Little Rock Courthouse Guide for Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury lawsuits in Little Rock are filed in the Pulaski County Circuit Court. Arkansas venue rules (Ark. Code § 16-60-101) generally require you to file in the county where the defendant resides or where the cause of action arose. If the accident happened in Little Rock or Pulaski County, you file at the Pulaski County Circuit Court.

The Pulaski County Circuit Court is located at 401 West Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201. The Clerk of Court can be reached at (501) 340-8500. Court clerks for civil filings are available at (501) 340-8431. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday. File your claim prior to 3:30 p.m.

If your accident occurred in a neighboring county, you may need to file elsewhere. Saline County (Benton) borders Pulaski County to the southwest. Lonoke County is to the east. Faulkner County (Conway) is to the north. Check your police report or accident location to confirm the correct jurisdiction.

Arkansas has a two-level trial court system: circuit courts handle civil cases exceeding $5,000, while district courts handle smaller matters and small claims. For personal injury cases, the circuit court is the primary venue.

Arkansas requires electronic filing for circuit court cases through the eFlex system at efilingarkcourts.arkansas.gov. Register for a free account, select Pulaski County Circuit Court, choose the case type (civil), upload your complaint, and pay the filing fee electronically.

Your complaint must comply with Arkansas's pleading requirements (Ark. R. Civ. P. 8). State the facts of the accident, identify each defendant, describe the legal basis for liability, and specify the nature and extent of your injuries and damages. Arkansas follows notice pleading — you must provide a short and plain statement of the claim showing that you are entitled to relief.

After filing, the court assigns a case number. You must serve each defendant with a summons and a copy of the complaint within 120 days of filing (Ark. R. Civ. P. 4(i)). Service can be made by the Pulaski County Sheriff, a private process server, or by certified mail with return receipt requested. The defendant has 30 days after service to file an answer.

For eFlex technical support, contact the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. The Pulaski County Clerk of Court can answer case-specific questions at (501) 340-8500. Court forms are available at arcourts.gov.

The civil filing fee for a personal injury lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court is $80, plus a $2.50 summons fee per defendant. Contact the Clerk of Court at (501) 340-8500 to confirm the current amount before filing.

Arkansas small claims court filing fees are $65 for claims of $5,000 or less. If your claim exceeds $5,000, you must file a regular civil action in circuit court with the higher filing fee.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Arkansas allows you to file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) to request a fee waiver. You must demonstrate financial hardship. Beyond the filing fee, expect additional costs: sheriff service fees (approximately $25 to $50), deposition transcript fees, and expert witness fees. Most personal injury attorneys in Little Rock work on contingency — they advance these costs and recover them from your settlement or verdict.

Arkansas small claims court handles civil disputes where the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less (Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 18). If your personal injury damages — medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering combined — exceed $5,000, you cannot use small claims and must file a regular civil action in circuit court.

Small claims is faster and more informal. Cases are typically heard within 30 to 60 days, the rules of evidence are relaxed, and attorneys are not allowed to represent small claimants in Arkansas. Decisions are made by a district court judge. Either party may appeal to circuit court for a trial de novo within 30 days of the judgment.

Most personal injury cases — even those involving a single emergency room visit and follow-up treatment — will exceed $5,000 in combined damages. If your damages are modest and clearly under $5,000, small claims is a cost-effective option with its $65 filing fee and faster resolution. For anything more serious, circuit court is the appropriate venue.

Arkansas offers online case search through the CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name to find filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. No registration is required for basic case searches.

The system covers all Arkansas counties, including Pulaski County. You can view scheduled hearings, filed documents, and case status. For personal injury cases, this is useful for tracking deadlines, monitoring motions filed by the opposing party, and confirming hearing dates.

If you cannot find your case online or need documents that are restricted from public view, contact the Pulaski County Clerk of Court at (501) 340-8500. The clerk's office can provide copies of filed documents for a per-page fee.

Since Arkansas mandates e-filing for circuit court cases, most of your interaction with the court will be electronic. However, you will need to appear at the Pulaski County Courthouse for hearings, pretrial conferences, mediations, and trial. The courthouse is located at 401 West Markham Street in downtown Little Rock.

When you arrive, expect security screening at the entrance. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms. No weapons are permitted. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing. Check with the clerk's office or the court's online docket to confirm your courtroom assignment.

Dress professionally — business casual at minimum. Address the judge as 'Your Honor.' If you are self-represented, the judge may explain procedures, but you are expected to follow the same rules as attorneys. Parking is available in nearby downtown Little Rock lots and metered street parking.

If your injury was caused by a state agency or employee, the Arkansas Claims Commission handles claims against the State of Arkansas. You must file a claim with the Claims Commission before filing a lawsuit. The Claims Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over claims against the state.

For claims against local government entities — the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, or other municipalities — different rules apply. Arkansas has limited sovereign immunity for local governments. Under Ark. Code § 21-9-301, municipal employees acting within the scope of their employment may be immune from liability, but the municipality itself may be liable for certain torts.

Government claims in Arkansas are complex and involve sovereign immunity doctrines that differ significantly from private lawsuits. If a government entity — a city-maintained road, a county vehicle, a state building — may have caused your injury, consult an attorney immediately to determine the proper process and preserve your rights before any deadlines pass.

If you were injured in Little Rock and you are considering filing a lawsuit, take our free 60-second Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Arkansas's filing deadline for your specific claim, whether your case would likely go through small claims or circuit court, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Filing a lawsuit is a big step — but understanding your options should not be. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.