Arkansas Injury Lawyer Blog

Texting while driving is as dangerous as driving while drunk. A new law began in Arkansas that bans texting while driving. Act 181 of 2009, also known as Paul’s Law was passed to make Arkansas roads safer.

Paul’s Law bans drivers of all ages from sending text messages while driving, except in emergencies. This Arkansas motor vehicle law was named after Paul Davidson of Jonesboro, Arkansas who was killed in an accident with a vehicle whose driver admitted he was sending a text message.
Another new driving law, Act 197 of 2009, bans the use of cell phones by drivers under age 18, except in emergencies. This Arkansas law prohibits anyone age 18-20 from using a cell phone while driving unless the person is using a hands free device or in an emergency.

As texting has become more popular, accidents blamed on texting has increased dramatically. Recent studies have shown that 26% of people text while driving. Studies suggest that the danger of texting while driving exceeds the danger of simply talking on your cell phone. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study estimates that 515,000 people were injured in traffic accident due to a distracted driver. According to Arkansas State Police, at least 787 crashes in Arkansas in 2008 involved drivers who were distracted by electronic communication devices.

If you or a family member has suffered a personal injury in an Arkansas accident, please contact an Arkansas car accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights. The Pfeifer Law firm provides free initial consultations for Arkansas car accident injury victims.

The Center for Lifelong Learning at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is offering a series of four motorcycle safety courses Nov. 7 as part of the Center’s fall schedule of personal enrichment courses.

Courses will be led by certified Goldwing Road Riders Association Leadership Training Instructors and Rider Education Instructors. According to the seminar information,
the training is designed to encourage safe and enjoyable motorcycling for all riders. The seminar information quotes the instructor as saying:

“When motorcycles are involved in an accident, it doesn’t matter much what kind of bike one is riding,” she said. “Serious injury or death is a real possibility. Making the roads safer for all motorcycle enthusiasts through training is one of GWRRA’s primary goals.”

Information concerning this seminar can be found on the UA-Fort Smith website.

Motorcycle safety has become more and more important. The number of people injured in motorcycle accidents has increased for over a decade. In 2007, approximately 103,000 people were injured in motorcycle accidents. Arkansas has some great roads to ride and we all need to be mindful that an Arkansas motorcycle accident can be very serious. Usually, inattention by the driver of the automobile is the reason why motorcycle accidents happen in Arkansas. If you or a family member suffers injuries in an Arkansas motorcycle accident, it is important that you contact an experienced Arkansas motorcycle lawyer to make sure your medical bills get paid and your rights are fully protected.

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that more Americans die on country roads than on more congested city roads. In 2008, 56% of the 37,261 traffic deaths occurred on rural roads. About 23% of the population lives in rural areas.

The comparison is even greater regarding Arkansas traffic accidents. Seventy-four percent of car accident and truck accident deaths were on county or rural roads in Arkansas. Although Arkansas is a rural state, I was surprised by the statistic concerning Arkansas vehicle accident fatalities. From experience representing victims of Arkansas car accidents, I find that people usually drive faster on rural Arkansas roads than the conditions allow. Another possible reason for fatalities in rural areas is the slower delivery of acute medical care for injuries from the accident.

If you or a family member has suffered injuries from an accident, please contact an experienced Arkansas personal injury lawyer. It is important to know your rights and make sure that your damages are fully compensated.