Membership in The Inner Circle of Advocates represents the pinnacle of achievement for plaintiff’s lawyers. Founded in 1972, the organization selects only attorneys of exceptional qualifications — those who have secured multiple seven- and eight-figure verdicts, earned the respect of judges and peers alike, and demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of trial advocacy. It is not merely an accolade but a profound recognition of cutting-edge legal excellence, courtroom mastery, and a dedication to advancing the craft through fellowship and knowledge-sharing among the nation’s finest attorneys. As described by those within the organization, it is “a unique laboratory of professional advancement” for the best of the best.

Oliver, who has built a national reputation as an aggressive and extraordinarily effective advocate for his clients, joins this elite group through rigorous criteria that include proven success in the courtroom. He will be formally presented with this distinct honor during a special ceremony in London, England.

A lifelong Arkansan, Sach Oliver is the only currently active Arkansas attorney to achieve membership in The Inner Circle of Advocates — a testament to his standing as the state’s premier plaintiff trial lawyer and one of the nation’s most accomplished. He previously served as President of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (2022–2023), is the author of Depositions Are Trial, and is a sought-after national speaker on trial strategy and advocacy.

By Oliver’s own admission, it’s his deep Christian faith that is at the heart of his practice’s success. He credits his faith and family as the most important guiding forces in his life and work. He is quick to identify his wife, Codi, and their daughters as his biggest support, calling Codi “his strongest backbone and steady source of strength.” For Oliver, representing clients in their moment of greatest crisis is more than a profession — it is a life calling rooted in redemption, compassion, and faith.

Oliver said, “It’s my conviction that helping those facing profound loss or injustice is a sacred duty, guided by the Golden Rule: treating others as I would want to be treated. When people face a crisis, they need someone to listen, care, and fight for them. They need a friend and an advocate. I try to keep this front and center in every case.”

Oliver is described by other attorneys as driven to advocate fiercely for those without a voice and to genuinely care for people when they need it most.

The mission of The Inner Circle of Advocates is to promote the highest standards of courtroom competence and to foster mutual fellowship and the exchange of knowledge among outstanding trial lawyers. Membership is by invitation only and based on rigorous evaluation of an attorney’s verdict history, trial experience, reputation, judicial references, and peer reviews. Only those who demonstrate both extraordinary skill and a willingness to learn from and teach fellow elite advocates are selected. Sach Oliver’s induction underscores his place among the very best in the profession.

About Oliver Law Firm
Oliver Law Firm is a premier plaintiff trial firm dedicated to securing justice for individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. Led by Sach Oliver, the firm combines aggressive advocacy, cutting-edge trial techniques, and genuine compassion to deliver exceptional results.

The post Sach Oliver named Arkansas’ Sole Recipient of Prestigious Award appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

Why? Because workers’ compensation does not cover all of the costs of serious injuries. In Arkansas, workers’ compensation typically covers injured workers’ medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages. It does not cover injured workers’ full lost earnings, and it does not cover injured workers’ pain, suffering, and other non-financial losses.

This raises a critical question: Can third parties be held responsible for construction injuries?

Third Parties Can Be Held Responsible for Construction Injuries in Many Cases

In many cases, the answer is “Yes.”  While injured construction workers cannot sue their employers when they are eligible for workers’ compensation, they can sue other companies that are responsible for their injuries. By filing third-party claims when possible, injured construction workers can seek full compensation for their:

• Medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs
• Lost income, benefits, and future earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and post-traumatic stress
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Other financial and non-financial losses

These losses can be substantial, and they can far exceed the workers’ compensation benefits that injured construction workers are eligible to recover through their employers. As a result, when injured construction workers are eligible to file third-party claims, doing so can be critical to their long-term financial stability and wellbeing.

With this in mind, when can (and should) injured workers file claims against third parties for construction injuries? Some examples of potential grounds to seek compensation for injuries from construction accidents include:

Hand Tool and Power Tool Defects

Like all products, hand tools and power tools can suffer from defects that can cause serious injuries. If you were injured in a construction accident when a tool you were using (or one of your co-workers was using) broke or malfunctioned, you may have a third-party claim against the tool’s manufacturer for the resulting construction injuries.

Ladder and Scaffolding Defects

Ladder and scaffolding manufacturers can also be held liable when defects in their products cause (or contribute to causing) serious on-the-job accidents. Falls are among the most common causes of construction site injuries; and, when these accidents result from ladder and scaffolding defects, this can provide clear grounds for injured construction workers to seek compensation.

Safety Equipment Failures

Safety equipment failures can also provide grounds to sue third parties for serious construction injuries. If you were injured when a safety harness, helmet, safety glasses, or any other critical piece of safety equipment failed to protect you, you could have a claim against the manufacturer in this scenario as well.

Forklift, Crane, and Other Heavy Equipment Accidents

Forklifts, cranes, and other pieces of heavy equipment need to be properly designed, manufactured, and maintained in order to prevent serious accidents on the job. Proper operation of these pieces of equipment is essential as well. If you were injured in any type of heavy equipment accident, it will be worth talking to a construction accident lawyer about your legal rights.

Property-Related Hazards

If you were injured in an accident involving a property-related hazard, the owner of the property may be liable for your present and future losses. Under Arkansas law, property owners can be held liable for fall risks, electrocution risks, and other hazards in appropriate cases.

Contractor and Subcontractor Negligence

While injured construction workers generally cannot sue their employers for negligence, they can sue third parties if negligence played a role in their construction injuries. As a result, if a contractor or subcontractor is to blame for your on-the-job injury, you may be eligible to file a third-party claim for compensation.

As we said above, these are just examples. Injured construction workers can also hold third parties responsible for their construction injuries in a wide variety of other circumstances. To make sure you are taking the necessary steps to assert your legal rights effectively, we strongly recommend speaking with an experienced construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Talk to a Rogers Construction Accident Lawyer for FREE

If you believe a negligent third party may have played a role in your construction injury in Arkansas, it’s important to contact our office right away. You have a limited time to take legal action in these situations, and if you act too late, you will lose your opportunity to recover the compensation you deserve for your physical, financial, and emotional losses.

Contact the Rogers construction accident lawyers at Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. Our attorneys proudly serve clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post Can Third Parties Be Held Responsible for Construction Injuries? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

When a truck accident involves multiple vehicles, seeking compensation can be more complex. While you may have more options for seeking compensation, identifying your options will require an in-depth investigation.

Determining Liability in a Multi-Vehicle Truck Accident in Arkansas

To seek financial compensation for your injuries from a truck accident that involves multiple vehicles, you need to be able to prove who (or what company) is legally responsible. While all truck accidents can have a variety of causes, when multiple vehicles are involved, the list of potential causes is even longer.

The potential causes you will need to assess in this scenario include:

• Trucking Company Negligence – Trucking companies can be held liable for hiring unqualified drivers, failing to maintain their trucks, and various other forms of negligence.
• Truck Driver Negligence – Truck drivers can be held liable for speeding, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, and all other forms of negligence behind the wheel.
• Another Driver’s Negligence – If another driver caused (or contributed to causing) your truck accident, you may have a claim under that driver’s insurance policy.
• Another Company’s Negligence – If another driver who played a role in causing the accident was working at the time of the collision, his or her employer could be liable.
• A Truck Defect or Mechanical Failure – Electrical malfunctions, brake failures, and various other truck-related issues can provide grounds to file a claim against the truck’s manufacturer or a company that worked on the truck.
• A Defect or Mechanical Failure in Another Vehicle – If an issue with another vehicle involved in the accident was to blame, you could have a claim for a defect or mechanical failure in this scenario as well.
• An Issue with the Roadway – Potholes, low shoulders, dangerous road construction zones, and other roadway hazards can also provide grounds to seek compensation in some cases.

As noted above, determining what claim (or claims) you need to file starts with conducting an investigation. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve not only sending an investigator to the scene of the crash, but seeking to obtain phone records, employment records, maintenance records, and various other forms of documentation as well.

3 Key Steps to Take After a Multi-Vehicle Truck Accident

With these considerations in mind, if you were injured in a truck accident involving multiple vehicles, there are some important steps you should take promptly. To help maximize your chances of recovering compensation, you should:

1. Preserve as Much Information and Documentation as Possible

If you were able to take photos or videos at the accident scene, you should save them on your phone. Likewise, if you received a copy of the police report or collected any other drivers’ vehicle and insurance information, you should keep these in a safe place until you can share them with your lawyer.

You should also take detailed notes. During your free initial consultation, you will want to be able to share as many details with your lawyer as possible.

2. Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer to Investigate

Due to the complexity of truck accident cases involving multiple vehicles, it will be imperative to have an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side. This is not a situation you want to try to handle on your own. To help ensure that your lawyer can conduct an investigation before any key evidence disappears, you should schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.

3. Prioritize Your Medical Care and Recovery

Along with determining what claim (or claims) you need to file, another key step in the process will involve determining how much you are entitled to recover. To help ensure that you can seek full compensation for your accident-related losses, you should prioritize your medical care and recovery. Not only will this help with documenting the cause of your injuries, but it will be important for avoiding accusations that you should have done more to mitigate the costs of your trauma.

Speak with a Rogers Truck Accident Lawyer for FREE

One of the most important decisions you will make after being injured in a serious truck accident is your choice of attorney to represent you. An experienced truck accident lawyer can be the difference between recovering the full compensation you’re entitled to under Arkansas law and walking away with far less than you deserve.

Don’t face your injuries alone. Contact the Rogers truck accident lawyers at Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. Our attorneys proudly serve clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post What Happens When a Truck Accident Involves Multiple Vehicles? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

But, just as drivers can struggle to recover compensation, passengers can struggle to recover compensation after a car accident as well.

This is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side. If you need to sue after a car accident as a passenger, hiring a lawyer promptly is a key first step toward seeking the financial compensation you deserve. Once you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to take the necessary steps to determine liability, calculate your losses, and fight to hold the at-fault party (or parties) fully accountable.

5 Important Facts About Filing a Car Accident Claim as an Injured Passenger in Arkansas

If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger in Arkansas, here are five important facts you should know about filing a claim: 

1. You Can (and Should) Seek to Hold All At-Fault Parties Accountable

As a car accident victim, you can (and should) seek to hold all at-fault parties accountable. This may include the driver with whom you were riding. If you were riding with a friend, co-worker, or relative, you can file a claim under this individual’s insurance policy—and they will most likely want you to take advantage of the coverage they have available. If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft, you can file a claim with the rideshare driver’s insurance company—or with Uber or Lyft if the driver doesn’t have adequate coverage available.

From other drivers to vehicle manufacturers and repair shops, injured passengers can file claims against all other at-fault parties in the car accident as well. If any individual or company is to blame for your accident-related injuries, you deserve to be fully and fairly compensated.

2. Seeking Compensation Typically Involves Filing an Insurance Claim

In most cases, seeking compensation after a car accident involves filing an insurance claim. Drivers, rideshare companies, and various other parties are required to carry liability insurance under Arkansas law. If you have auto insurance, filing a claim under your policy may be an option (if necessary) in this scenario as well.

3. You Can File a Lawsuit in Arkansas State Court if Necessary

While seeking compensation typically involves filing an insurance claim, you can also file a lawsuit if necessary. If you need to sue in order to recover your losses, it will be important to have a lawyer who can help you decide when to take legal action and who can take appropriate legal action on your behalf.

When filing a car accident lawsuit in Arkansas state court, you need to meet strict requirements in order to preserve your legal rights. A lawyer who has experience representing car accident victims in court will be able to do what is required.

4. Passenger Car Accident Claims Can Settle at Any Stage of the Process

Even if you file a lawsuit and your case gets scheduled for trial, passenger car accident claims can settle at any stage of the process. In some cases, the insurance companies will wait as long as possible before offering to pay what they owe. With this in mind, it is important to keep the pressure on, and this is a key aspect of your case where it pays to have experienced legal representation as well.

5. It Is Critical to Ensure You Do Not Settle for Less Than You Deserve

Finally, regardless of when you receive a settlement offer (if you receive one), it is critical to ensure that you do not settle for less than you deserve. Serious accident-related injuries can leave passengers facing significant and long-term costs after a car accident. If a fair settlement is not on the table, you will need to be confident in your lawyer’s ability to effectively present your case for compensation at trial.

Schedule a FREE Consultation with a Rogers Car Accident Lawyer Today

Were you injured in a car accident as a passenger in Arkansas? If so, we encourage you to contact us so that we can help you fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

To speak with an experienced Rogers car accident lawyer at Oliver Law Firm about your legal rights for free, call (479) 202-5200 or tell us how we can get in touch online now.

The post Can Passengers Sue After a Car Accident? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

Unfortunately, this does not stop many truck drivers from using their phones when they shouldn’t.

If you were injured (or a loved one was seriously injured or killed) in a commercial truck accident and the truck driver was on their phone before the crash, you have clear legal rights. Distracted driving is negligent driving—and distracted truck drivers and their employers can (and should) be held accountable.

Filing a Claim After a Distracted Driving Truck Accident in Arkansas

Let’s say you have a claim for a truck accident that was caused by a driver who was on their phone. What do you need to know? Here are five important facts for victims and family members in this scenario:

1. You Have the Right to Prove the Truck Driver Was On Their Phone

First and foremost, you have the right to prove the truck driver was on their phone. If you have a claim for financial compensation, you are entitled to access the evidence you need to prove your legal rights. This includes accessing the truck driver’s cell phone records.

In addition to issuing a subpoena to the truck driver’s cell phone company, your lawyer can seek to gather other evidence that proves the truck driver was on their phone before the crash. For example, if the truck driver was posting or commenting on social media, the driver’s posts or comments could serve as clear evidence of liability.

2. Proving the Truck Driver Was Distracted Is Enough to Establish Liability

As we said above, distracted driving is negligent driving. This means that if you can prove the truck driver was distracted, this should be all you need to establish a claim for damages. Under Arkansas law, trucking companies can generally be held liable for their drivers’ negligence on the job—so, in most cases, proving that a truck driver was on their phone before a crash will be enough to seek to hold the trucking company accountable.

3. You Might Not Need to Prove the Truck Driver Was Distracted to Seek Just Compensation

The reason why distracted driving is so dangerous is that it leads to other mistakes behind the wheel. Running red lights and stop signs, rear-ending other vehicles, and drifting into other drivers’ lanes are all common consequences of using a cell phone while driving.

They are also forms of negligence on their own.

As a result, while proving the truck driver was distracted may be one option for seeking financial compensation, it may not be the only option you have available. If there is evidence to support a claim for liability on other grounds, you may be able to file a successful claim even if you can’t prove the truck driver was on their phone.

4. Determining What Evidence Is Available Requires a Prompt and Thorough Investigation

In all scenarios, determining what evidence is available requires a prompt and thorough investigation. With this in mind, to help maximize your chances of recovering just compensation for the accident, you should contact an experienced truck accident lawyer promptly. The longer you wait, the more difficult it could become to gather the evidence you need.

5. Proving Liability and Calculating Your Losses Requires Experienced Legal Representation

From obtaining the truck driver’s cell phone records to calculating the losses you are entitled to recover, all aspects of filing a truck accident claim require experienced legal representation. In this scenario, hiring a lawyer costs nothing out-of-pocket. Once you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to open an investigation right away, and your lawyer will be able to work with you to determine what constitutes “just” compensation for your present and future accident-related losses.

Speak with an Experienced Rogers Truck Accident Lawyer for Free

If you need to know more about filing a claim for a truck accident involving a distracted (or potentially distracted) truck driver, we strongly encourage you to contact us today.

To speak with an experienced Rogers truck accident lawyer about your case for free, call (479) 202-5200 or tell us how we can reach you online now.

The post What If a Truck Driver Was on Their Phone Before a Crash? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

Even when you are grieving the loss of a family member, the insurance companies won’t simply pay what they owe. They will put up a fight, and they may even try to blame your loved one for what happened. As a result, having comprehensive evidence is key. So, what evidence do you need to prove wrongful death in Arkansas? 

5 Key Categories of Evidence in Arkansas Wrongful Death Cases 

The specific types of evidence needed to prove wrongful death in Arkansas depend on the nature of the accident and the circumstances involved. For example, the evidence required in a fatal car accident case involving a drunk driver will be very different from the evidence required in a fatal construction accident case involving a premises-related hazard. 

With that said, the same general categories of evidence will be available in most cases. For example, when we represent Arkansas families in wrongful death cases, we generally rely on evidence such as: 

1. Forensic Evidence

Forensic evidence is evidence from the scene of the fatal accident. It can include both physical items (i.e., debris from a collision) and evidence that will disappear if it isn’t preserved (i.e., tire marks on the road). 

Gathering forensic evidence can be key to successfully pursuing a wrongful death case in Arkansas—and this makes it important to engage a law firm as soon after your loved one’s fatal accident as possible. Once you engage a law firm to represent your family, the firm will be able to send an investigator to the scene to preserve any and all forensic evidence that is available. 

2. Documentary Evidence 

Documentary evidence plays a key role in many wrongful death cases in Arkansas as well. This evidence can also take a variety of forms, and it can be available from several different sources. Some examples of common types of documentary evidence include:

• Cell phone records
• Employment records 
• Inspection reports 
• Maintenance records 
• Receipts and account statements 

Again, these are just examples. Here too, determining what evidence is available—and preserving this evidence before it disappears—requires experienced legal representation. In many cases, key documentary evidence will be in the defendant’s possession, and obtaining this evidence will involve compelling disclosure through formal legal means. 

3. Digital Evidence 

Digital evidence also plays a key role in many wrongful death cases in Arkansas. While this is technically a form of documentary evidence, there are so many specific types of digital evidence that it warrants mentioning separately. Some examples of common types of digital evidence include:

• Cell phone photos and videos
• Digital data (i.e., GPS data or testing data)
• Social media posts
• Text messages and direct messages 
• Traffic or surveillance camera footage 

We will often need to use formal legal means to obtain digital evidence in wrongful death cases as well. But, family members may have access to important digital evidence, too, and we work closely with our clients to ensure that they provide us with as much evidence as possible.

4. Eye Witness Testimony 

Eye witness testimony can be valuable evidence for confirming the sequence of events leading up to a fatal accident. When eye witnesses are available to testify in our clients’ cases, we ethically prepare these witnesses to provide testimony in support of our clients’ claims for liability. 

5. Expert Reports and Testimony 

Expert witnesses often play a central role in wrongful death cases in Arkansas involving vehicle collisions, premises-related accidents, construction accidents, and other tragic events. These individuals can examine the vehicles, products, or premises involved based on their expertise, and then they can prepare reports and provide testimony explaining why a fatal accident happened and who (or what company) is responsible. 

To be clear, not all of these categories of evidence will be necessary in all cases. As we said above, what is necessary in any particular case depends on the specific circumstances involved. Once you engage our law firm to represent your family, we will be able to determine what evidence is available, and then we will be able to use the available evidence to fight for justice on your family’s behalf. 

Contact the Rogers Wrongful Death Lawyers at Oliver Law Firm Today 

If you need to know more about what is involved in proving wrongful death in Arkansas, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. 

Contact the Rogers wrongful death lawyers at Oliver Law Firm now online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. We serve clients throughout Arkansas and across the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post What Evidence Is Needed to Prove Wrongful Death in Arkansas? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

Trucking Companies Are Required to Hire Qualified Drivers

Driving an 18-wheeler or any other large commercial truck requires special skills. Truck drivers are required to pass several tests in order to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and the skills needed to drive a tractor-trailer are very different from those required to drive a box truck, dump truck, garbage truck, or any other truck without a detachable trailer. 

But, even obtaining a CDL is just the first step toward becoming a competent truck driver—and the fact that someone holds a CDL does not mean they are capable of safely operating any type of large commercial truck in traffic. As a result, when hiring drivers, trucking companies need to make informed decisions based on individuals’ qualifications and abilities or risk being negligent hiring and supervision. 

Trucking Companies Are Required to Supervise Their Drivers  

Along with hiring competent drivers, trucking companies also have a legal duty to supervise their drivers when they are on the clock. While trucking companies might not be able to supervise their drivers directly, they can (and generally should) take steps such as:

• Monitoring truck drivers’ driving logs 
• Monitoring truck drivers’ telematics data (i.e., speed and braking data)
• Responding appropriately to any incidents on the road 
• Appropriately testing their drivers for drugs and alcohol 
• Ensuring their drivers maintain current qualifications

When trucking companies fail to adequately supervise their drivers, this can lead to accidents that could—and should—have been prevented. Again, just because a truck driver holds a CDL, this does not mean that the driver is capable of driving safely or that he or she will follow the rules of the road. 

Trucking Companies Can Be Held Liable for Negligent Hiring or Supervision 

Since trucking companies have a legal duty to both hire qualified drivers and supervise their drivers on an ongoing basis, when they fail to do so, they can—and should—be held duly accountable. 

In Arkansas, trucking companies can be held liable for both negligent hiring and negligent supervision. If a trucking company hires a driver who isn’t qualified to be behind the wheel, this can provide grounds to hold the trucking company liable in the event of an accident. Likewise, if a trucking company fails to adequately supervise a driver who causes an accident, this can serve as grounds to hold the trucking company liable as well. 

Proof of Negligent Hiring or Supervision Isn’t Necessarily Required 

With that said, proof of negligent hiring or supervision isn’t necessarily required to hold a trucking company liable for a truck accident in Arkansas. This is because trucking companies can also be held “vicariously liable” for their drivers’ negligence behind the wheel. 

As a general rule, employers are liable for their employees’ negligence on the job. This is known as “vicarious liability,” meaning that the employer’s liability is based on its employee’s negligence rather than its own. 

So, even if a trucking company meets its legal duties related to hiring and supervision, it can still be held liable for accidents resulting from a driver’s negligence. This includes (but is by no means limited to) common forms of negligence such as:

• Driving while distracted, fatigued, or impaired 
• Failing to check blind spots before turning or merging 
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Speeding (or driving too fast for the current weather or road conditions)
• Tailgating and failing to brake in time to avoid a collision

As a result, regardless of the circumstances involved, if you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident, it will be worth talking to a lawyer about the legal options you have available. Trucking companies can be held liable for serious and fatal accidents under a wide range of circumstances, and accident victims and their families will often be entitled to significant financial compensation. 

Speak with a Rogers Truck Accident Attorney for FREE

Do you need to know more about filing a claim for a truck accident in Arkansas? If so, we encourage you to contact us today. Oliver Law Firm is committed to helping accident victims move forward after a serious injury. Depending on the details of your situation, you may be eligible to recover damages for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. 

Contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. We serve clients throughout Arkansas and across the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post Can a Trucking Company Be Liable for Negligent Hiring or Supervision? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

This makes it critical to conduct a comprehensive investigation after any car accident resulting in serious or fatal injuries. If a vehicle defect is to blame—or partially to blame—for your injuries or your loved one’s death, not only might you be able to sue the vehicle’s manufacturer, but you may need to sue the vehicle’s manufacturer in order to seek just compensation. 

Common Vehicle Defects that Can Cause Car Accidents

Several types of vehicle defects can cause serious and fatal car accidents. While vehicle manufacturers are required to ensure that their cars are safe for the road, the unfortunate reality is that many manufacturers fail to do the testing that is required. 

Why? In most cases, they are simply prioritizing their profits over their customers’ (and other motorists’) safety. Rather than focusing on safety, they prioritize getting their latest models onto dealers’ lots as quickly as possible. Far too often, this approach leads to cars being sold with defective components such as:

• Brake calipers, pads, and rotors
• Engine and transmission components
• Electrical system components 
• Sensors and other self-driving technology 
• Tires (including tires that are prone to exploding or de-beading)

If any of these components are defective, a failure can cause a sudden and unexpected loss of control. This can either cause an accident on its own, or it can contribute to causing an accident in which driver negligence or other factors were also involved. 

Common Vehicle Defects that Can Cause Accident-Related Injuries

Along with defects that can cause accidents, manufacturers also frequently sell vehicles with defects that can cause accident-related injuries. Some examples defective components that can increase the risks of being involved in a serious accident include:

• Airbags (including airbags that are prone to exploding during deployment)
• Crash sensors that trigger airbags to deploy
• Switches that disengage (or are supposed to disengage) airbags when a light passenger is detected
• Seatbelts, buckles, and other safety components 
• Glass, plastics, metals, and other materials that do not meet safety standards

If a vehicle defect is to blame for an accident victim’s injuries—or if a vehicle defect is to blame for the severity of an accident victim’s injuries—this can provide clear grounds to pursue a claim against the manufacturer. This is true even if the defect did not play a role in causing the collision. 

It is also worth noting that, in many cases, vehicle manufacturers buy components like airbags and seatbelts from other companies. If you or a loved one suffered injuries related to a defective component manufactured by a third-party supplier, both this third-party supplier and the vehicle manufacturer could be liable under Arkansas law. 

Seeking Liability for a Vehicle Defect in Arkansas 

While vehicle defects can provide clear grounds for car accident victims and their families to seek just compensation, seeking just compensation in these cases presents some unique challenges. For example, proving that a vehicle component was defective may require testing or other forms of analysis. It may be necessary to obtain the manufacturer’s internal records as well; and, when facing substantial liability, manufacturers will often fight to avoid disclosing any documents that victims or family members can use against them. 

In cases involving vehicle defects, Arkansas’s “joint and several liability” law also comes into play. Under, this law, vehicle manufacturers (and other parties) are only responsible for the percentage of a victim’s or family’s losses resulting from their percentage of liability. For example, if a negligent driver and a vehicle defect are equally to blame for a car accident victim’s losses, the victim will need to pursue claims against the negligent driver and the manufacturer in order to seek full compensation. 

This is one of several reasons why it’s important to have an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. If you have a claim for a car accident involving a vehicle defect, an experienced lawyer will be able to assist with gathering all of the evidence needed to seek the full compensation you deserve. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Rogers Car Accident Lawyer Today 

Do you have questions about seeking liability for a car accident involving a vehicle defect in Arkansas? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. 

Contact the Rogers car accident lawyers at Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. Our attorneys proudly serve clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post Can Vehicle Defects Contribute to Car Accident Liability? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

If you have been injured in a wide turn truck accident, can (and should) you sue?

In many cases, the answer is a clear “Yes.” When truck drivers make mistakes behind the wheel, they (and their employers) can generally be held accountable. But, in order to sue, you will need evidence that the truck driver made a mistake, and this makes it important to conduct a comprehensive investigation as soon as possible. 

Determining if You Can Sue for a Wide Turn Truck Accident Involving a Commercial Truck 

In cases involving wide turn truck accidents, various forms of truck driver negligence may be to blame. But, in order to seek just compensation, you must be able to prove the specific form of negligence that is responsible for your accident-related losses. With this in mind, some examples of potential causes of truck accidents involving wide turns include:

• Failing to Make a Wide Enough Turn – Many wide turn truck accidents happen because the truck driver fails to make a wide enough turn. When this happens, other vehicles can get pinned inside of the truck’s turning radius, or vehicles waiting at the intersection can get hit by the truck head-on when it runs out of room to complete the turn safely. 
• Failing to Signal Properly – When commercial truck drivers need room to make wide turns, they need to signal appropriately. If a truck driver fails to signal a wide turn properly, this can cause unsuspecting drivers to pull up alongside the truck and get stuck with no way to avoid being hit. 
• Failing to Check for Other Vehicles – Along with failing to signal properly, failing to check for other vehicles is a common cause of wide turn truck accidents as well. Far too often, truck drivers assume that no other vehicles are there, or that any other drivers will get out of their way. 
• Going Too Fast or Making Too Wide a Turn – When a truck driver approaches a wide turn too fast, the truck’s momentum can carry it into vehicles waiting at the intersection. Likewise, if a truck driver makes too wide a turn, this can also leave other drivers helpless to avoid a serious collision. 
• Running a Red Light or Stop Sign – Running red lights and stop signs are common causes of many types of commercial truck accidents—wide turn truck accidents included. If a truck driver attempts to make a wide turn without the right of way, this can also leave law-abiding drivers helpless to protect themselves from serious accident-related injuries. 

If any of these (or any other) truck driving mistakes are to blame for your wide turn truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation under Arkansas law. Once you hire an experienced truck accident lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to conduct a thorough investigation focused on proving the specific mistake that is to blame for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. 

Suing for a Wide Turn Truck Accident in Arkansas

Regardless of the specific issue that is to blame for your losses, you will need comprehensive evidence of liability. You will also need evidence of the losses (past, present, and future) you are entitled to recover. 

This evidence can take many different forms, and it can be available from many different sources. For example, when it comes to proving liability for a wide turn truck accident, the types of evidence you may need include:

• The truck driver’s employment records and driving log
• The truck driver’s cell phone records
• The trucking company’s maintenance records and other internal documents 
• Forensic evidence from the accident scene
• Traffic or surveillance camera footage 

Proving your accident-related losses will require your medical records, employment records, and various other forms of documentation as well. Given that this is the case—and given that you could be facing substantial losses as a result of your accident—we strongly recommend that you discuss your situation with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. 

Discuss Your Wide Turn Truck Accident Case with a Rogers Truck Accident Lawyer for Free

At Oliver Law Firm, our Arkansas truck accident lawyers have extensive experience representing truck accident victims and their families. We have the knowledge, skill, and resources needed to take on the difficult and complex cases. If you need help after a wide turn truck accident, we encourage you to contact us today. 

Contact Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. We serve clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.

The post Can You Sue for a Wide Turn Truck Accident? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.

Why? When you have a car accident claim, there are several important ways an experienced lawyer can help you. Most car accident victims do not have all of the information they need to seek full financial compensation, and the insurance companies use this to their advantage.

At Oliver Law Firm, our car accident lawyers know the tactics insurance companies use to try to pay less than you deserve. We fight for maximum compensation, leaving no money on the table.

For a FREE consultation, call Oliver Law Firm at (479) 202-5200 today. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Rogers and all of Northwest Arkansas.

5 Important Ways a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You in Arkansas

Were you seriously injured in a car accident in Arkansas? If so, here are five important ways an experienced car accident lawyer can help you:

1. Proving that You Are Entitled to Financial Compensation

Filing a successful claim requires proof of why the crash happened. While every case is unique, gathering the evidence needed to prove the cause of a car accident commonly involves:

• Conducting an on-scene forensic investigation
• Examining each of the vehicles involved in the accident
• Talking to eyewitnesses and obtaining traffic or surveillance camera footage
• Reviewing the police report (and correcting the police report if necessary)
• Obtaining phone records and other documentation

All of these steps require experienced legal representation. If you don’t have an experienced lawyer on your side, you might not be able to prove that you are entitled to financial compensation.

2. Dealing with Any Allegations of Partial Fault

Along with proving the cause of the car accident, you will also need to be prepared to deal with allegations of partial fault. If the other driver’s insurance company accuses you of being partially at fault, this could prevent you from recovering the full compensation you deserve. Even more importantly, if they accuse you of being primarily at fault, you could end up without any financial compensation for your accident-related losses (see Arkansas Code § 16-64-122).

3. Documenting Your Present and Future Out-of-Pocket Costs

As we said above, the costs associated with a car accident can add up quickly. They can also continue adding up for a long time after — potentially for the rest of your life.

It is critical to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the out-of-pocket costs you are entitled to recover. If you don’t know how much you deserve for your present and future medical costs, lost earnings, and other economic damages, you won’t be able to seek the full compensation you need and deserve.

4. Documenting the Non-Financial Costs of Your Car Accident

Along with your out-of-pocket costs, you may be entitled to compensation for non-economic damages as well. These include losses such as pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, emotional trauma, and more.

Victims often don’t know about these damages. A car accident lawyer in Arkansas can help you seek the full compensation you deserve. This requires comprehensive documentation of the current and future non-financial consequences you are likely to endure.

5. Negotiating on Your Behalf and Helping You Decide Whether to Settle

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to successfully resolve a car accident claim in Arkansas:

1. You can negotiate a favorable settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
   OR
2. You can fight for a favorable verdict at trial.

When you hire an experienced car accident lawyer to represent you, you do not have to handle settlement negotiations on your own. This often results in a higher settlement than you could achieve by yourself.

A knowledgeable attorney will use the available evidence to seek a settlement that reflects the severity of your injuries. If a settlement offer is on the table, your lawyer will be able to help you decide whether to accept or keep fighting for more.

If you decide to keep fighting for more, it is vital to have a trial attorney represent you in court. Preparing for trial is a complex process, and there are high-risk pitfalls every step of the way.

An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to help protect your legal rights while continuing to work toward a favorable settlement). If your case ultimately goes to trial, your lawyer will advocate for the maximum award.

Schedule a FREE Consultation with an Arkansas Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you are wondering whether you should hire a lawyer after a car accident in Arkansas, we strongly encourage you to schedule a free consultation before you make any decisions. Oliver Law Firm brings decades of experience to every claim.

You can expect us to deliver the highest caliber of client service at every turn. This means we collect evidence, fully document all damages, and design a winning strategy for your case. Whether we negotiate a fair settlement or have to go trial, our team will be ready and committed to achieving a successful outcome.

To speak with an experienced car accident lawyer about your case in confidence, call Oliver Law Firm at (479) 202-5200 today. Our firm is based in Rogers, and we serve clients in Bentonville and other Northwest Arkansas communities.

The post What Can a Car Accident Lawyer Do for Me? appeared first on Oliver Law Firm.