Archive for May, 2011

Gruesome Auto Accident Kills Tow Truck Driver Reports Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury accidents resulting in wrongful death may be horrific. This case is a prime example.

“This was a horrible case and the man killed suffered terribly before he died. His family faced a very difficult time trying to cope with his loss and move forward with their lives,” said Michael G. Smith, an Arkansas injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas. “While I was not involved in this case, when I read it, it brought to mind that personal injury accidents may happen anytime, anywhere and those involved would need skilled legal assistance.”

The man went to work as he always did every day and hopped into his tow truck, wondering what the day would hold for him. He got a call to tow an illegally parked SUV. In the middle of trying to hook it up to tow away, the woman who owned the vehicle got into it and drove away. The man’s leg was tangled in the tow cable used to hook the SUV to the truck. It broke as the SUV was speeding away.

As the SUV was racing off, it was dragging the man behind it. As a consequence of this brutal dragging, his leg was torn from his torso and both his legs were ultimately severed. Although he was rushed to hospital, he died a short time after arriving. “The police tracked down the driver of the SUV. The outcome of this case will be anyone’s guess, but the family of the deceased man will no doubt want to talk to a skilled injury lawyer,” Smith said.

Cases like this are incredibly difficult to handle for everyone involved, particularly given the cause of death and the circumstances leading up to it. Negligence? Certainly a case could be made that the driver was negligent in driving away while the tow truck operator was right there hooking her vehicle up. Recklessness? It was definitely reckless to take off speeding when a person was right behind her vehicle. She also dragged him far enough that she should have realized something was wrong.

Wrongful death? Yes, definitely. And in this case, there may be the possibility of punitive damages for egregious behavior. Certainly there would be a case for substantial damages given the nature of the case and the trauma the man suffered prior to his death.

“While no one wants to think they are profiting from a loved one’s death, the facts are that in cases like this there is generally insurance money involved. The deceased’s family should be entitled to that after all they have been through. They have lost a loved family member, they should not be left financially destitute as well,” Smith said.

To get aggressive representation and a fair and equitable settlement or court verdict, a case like this would be best in the hands of a skilled Arkansas injury lawyer.

Learn more by visiting http://www.Arkansaslawhelp.com

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Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 News, Press Releases No Comments

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

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 lawyer 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 visiting http://www.Arkansaslawhelp.com

Monday, May 30th, 2011 News, Press Releases No Comments

Even Cops Get Into Car Accidents As Shown in Arkansas Case

Being a cop these days is not an easy job. The risks they take on a daily basis often see many injured in the line of duty.

“Take this reported case,” said Michael G. Smith, an Arkansas injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas. “The officer was parked on the side of the road, doing traffic watches for a ticket campaign to warn drivers about speeding and other road hazards, when another car rammed into his cruiser.”

The officer on duty had already flagged over another motorist for a traffic violation, and when he got back into his vehicle, another vehicle slammed into him. The impact was so shockingly severe that the emergency responders were amazed the officer was not killed. “That has to tell you that the other vehicle was speeding and not paying attention,” said Smith.

The other driver that careened into the cruiser may be charged with a felony, as that is the rule of law in the state where this accident happened. Unfortunately, the accident serves as a visible and visceral warning that when drivers see a police car or construction workers pulled over of the side of the road, slow down and play it safe. “Really, is it worth speeding, not paying attention, landing up in a car wreck and potentially killing another person or yourself? If you don’t slow down, and do wind up in a collision, your only options may be prison time and/or fines. It is worth it?” Smith asked.

Reckless drivers are the bane of police forces everywhere, and unless those who speed, text while they drive, drive while distracted, drive while under the influence or just plain do not follow the rules of the road, get with the program, more lives could be lost.

“Driving is about respecting the rules of the road for the safety of others and for taking care of another’s life. This is a significant responsibility and one that should be respected. If more drivers took this seriously, there would be fewer accidents. For the love of life, yours and others, slow down, take care, follow the rules of the road, and we won’t need to meet to discuss personal injury damages and how you will pay for your medical bills due to a life altering accident,” Smith said.

Learn more by visiting http://www.Arkansasdawhelp.com

Thursday, May 19th, 2011 Auto Accidents, News No Comments