News: Paramedic dies in accident while responding to call at Little Rock Marathon

December 2, 2021 | Paul Pfeifer

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Little Rock police have released details of an accident last month that caused the death of a paramedic, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Maj. Dean Douglas was responding to an emergency call during the Little Rock Marathon when the incident took place on Nov. 21. Douglas, a medic with Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services, was on a bicycle alongside a utility vehicle. According to invesetigators, he was pulled under the vehicle in the area of Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive and South State Street.

Douglas, 50, was severely injured and was pronounced dead Friday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Police said the utility vehicle was owned by MEMS.

Powered Scooter Accidents in Arkansas on the Rise

September 8, 2020 | Paul Pfeifer

Years ago most of us didn’t envision a city where adults and young adults used powered scooters as a mode of transportation for work and/or fun. But today we see those green and white scooters on many street corners and sidewalks. They are a fun, alternative way of travel, and as technology has progressed, so has the interest for this mode of transportation. On the flip side, as the prevalence of these aids increases in our city, so does the number of mobility scooter accidents in Arkansas.

Common Types of Scooter Accidents in Arkansas

Collisions

Reports from emergency rooms around Arkansas show that the most common types of scooter accidents in the state are collisions. Whether the scooter operator collides with something or something collides with the scooter, the results—and injuries—are very similar.

Some common types of crashes include:

Scooter/vehicle collisions
Scooter /pedestrian collisions
Scooter/fixed object collisions

Drunk Driving Accident in Arkansas Highlights Liability Issues for Drinking Establishments

October 1, 2019 | Paul Pfeifer

Fatal Drunk Driving Accident in Arkansas Leaves Two First Responders Injured

A fatal drunk driving accident in Arkansas earlier this month left two members of an ambulance crew seriously injured and claimed the life of an intoxicated automobile operator. The crash happened on Interstate 40 near Little Rock Arkansas at around 5 AM on the morning of March 1^st.

A car, operated by a local woman, was traveling at speed the wrong way down I-40 when it crashed head-on into the ambulance. The driver was killed instantly. Chemical testing after the crash revealed that the woman had a Blood Alcohol Content level of 0.164—twice the legal limit in Arkansas.

Distracted Driving Causes Arkansas Accidents

April 10, 2012 | Paul Pfeifer

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month. A new federal law that prohibits commercial vehicle operators from using handheld cellphones while driving affects about 4 million truck and bus drivers.

Drivers who violate the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration law could be fined $2,750 for each offense and loss of their commercial operator’s license for multiple violations. Further, companies that allow truck drivers to use handheld phones while driving face a penalty.

Drivers who cause a crash while violating either the new federal law or Arkansas state law involving cell phone can be found negligent and possibly reckless for violating the law. Further, as an Arkansas truck accident law firm, we review the companies policies regarding cell phone use to determine if the trucking company provides a policy and whether the policy and training were followed in each instance. Cell phone records and company policy and procedure manuals are reviewed and if the accident was caused by distracted driving involving cell phone use, the company and truck driver should be held fully responsible.

Arkansas Bicycle Accidents

February 3, 2010 | Paul Pfeifer

A California doctor was sentenced last month to five years in prison for a 2008 road rage incident that involved bicyclists. The driver slammed on his brakes in front of two cyclists, injuring both.

Unfortunately, similar bicycle incidents occur in Arkansas. I have heard from clients who were yelled at while riding a bicycle on an Arkansas road and cyclists who were run off the road by cars as they passed. This conduct is dangerous and should be reported to local Arkansas law enforcement. Bicycle accidents can lead to life-threatening or serious personal injuries.

It should be remembered by bicyclists and car drivers that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Cyclists can increase the safety for themselves and for fellow motorists by riding in a predictable pattern, using hand signals for turns, merges, and stops, and by making sure they are visible through the use of bicycle lights, reflectors, and avoiding dark-colored clothing. Motorists should not pass a bicycle when it’s not safe and should allow plenty of space to safely pass. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration lists the following facts regarding bicycle crashes: