The National Safety Council recently announced new findings regarding cell phone use and driving. NSC states that every year at least 1.6 million car accidents are caused by cell phone use. This number was previously thought to be far less, or no more than 600,000 accidents caused by cell phones.
"We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. "We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use causes many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text," she said. "That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads."
The NSC advocates a total ban on cell phone use while driving. It says that its study was based in part on statistics from from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and from peer-reviewed research that quantifies the risk of using a cell phone and texting while driving.
Although we at Gregg, Farris & Bumpers cannot state that 25% of the accident cases we handle are caused by cell phone use, we can state that we have noticed a measurable increase in the cases we handle where there is an allegation that the other driver was either talking on the cell phone or texting while driving.
If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident and believe the other driver was using a cell phone at the time, you should speak to an attorney. Usually the time is limited to collect and/or subpoena cell phone records to verify that the at-fault driver was using a cell phone. The fact of cell phone use is also a very important factor to use when attempting to settle the claim for maximum value. Gregg, Farris & Bumpers has had good success at using the fact of cell phone usage as an aggravating factor to achieve an excellent recovery for our clients.

Arkansas law requires all drivers to use “ordinary care.” Arkansas law requires drivers for common carriers, such as taxi cabs, to use a “high degree of care.” Failure to use “ordinary care,” or a “high degree of care” when applicable, is negligence.
1. If a driver is negligent and causes injuries to another person, Arkansas law imposes responsibility for the harm caused by the negligence. The driver causing the wreck is responsible for paying the injured person for all out of pocket expenses, such as medical bills, repairs to the car, and lost wages. More importantly, drivers and passengers often sustain life-altering injuries. Arkansas law imposes responsibility to compensate an injured driver or passenger for the pain and suffering caused by these serious injuries.
If you have been involved in a car or truck wreck or crash that was caused by the negligence of another driver, then the law provides that the other driver should provide you with compensation for the harm they caused.
If you need a car wreck or truck wreck lawyer because you are seriously injured due to the fault of another driver, the attorneys at Gregg, Farris & Bumpers will represent you in the fight for the accountability and responsibility that the law imposes on the driver at fault.

Reasons to Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

1. EXPERIENCE ASSESSING CLAIMS. Personal injury attorneys are experienced with cases like yours and can tell you at the outset whether it is worth your while to pursue legal action. If you are unlikely to prevail, you will not need to incur the time and expense of preparing for litigation.
2. NO FEES IF YOU DON'T RECOVER. Most personal injury attorneys work for a contingency fee, which means that if you do not win your case, you will pay no attorneys' fees. You will, however, be responsible for certain expenses not directly related to professional fees, such as the fees doctors charge for reviewing your records or being interviewed.
3. RED TAPE. An experienced attorney can work through the maze of paperwork necessary to resolve your claim so that you can get on with your life.
4. INVESTIGATIVE TEAM. Experienced attorneys work with a team of investigators who have experience in specialized areas and will skillfully investigate the technical aspects of your case.
5. OBJECTIVITY. A personal injury attorney can be more objective about your case than you can and will not make a rash decision. Whereas you may be tempted, for instance, to go for a quick payout, your attorney may counsel you that it is in your best interests to wait for a more appropriate offer.
6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. An experienced attorney will know whether your dispute may be best resolved through mediation, thereby saving you time, money, and emotional energy.
7. EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH OTHER LAWYERS. An experienced personal injury lawyer can deal most effectively and expediently with opposing counsel.
8. EXPERIENCE WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES. Lawyers are also used to working with insurance companies and will not be confused by their tactics or feel pressured to settle for an unsatisfactory amount.
9. BEST SETTLEMENTS. Personal injury attorneys work hard to reach the best settlements for their clients, as early in the litigation process as possible.
10. BEST JURY VERDICTS. If a trial becomes necessary, a personal injury lawyer can zealously represent you in court and work toward achieving the best possible jury verdict in your favor.

Dealing With Auto Insurance
Auto insurance companies are shrewd and savvy. They will try anything to try to get out of paying a car accident claim, including a personal injury claim. An experienced auto accident lawyer knows how to deal with insurance companies and their adjusters. Many times claims adjusters try to pressure claimants to sign release agreements or waivers of future responsibilities for a quick upfront settlement of the car accident claim. They do this because they know people just want to get on with their lives after their auto accident and return to some sort of normalcy. The problem is that quick settlements can release the insurance company from paying what the car accident claim is really worth. They know that it potentially cost them a lot more down the road. It is very important that the claimant does not sign any type of release of responsibility for a quick settlement. This could greatly hamper any hope of recovery for damages in the future. Insurance companies will often ask you for a medical release authorization. Why do they want a medical release authorization? They need a signed authorization to access your medical records to find any sort of pre-existing injury or condition which might devalue your claim. The Offices of Gregg, Farris & Bumpers are prepared to help you with any and all of your personal injury questions. Call 24 hours a day – 1-800-364-1826.

Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
The short answer is...it depends. Let’s take a simple example: a car accident. If you just have property damage, it’s minimal, and you’re sure that all the people involved aren’t hurt – you can probably handle this one on your own. Most property damage settlements are fairly straightforward. If you just have a bruised knee, and your doctor says that you’re fine, you also probably don’t need an attorney. If, however, you have injuries with $3,000.00 in medical bills, it’s time to call an attorney. If your case is complicated by multiple parties with potential liability, it’s also time to call an attorney.Insurance adjusters are highly trained to make sure the insurance carrier keeps as much of its money as possible (and that you get as little as possible) for your injury or death claim. "Justice" is not the object of the game they are playing. If you or a friend or family member gets hurt, or worse, get a good lawyer early in the process. You have nothing to lose.

MARITAL PROPERTY IN ARKANSAS

At the time a divorce decree is entered, all marital property is to be distributed one-half to each party, unless the court finds such a division to be inequitable.

In that event, the court is to make some other division that the court deems equitable, taking into consideration several factors:

• the length of the marriage;
• the age, health, and station in life of the parties;
• the occupation of the parties;
• the amount and sources of income;
• all vocational skills;
• the parties’ employability;
• the size of the estate,
• all liabilities,
• the needs of each party
• the opportunity of each for further acquisition of capital assets and income;
• the contribution of each party in acquisition, preservation, or appreciation of marital property, including services as a homemaker;
• the federal income tax consequences of the court's division of property.
  

The definition of marital property excludes property acquired prior to marriage or by gift or by reason of the death of another, including, but not limited to, life insurance proceeds, payments made under a deferred compensation plan, or an individual retirement account, and property acquired by right of survivorship, by a trust distribution, by bequest or inheritance, or by a payable on death or a transfer on death arrangement,

The definition of marital property also excludes the increase in value of property acquired prior to marriage or by gift or by reason of the death of another.

The Attorneys of Gregg, Farris & Bumpers are highly skilled in the area of divorce and marital property distribution and are prepared to immediately help you with these matters. To schedule an appointment, call 24 hours a day - 1-800-364-1826.

CHILD SUPPORT IN ARKANSAS

In determining an appropriate amount of child support, courts are to refer to the family support chart contained in the Administrative Order of the Supreme Court Number 10. The family support chart provides a means of calculating child support based on the payor's net income. Administrative Order Number 10 defines income as any form of payment, periodic or otherwise, due to an individual, regardless of source, including:

• Wages,
• Salaries,
• Commissions,
• Bonuses,
• Workers' compensation,
• Disability,
• Payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program,
• Interest less proper deductions.
  

It is well established that this definition of income is broadly construed, intended to encompass the widest range of potential income sources. The administrative order also states that for self-employed payors, support is to be calculated based on the last two years' federal and state income tax returns and the quarterly estimates for the current year. Administrative Order 10 instructs that the court should also consider the amount the payor is capable of earning or a net worth approach based on property, life-style, etc.

The Offices of Gregg, Farris & Bumpers are prepared to help you with any and all of your child support matters. Call 24 hours a day – 1-800-364-1826.