with a situation like this, make the first point of contact for legal help, an Arkansas injury lawyer. “It’s my job to help you get justice and fair compensation. It’s my job to make sure you are treated with fairness and have your rights protected. If you have any questions about a situation like this or an accident you may have been involved in, don’t hesitate to call me,” Smith said.

Learn more by contacting Arkansas personal injury lawyer, Michael Smith at http://www.arkansaslawhelp.com.

Michael Smith
425 W. Capitol Av., Suite 3700
Little Rock, AR 72201
Call: 501.519.4357