What to Do Immediately After a Truck Accident in Montana?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks were involved in nearly 168,000 injury crashes across the United States in a single recent year. In Montana, truck accidents are especially dangerous given the state’s rural highways and heavy freight traffic. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Billings truck accident, you should immediately contact a Billings truck accident lawyer to protect your legal rights.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents
The average large commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs around 3,000 pounds, according to the FMCSA. Occupants of a passenger vehicle are significantly more likely to suffer serious injuries or fatalities in a crash involving semi trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, dump trucks, or other commercial vehicles. Catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are common outcomes.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Billings Truck Accident
The actions you take in the moments and hours after a Billings truck accident can directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Below are the most important steps to follow.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Your first priority after any crash involving large commercial vehicles is your health. Seek medical care immediately, even if you feel fine, since injuries like traumatic brain injuries often have delayed symptoms. An emergency room visit or a doctor’s report can have a significant impact on your truck accident claim, establishing a medical record.
Document the Accident Scene and Preserve Evidence
If you are physically able, preserve evidence by photographing the vehicles, the road conditions, any cargo spillage, and your injuries. Gathering evidence from the scene is one of the most important steps you can take to support your personal injury case.
Witness contact information, police report numbers, and photos of skid marks or poorly maintained brakes can all be crucial evidence. Time-sensitive evidence can disappear quickly after truck accidents, so act fast.
Avoid Talking to Insurance Adjusters Alone
Do not give recorded statements or discuss the crash involving your case with any insurer before speaking with a personal injury attorney. Insurance companies and insurance adjusters often try to minimize payouts, and anything you say can be used against you.
Trucking insurance policies often start at $1 to $3 million, creating a strong incentive for insurers to limit what they pay out. A qualified billings truck accident attorney can handle all communications and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.
Who Is Liable After a Montana Truck Accident?
Identifying all responsible parties in a truck accident case is crucial. Truck accidents involve complex liability that may extend well beyond just the truck driver.
Multiple Parties Can Be Held Accountable
In truck accident cases, the motor carrier, a maintenance company, cargo loaders, and parts manufacturers can all be held liable alongside the truck driver. Negligent hiring by a trucking company, fatigued driving, distracted driving, other mechanical failures, or electronic data showing hours-of-service violations may each play a role.
Montana’s Comparative Negligence Rule and Filing Deadlines
You can still recover damages even if you are partially at fault for the accident, as long as your percentage of fault is less than 51%. This modified comparative negligence rule means that even injured parties who share some blame may still be entitled to full compensation. Montana state law also gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
In a Montana truck accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, medical expenses, lost wages, lost income, future earning capacity, property damage, and emotional distress. The vast majority of personal injury claims settle before trial, but truck accident attorneys who are prepared to litigate often secure significantly better settlements from insurance companies.
Our legal team has recovered millions for victims of truck accidents across Montana. We handle most personal injury claims, including injury cases arising from commercial trucks and other large commercial vehicles, on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Why You Need a Billings Truck Accident Lawyer
A Billings truck accident attorney understands both Montana law and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The attorney secures electronic data from the truck’s black box (ECM), driver logbooks, and maintenance records from the trucking company before they are deleted. This critical evidence, combined with a thorough investigation, can make all the difference in your personal injury case.
A local personal injury attorney familiar with Billings courts can travel to the accident scene quickly and build a strong case tailored to local conditions. Look for a billings truck accident attorney with a proven track record in truck accidents specifically, not just car accidents.
Contact a Billings Truck Accident Attorney Today
A truck accident can disrupt every aspect of your life, leading to fatal injuries or serious injuries, overwhelming stress, and mounting medical bills. You should not have to navigate the legal process alone while trying to recover.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a Billings truck accident, contact our truck accident attorneys today. We offer a free consultation and explain your rights. Personal injury case fees are handled on a contingency basis, meaning there is no financial risk to you.
