Montana Truck Accident Attorneys

Montana Truck Accident Attorneys

Anytime you drive on a highway in Montana, it is likely you will encounter several large commercial trucks crossing through the state or making deliveries in the state. While these commercial vehicles serve an important purpose, they create a heightened risk of severe injuries in the event of a crash.

Montana Trucking Laws

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)¹ is in charge of enforcing both federal and state regulations that apply to commercial motor carriers. When truck drivers and companies follow these regulations regarding licensing, permits, inspections, traffic safety rules, and more, they keep everyone else on the roads in Montana safe. However, violations of these regulations can lead to serious accidents and can cause life-changing injuries for motorists.

Types of Commercial Truck Collisions

While all types of crashes can cause severe injuries and even death, there are certain types of accidents unique to commercial trucks that can be particularly dangerous. These are as follows:

• Jackknife – A variety of circumstances can cause a trailer to swing out to the side, causing the driver to lose control and often resulting in a runaway truck that can cover multiple lanes and take out anything in its path.
• Override – If a truck crashes into the back of a smaller car, the higher clearance of the truck may cause it to drive on top of the car, crushing the back of the vehicle and often seriously injuring back passengers.
• Underride – If a truck stops suddenly or cuts off a driver and the car crashes into the back of the truck, a small car may drive under the trailer, possibly crashing through the windshield and dragging the car for a distance.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes

Truck drivers can make errors like any other driver, however their errors can often result in particularly serious harm and damage. Some examples of causes of truck crashes include:

• Distracted driving, including texting or cell phone use
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Aggressive driving or bullying other drivers
• Not properly inspecting the truck before driving
• Driving while fatigued

In addition to drivers, trucking companies can also be negligent in the way they hire and manage drivers, as well a maintain the trucks in their fleets. Such negligence can also commonly lead to truck accidents.

Post-Truck Accident Checklist

Following a truck crash, it is only natural to be disoriented. However, if you remember to take certain steps, you can preserve your chances of holding any negligent parties responsible. First, a medical exam is crucial to proving the nature and severity of your injuries, as well as proving that your injuries were caused by the crash. In addition, any notes or pictures you take can take can help you remember exactly what happened. Finally, always wait for police to arrive on the scene if possible so that your account is heard and reported.

Why Hire an Attorney for Your Truck Accident Case

Trucking companies recognize that their industry is dangerous and, therefore, they have resources to avoid liability. When filing a claim with a trucking company’s insurance company or against the company in court, the help of an attorney with extensive truck accident experience is critical to your success in obtaining financial recovery for your losses.

¹http://www.mdt.mt.gov/business/mcs/