Ark. Code Ann. § 23-12-503: Liability for injury or death of employee generally

Every common carrier by railroad in this state shall be liable for all damages to any person suffering injury while he or she is employed by the carrier or, in case of the death of the employee, to his or her personal or legal representative, for the benefit of the surviving widow or husband and children of the employee; if none, then to the employee's parents; if none, then to the next of kin of the employee, for the injury or death resulting in whole or in part:

(1) From the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of the carrier;

(2) By reason of any insufficiency of clearance of obstructions; of strength of roadbed and tracks or structures, or machinery and equipment; of lights and signals in switching and terminal yards, or rules; and of number of employees to perform the particular duties with safety to themselves and their co-employees, or of any other insufficiency; or

(3) By reason of any defect, which defect is due to its negligence in its cars, engines, motors, appliances, machinery, tracks, roadbeds, boats, works, wharves, or other equipment.