LITTLE ROCK, AR – Motorcycle accidents cause more severe injuries than car crashes because riders have minimal protection from impact forces, with Arkansas ranking among the top five states for motorcycle fatalities. Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer Joseph Gates of Gates Law Firm (https://www.gateslawpllc.com/arkansas-motorcycle-accident-lawyer/) guides injury victims through the claims process to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering caused by negligent drivers.
According to Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer Joseph Gates, motorcycle accidents account for 14 percent of Arkansas’s total traffic fatalities despite motorcycles representing a small fraction of vehicles on the road. These crashes happen on I-40, I-430, and local streets throughout Central Arkansas daily, often resulting in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, road rash, and internal organ damage.
Little Rock motorcycle accident lawyer Joseph Gates emphasizes that even helmeted riders can suffer concussions, skull fractures, and brain hemorrhages, causing memory loss, cognitive impairment, and permanent disabilities. UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock treats severe traumatic brain injury cases in its Level I Trauma Center. Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and independence for life and requiring extensive rehabilitation costing millions of dollars over a lifetime.
“Road rash occurs when skin scrapes against pavement, potentially damaging muscles, tendons, and nerves beneath the surface,” Gates explains. “Severe cases require surgical debridement, skin grafts, and months of wound care with ongoing infection risk.” Broken bones commonly affect legs, arms, pelvis, and ribs, with complex fractures requiring multiple surgeries and extended physical therapy.
The attorney notes that internal injuries from blunt force trauma can damage the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs. Internal bleeding may not become apparent for hours after accidents, making emergency evaluation at Baptist Health or CHI St. Vincent critical for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Critical steps after motorcycle accidents include calling 911 immediately even for seemingly minor injuries, seeking medical treatment within 24 hours, taking photos and videos of motorcycles, other vehicles, road conditions, and visible injuries, getting contact information from witnesses, requesting copies of police reports, reporting accidents to insurance companies with only basic facts, and avoiding recorded statements to other drivers’ insurance companies without legal counsel.
“The first 72 hours after motorcycle accidents are critical for protecting legal rights,” Gates advises. “Evidence disappears quickly, and what victims say in those first days can significantly impact compensation recovery.”
Left-turn accidents are the most common and deadly type of motorcycle crash in Arkansas. Drivers turning left in front of oncoming motorcycles claim they did not see riders, causing collisions at intersections throughout Little Rock during rush hour when traffic is heavy. Distracted driving from texting, eating, adjusting GPS systems, or phone conversations causes thousands of Arkansas motorcycle accidents annually.
Other common causes include lane change collisions when drivers fail to check blind spots on I-40, I-430, or I-30, following too closely with insufficient reaction time, impaired driving with slower reactions and poor judgment, speeding on I-630 or Highway 67, reducing time to react, and road hazards like potholes, gravel, debris, and uneven pavement, causing loss of control.
The I-40/I-430 interchange ranks among the most dangerous areas for motorcyclists in Central Arkansas due to high speeds, heavy traffic, and complex merging patterns. I-30 through downtown Little Rock and I-630 also see frequent accidents. Cantrell Road has curves and intersections where drivers often fail to yield.
Arkansas follows modified comparative fault under Arkansas Code Section 16-64-122, allowing recovery if victims are less than 50 percent at fault. Damages are reduced by the victim’s percentage of fault. “Insurance companies aggressively argue comparative fault to reduce payouts,” notes the Little Rock attorney. “They claim motorcyclists were speeding or riding recklessly, even when these claims are false.”
Liable parties can include negligent drivers who failed to yield or drove while distracted, employers when accidents involve commercial vehicles, or employees working within employment scope, government entities when road defects contribute to accidents, manufacturers when motorcycle or vehicle defects cause or worsen crashes, and bars or restaurants under Arkansas dram shop laws when they overserve intoxicated drivers.
Recoverable damages include medical expenses for all past and future treatment, lost wages for time missed from work, loss of earning capacity when injuries prevent returning to previous employment, property damage for motorcycle repair or replacement, pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional distress, and scarring and disfigurement for permanent visible injuries. Arkansas does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases.
Arkansas requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within three years from the accident date under Arkansas Code Section 16-56-105. Claims against government entities have much shorter deadlines under the Arkansas Tort Claims Act, requiring written notice to government agencies within 30 to 90 days and filing lawsuits within one year.
“Arkansas requires helmets only for riders under age 21, but not wearing a helmet does not mean adult riders caused accidents or deserve less compensation,” Gates explains. “Insurance companies use the lack of helmets to argue victims contributed to injuries through comparative fault, but adult riders are following the law.”
Most motorcycle accident cases settle within six to twelve months, though complex cases involving multiple parties, disputed fault, or catastrophic injuries can take 18 to 24 months or longer if proceeding to trial. Insurance companies prefer settling to avoid the expense and unpredictability of jury verdicts, but having trial-ready counsel creates leverage during settlement negotiations.
About Gates Law Firm:
Gates Law Firm is a Little Rock-based law firm dedicated to personal injury representation for motorcycle accident victims and other injury cases throughout Arkansas. Led by attorney Joseph Gates, a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 member, the firm has recovered over $162 million for injured Arkansans. For consultations, call (501) 779-8091.
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Email: Gates@GatesLawPLLC.com
Website: https://www.gateslawpllc.com/
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Company Name: Gates Law Firm PLLC
Contact Person: Joseph Gates
Email: Send Email
Phone: (501) 779-8091
Address:2725 Cantrell Rd Ste 200
City: Little Rock
State: Arkansas 72202
Country: United States
Website: https://www.gateslawpllc.com/
Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com
To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Little Rock Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Joseph Gates Explains Common Injuries and Legal Rights for Arkansas Riders
