Arkansas filing deadlines
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | 3 years |
| Vehicle and property damage | 3 years |
| Wrongful death | 3 years |
16-56-105 does not name personal injury expressly; Vehicle damage: 'taking or injuring any goods or chattels' (3 years).
If you were partly at fault
Arkansas follows modified comparative negligence, 50% bar. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were at least as much at fault as the other side (50% or more).
- With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
- With 55% of the fault, you would recover $0, because the rule bars your claim.
Recovery only if plaintiff's fault is less than defendants'; barred at 50%. Damages diminished by plaintiff's share.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. 16-64-122(b). Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.
At-fault (tort) state
In Arkansas the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.
Add-on state: every private passenger auto policy must include PIP-type benefits unless the named insured rejects them in writing (23-89-203(a): 'The named insured shall have the right to reject in writing'). No restriction on suing.
Minimum car insurance in Arkansas
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional or can be rejected in writing.
Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person.
Damage caps
Arkansas does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases.
A 2018 legislative amendment (Issue 1) to allow caps was removed from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Dog bite law
One-bite rule (no strict liability statute). No Arkansas statute imposing strict civil liability for dog bites was identified; liability follows common law (owner knew or should have known of the dog's dangerous propensity) or negligence.
Source: . Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Arkansas?
3 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 3 years for vehicle damage (Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105; Ark. Code Ann. 16-62-102(c)(1)). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.
Is Arkansas a no-fault state?
No. Arkansas is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.
What happens if I was partly at fault in Arkansas?
Arkansas follows modified comparative negligence, 50% bar (Ark. Code Ann. 16-64-122(b)). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were at least as much at fault as the other side (50% or more).
What is the minimum car insurance in Arkansas?
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).
Does Arkansas cap pain and suffering damages?
Not in ordinary car accident cases. A 2018 legislative amendment (Issue 1) to allow caps was removed from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Sources
Checked against official Arkansas sources November 5, 2026.
- Arkansas statute of limitations: Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105; Ark. Code Ann. 16-62-102(c)(1)
- Arkansas comparative fault: Ark. Code Ann. 16-64-122(b)
- Arkansas insurance system: Ark. Code Ann. 23-89-202; 23-89-203(a)
- Arkansas minimum liability insurance: Ark. Code Ann. 27-22-104(b); UM: 23-89-403(a)
- Arkansas damage caps: Ark. Const. art. 5, sec. 32; Ark. Code Ann. 16-55-208