Arkansas at a glance
Arkansas applies a three-year statute of limitations to negligence actions.[1] An injured person can recover only if their fault is less than the fault of the party they are suing.[2] Drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage.[3]
Filing deadlines
Grumbles v. Conway Regional Medical Center (Ark. App. 2024)
Under Arkansas Code Annotated section 16-56-105 (Repl. 2005), the statute of limitations for negligence actions is three years.
Source: [1]
In plain English, most negligence-based injury lawsuits in Arkansas must be filed within three years.[1]
Shared fault
Ark. Code § 16-64-122(b)
If the fault chargeable to a party claiming damages is of a lesser degree than the fault chargeable to the party or parties from whom the claiming party seeks to recover damages, then the claiming party is entitled to recover the amount of his or her damages after they have been diminished in proportion to the degree of his or her own fault.
Source: [2]
This is modified comparative fault, often called the 50% bar. An injured person whose fault is less than the parties the statute compares them to can recover damages reduced by their share; at 50% or more, recovery is barred.
Auto insurance requirements
Ark. Code § 27-19-605 requires coverage of “not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury or death of one (1) person in any one (1) accident” and “not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of bodily injury or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident,” plus $25,000 for property damage.[3] Arkansas is not one of the no-fault states.[4]
What this page does not cover
This page covers the main deadlines, fault rule, damage limits and auto insurance requirements. Statutes also contain exceptions, such as rules for minors, people who are incapacitated and claims discovered later, and special rules apply to medical malpractice and workers’ compensation. Always read the full statute at the official source linked below.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a head injury lawsuit in Arkansas?
In plain English, most negligence-based injury lawsuits in Arkansas must be filed within three years.[1]
This page provides general information about the law from the sources listed below. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by state and change over time. See our legal disclaimer.
Sources
- Grumbles v. Conway Regional Medical Center, 2024 Ark. App. 354. Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/arkansas/court-of-appeals/2024/cv-22-261.html
- Ark. Code § 16-64-122. Justia. https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-64/section-16-64-122/
- Arkansas Act 345 of 2025 (Ark. Code § 27-19-605). Arkansas Legislature. https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=/ACTS/2025R/Public/&file=345.pdf
- Insurance Information Institute. “Background on: No-fault auto insurance.” https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance
Sources last checked: October 11, 2026
