Arkansas Car Accident Laws: Your Legal Duty After an Accident

Understand your legal duties and responsibilities after an Arkansas car accident, including what info to give and when to call the police.

Car accidents are an unexpected and unfortunate part of driving. When they occur, it is critical you know your duties and rights. In Arkansas, drivers must fulfill certain obligations following a crash. Knowing what to do will help you avoid serious financial and legal complications.

Keep reading for more details about a driver’s duties after a car crash in Arkansas. You can also check out Chapter 53 of the Arkansas Motor Vehicular Traffic Code to learn more.

1. Arkansas Driver Exchange of Information Law

Following an Arkansas car accident, drivers are required to exchange some personal details. If the accident causes injury or vehicular damage, you must immediately stop your vehicle at the scene. You must also provide your name, address, and vehicle registration number to the other driver. If asked, you must also produce your driver’s license.

If the accident results in injury or death, you must remain at the scene for a reasonable amount of time if you know someone has contacted the police.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle shall give his or her name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving.

Upon request and if available, the driver shall exhibit his or her driver’s license or commercial driver’s license.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle shall remain at the scene of the accident for a reasonable time in order to be present if the driver knows that a law enforcement agency was contacted for assistance.

AR Code § 27-53-103

The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in physical injury or serious physical injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible to the scene of the accident, but shall then immediately return to and remain at the scene of the accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of § 27-53-103.

AR Code § 27-53-101

2. Arkansas Car Accident Injury Law: Duty to Render Aid

If you are driving a car involved in an Arkansas traffic accident, you have a duty to assist anyone injured during the crash. You can fulfill your responsibility by rendering aid to the injured person, transporting them to receive medical attention, or calling an ambulance or other transportation to a medical facility.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the transporting, or the making of arrangements for the transporting, of the person for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if transporting is requested by the injured person.

AR Code § 27-53-103

3. Arkansas Law on Reporting a Car Accident to Police

When you are in a crash that results in someone getting hurt or killed, or causes at least $1,000 in apparent property damage, Arkansas law requires you to contact the police. You must report the accident to the nearest local law enforcement agency as soon as you can and cooperate with any police investigation.

You are also required to call law enforcement if you are a passenger in a car that gets in an accident and the driver cannot report the crash.

The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more shall notify the nearest law enforcement agency immediately. All persons involved in the accident shall make themselves readily available to the investigating agency’s officer or officers.

AR Code § 27-53-202

Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of reporting an accident and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making a report, the occupant shall make or cause to be made the report.

AR Code § 27-53-203

What if I Fail to Report an Accident in Arkansas?

If you fail to report a crash that you are legally obligated to report to the police, you can face a fine of between $100 and $1,000. Further, Arkansas can also revoke your driver’s license if your failure to report is deliberate. These punishments also apply to passengers failing to report a crash if the driver is incapacitated.

Any person who fails or refuses to comply with § 27-53-202 or § 27-53-203 shall be punished upon a conviction in the county where the accident occurred by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

For willful refusal to comply with § 27-53-202 or § 27-53-203, the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration shall revoke the driver’s license or commercial driver’s license of the person so convicted.

AR Code § 27-53-201

4. Arkansas Car Accidents With No Injuries: Your Legal Duty

After an accident in Arkansas that only results in property damage, first, you must immediately stop and ensure your car does not block traffic.

You must also remain at the crash scene to exchange information with other drivers and wait for law enforcement. Arkansas law requires drivers to swap their names, addresses, and vehicle registration numbers. If asked, you also must display your driver’s license.

The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle or to the personal property of another person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible, and shall immediately return to and remain at the scene of the accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of § 27-53-103.

Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. The driver shall remove his or her vehicle from the roadway, except that the driver may leave the vehicle in the roadway if the vehicle is disabled or there is a visible or apparent injury to a person.

AR Code § 27-53-102

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle shall give his or her name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving.

Upon request and if available, the driver shall exhibit his or her driver’s license or commercial driver’s license.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle shall remain at the scene of the accident for a reasonable time in order to be present if the driver knows that a law enforcement agency was contacted for assistance.

AR Code § 27-53-103

5. What if I Hit a Parked Car in Arkansas?

Arkansas law requires drivers who hit a parked car to either find the car’s owner or leave a note. The note must include your name, address, and contact information, and you must place it somewhere the car’s owner can easily find. If you can locate the owner, you do not need to leave a note, but you still must give the owner your name and address.

The driver of a vehicle which collides with another vehicle that is unattended shall immediately stop and either locate and notify the operator or owner of the vehicle of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name, address, and contact information of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle and a statement of the circumstances thereof.

AR Code § 27-53-104

Following Arkansas law after a car accident can help you avoid fines, losing your license, or going to jail. Make sure you are aware of your legal duties so you are prepared when an unforeseen crash occurs.