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.