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We don’t often pay attention to the ground we’re walking on—especially when we’re shopping for dinner in a crowded supermarket. We’re thinking about menu options, trying to remember everything on the list (which we forgot at home), messing with coupon and loyalty apps on our phones, and wrangling kids through the congested aisles. But what we don’t see can hurt us. Slip and fall accidents in Arkansas grocery stores, supermarkets, and “Big Box” discount stores injure hundreds of hard-working people like you every year.

All it takes is one misstep and you’re out of commission for days, weeks, or even months.

What’s your family to do if you’re out of work? Can you pay $2,500 out of pocket for resetting a broken arm? Will you get the time off you need to heal correctly?

Slip and Fall Hazards in Arkansas Supermarkets

These types of stores are typically associated with higher rates of slip and fall accidents in Arkansas simply because there are more hazards inherent with:

1) The location of the buildings (usually not inside malls)

2) The infrastructure of the store itself (more refrigeration and water usage)

3) The types of product they sell (produce, seafood, frozen foods)

That danger is real and it creeps up on you before you even set foot inside:

• Cracked pavement
• Potholes
• Garbage and other debris
• Misaligned steps
• Uneven thresholds

Each and every one of these hazards can result in a painful sprain, torn ligament, or broken bone. Continue reading ›

A terrifying car accident in Fayetteville in March of this year left five people injured. However, the car crash didn’t happen on the highway or at a busy intersection—it happened inside a coffee shop.

On March 22^nd patrons of Baba Boudan’s Espresso Café were in line waiting for their favorite coffee beverages when an SUV smashed through the wall, burying itself completely inside the building. In the chaos that ensued, rescuers pulled five injured victims from the rubble, all of whom are expected to survive.

Arkansas car accident investigators with the local police department pieced together details of the crash from physical evidence at the scene as well as eye witness testimony. It appears as if the driver of the SUV (an unlicensed teenager) lost control of the vehicle after swerving to avoid a minor car crash in the roadway ahead. It’s unclear why the young driver was traveling so fast through a busy commercial area but the vehicle “plowed” right through steel barriers designed to keep pedestrians on the sidewalks (and inside the retail storefronts) along this stretch of street safe.

Nursing homes and other assisted living facilities in Arkansas generally have a poor track record when it comes to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of residents and temporary patients. It seems like you hear stories of understaffing, neglect, and outright abuse in Arkansas nursing homes on a weekly basis. But many elderly individuals and family members don’t understand that objective physical abuse isn’t the only qualifier for mistreatment. Indeed, Arkansas law allows for individuals to file claims, complaints, and even seek criminal prosecution in cases involving:

• Neglect
• Carelessness
• Recklessness
• Mishandling
• Medication errors
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• And even mistakes

Continue reading ›

A disturbing case of discrimination in the workplace in Arkansas has made national news as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission files a lawsuit against one of the country’s largest retailers:  Walmart. The agency is alleging that the company discriminated against a pregnant woman, failing to give her the concessions at work that she was entitled to under the law. Of course, a spokesperson from Walmart has denied that claim and issued a blanket statement that the rights of all its employees are paramount. But with Walmart’s seemingly checkered Civil Liberty’s record and history of antidiscrimination lawsuits and settlements, it’s hard for that statement to stand on its own.

Discriminating Against Pregnant Women is Illegal

The suit was filed after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated the claims of a woman who worked for Walmart in 2015. Continue reading ›

Johnson & Johnson has faced numerous lawsuits regarding their talcum baby powder, and their legal problems are not over.   The company is now being federally investigated.   One issue being investigated is whether Johnson & Johnson took steps to hide evidence that their product is linked to asbestos and ovarian cancer in females.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the company, with thousands of plaintiffs prevailing against the big company.    Continue reading ›

Statistics tell us that a person who drives while reading or sending text messages is 23 more likely to cause or be involved in a crash than other nondistracted drivers.  Typically a crash happens, on average, within three seconds once a driver is distracted.

A young woman in Fayetteville was hit by a vehicle in a crosswalk on the University of Arkansas campus a couple of days ago.   Authorities cited the teen driver who hit the pedestrian with using a handheld device while driving.    In an instant, lives are changed – forever.   And this tragic accident was 100% avoidable.

Here are some reminders when you’re behind the wheel as to how we can do our parts on the roadways to keep others, and ourselves, safe:

Last month a 28-year-old man was arrested after an extensive search by local police following a hit and run accident in Arkansas. The individual had been involved in a near-fatal accident on January 14^th near Fern’s Valley Loop and Arkansas 264. The driver turned himself in after several hours on the run. The victim is still in the hospital facing a tremendously difficult and long-lasting road to recovery with little more than a charitable donation website to support him.

Unfortunately, these types of stories are becoming all-too-common as the number of hit and run accidents in Arkansas increases on pace with national trends. Indeed, this terrible problem is something our nation is facing as a whole. But what’s causing the increase? It may be, in part, due to a crisis of irresponsibility.

Hit and Run Accidents On the Rise Nationwide

Burns are nothing to be trifled with. While the majority of burns seen by ER doctors in Arkansas are minor and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies, serious—even fatal—burns can and do occur when people are uninformed of proper safety practices or ignore standards created to safeguard their wellbeing. Indeed, burns are one of the most serious workplace injuries across all industries in Arkansas and the United States in general.

What Are the Most Common Causes for Workplace Burns in Arkansas?

According to the American Burn Association, a national non-profit dedicated to preventing burn injuries, the four most common causes of burn injuries nationwide are:

Arkansas is an At-Will Employment State

When it comes to employment, Arkansas is an At-Will State. That means that technically an employer or employee can terminate a working relationship at any time with little or no explanation at all. This frees employers from the costly process of providing severance packages and allows employees to change jobs at any time without facing penalties.

However, that doesn’t mean that employers can terminate an employee for the wrong reasons. Under Arkansas law employment is protected under multiple circumstances. If a company violates Arkansas employment law the terminated employee can sue for compensation, reinstatement, or both.

Around 2:30 a.m. this morning a charter bus was found overturned in a ditch near Hot Springs.   The bus was carrying the Orange Mound youth all-star football team and chaperones.   The driver of the charter bus lost control of the bus, causing it to skid off the roadway, ultimately landing on its side in a ditch off I30 near the Hot Springs exit.   A third-grade child was killed in this bus accident, and at least 45 others were injured.   Children between the ages of 8-13 were treated at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.   Two people were airlifted.   The charter bus was owned by a company out of Somerville, Tennessee called Scott Shuttle Service.

Deaths caused by a bus wreck are rare, but obviously no one is immune from the dangers of driving on the interstates and roadways.   The bus driver was interviewed by police, but it is unknown at this time why she lost control.

A few common causes of losing control of a bus include: