Pedestrian and Bicycle Injuries in Arkansas: What to Do After Being Hit Near Campus, Trails, or Busy Corridors
You were walking across a crosswalk near the University of Arkansas, riding the Fayetteville Traverse Trail, or crossing Dickson Street when a car hit you. In the minutes right after a crash like this, your body runs on adrenaline, and even simple decisions feel hard.
The steps you take after a pedestrian or bicycle accident can help you obtain fair compensation after a crash. That compensation can go towards medical bills, lost wages, and helping you get your life back on track.
Then talk to a personal injury lawyer in Fayetteville before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company. At Entz Law Arkansas Family & Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys help pedestrians and cyclists across Fayetteville hold at-fault drivers accountable. Call 479-251-8635 or fill out our confidential contact form to talk about what happened.
Why These Crashes Happen So Often Near Campus
The University of Arkansas sits in the middle of Fayetteville, and that mix of students, cars, and narrow streets creates real risk. University police records show more than 20 pedestrian accidents at campus crosswalks since 2014, with seven in a single year (KNWA).
The problem is not limited to campus. Dickson Street, Garland Avenue, and the College Avenue and Wedington Drive corridors carry heavy foot and bike traffic alongside fast-moving vehicle lanes.
Cyclists also share the Fayetteville Traverse, an 18-mile natural-surface trail loop connecting campus to Kessler Mountain Regional Park (University of Arkansas), where trail crossings meet city streets at several points.
Who Is at Fault When a Pedestrian or Cyclist Gets Hit
Arkansas law gives pedestrians the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and drivers must yield or stop to let them cross. Step outside a crosswalk, though, and a pedestrian generally owes the right of way to approaching traffic instead.
Cyclists get similar protection under state law, which treats a person riding a bicycle as having the same rights and duties as a driver, and requires motorists to leave at least three feet of space when passing. None of this makes fault automatic either way.
Every crash still comes down to what each side actually did in the moments before impact, and we see this pattern in nearly every bicycle accident case that starts on a shared trail or busy corridor.
Comparative Fault Will Not Necessarily Sink Your Claim
Arkansas follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you were less than fifty percent at fault for the crash, you can still recover compensation, reduced by your share of the blame. If you were fifty percent or more at fault, state law bars recovery entirely.
Insurance adjusters often try to shift blame onto the pedestrian or cyclist early, before the full picture is clear, which is exactly why a personal injury attorney wants to see your documentation from the scene as soon as possible.
What to Do in the First 24 Hours
- Call 911 and get checked by paramedics or at an emergency room, even if you feel fine
- Get the police report number and the responding officer’s name
- Photograph the scene, the vehicle, your injuries, and any crosswalk signals or skid marks
- Collect contact and insurance information from the driver and any witnesses nearby
- Hold off on posting about the crash on social media before speaking with a lawyer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still have a case if I was not in a marked crosswalk?
Often, yes. Being outside a crosswalk can shift some fault onto you, but under Arkansas’s comparative fault rule you can still recover damages as long as your share of the fault stays under fifty percent.
How long do I have to file a claim in Arkansas?
State law gives you three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, though insurance companies often set their own, much shorter deadlines for reporting a claim, so do not wait to get help.
What if the driver left the scene?
Hit-and-run crashes happen more often near busy corridors than most people expect. Report it immediately and ask about uninsured motorist coverage, which can apply even when the at-fault driver is never identified.
What to Do Next
- Save every medical bill, discharge summary, and mileage log tied to your treatment
- Do not sign anything from an insurance company until it has been reviewed
- Call or text a Fayetteville personal injury lawyer for a free consultation before giving a recorded statement
- Have your police report number ready when you reach out; it speeds up our review
Contact Our Fayetteville Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Attorneys
If you or someone you love was hit while walking or biking in Fayetteville, do not deal with the insurance company alone. Entz Law Arkansas Family & Injury Lawyers, a Fayetteville personal injury law firm serving Northwest Arkansas, is ready to help.
Call 479-251-8635 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.
Tyler Entz is the founder and lead attorney at Entz Law Arkansas Family & Injury Lawyers, where he focuses on family law and personal injury law matters across Arkansas, with a primary emphasis on Northwest Arkansas and the Fayetteville area. He is committed to guiding clients through high-stakes, deeply personal legal issues with clear communication, practical strategy, and steady advocacy. Learn more here.