On January 18th, 2022, around 8 p.m., an Arkansas Department of Transportation construction worker was struck by a vehicle and fatally injured.

The worker, 69-year-old Winfred Petty, was putting up road closure signs on Interstate 30 near Scott Hamilton Drive when he was struck. The vehicle that struck him has yet to be found but is believed to be a black SUV. Arkansas State Police are still trying to find the vehicle and driver.

After he was struck, Petty was taken by MedFlight to the nearest hospital. Westbound lanes of I-40 were closed temporarily while medics tried to help Petty. Unfortunately, Petty died from injuries.

Petty is just one of many ARDOT workers who’ve been killed in work zones. Less than two months before, 28-year-old ARDOT employee Kurt Cottier was hit and killed in a construction zone on the same interstate near Morrilton. That’s not all; statistics show that work zone accidents in Arkansas have increased by 70% over the last four years.

Have you lost a loved one in a work zone accident? Have you been injured in a pedestrian or biking collision? Minton Law Firm understands just how catastrophic these accidents can be — and also knows that insurance companies do not always compensate properly. Our lead attorney, Justin Minton, has experience as an insurance adjuster, and he understands how devastating a deadly collision can be to a family. He also understands the tactics insurance providers employ to try to limit what they pay to workers and victims.

If you’re fighting a work zone accident or pedestrian incident claim in the Little Rock area, call the Minton Law Firm at (501) 794-0001 or fill out an online form to set up a free consultation. You can also like and follow the Minton Law Facebook page for more updates.

On January 13th, 2022, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on I-40 East near the Lonoke County line. 

The incident happened around 3:05 a.m., when a 2004 Kenworth truck, headed east on I-140, hit a man running across the interstate.

The victim, 43-year-old Billy Daugherty of Statesville, North Carolina, was pronounced dead at the scene. Arkansas State Police reported the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time of each crash.

It is unclear why Daughtery was crossing the road at that time, or if the driver of the tractor-trailer was distracted.

Across the country, there are tens of thousands of accidents involving large trucks each year, although ones involving pedestrians are more uncommon. This pedestrian-truck accident shows that these accidents can even happen on high-speed roadways, and even in perfect weather. For families affected by accidents involving large tractor-trailers, though, it’s important to find justice.

Injury attorney Justin Minton has experience as an insurance adjuster, and he understands trucking companies and their insurance providers. If you have been involved in a trucking accident in Little Rock or the surrounding areas, or you’ve lost a loved one in one, call the Minton Law Firm at 501-794-0001. You can also fill out an online form to set up a free consultation. Want more insights and updates like this one? Like and follow the Minton Law Facebook page for more updates.