Columbia Falls Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Attorney In Columbia Falls

Suffering an injury can be one of the most destabilizing events a person can go through. No one wants to be using their extra funds to pay for medical treatment, missed time from work, and the often-long recovery process. When that injury happens due to someone else’s mistake, it’s normal to feel angry. To seek justice, it’s vital to work with a Columbia Falls personal injury lawyer.

Why Choose Us?

For over 35 years, Bliven Law Firm, P.C., has been representing residents of Montana and Oregon in seeking compensation for their pain. Our team is composed of three highly skilled legal professionals. We know firsthand how devastating injuries can be for our clients. We offer initial consultations to those injured in Columbia Falls and the surrounding towns.

Columbia Falls Personal Injury Laws

Columbia Falls is an ideal place to live for nature lovers, with its close proximity to Glacier National Park. In a town of just 5,531 residents, this is a place where neighbors need to look out for one another. However, many people in Columbia Falls are living with a disability. Many of these disabilities result from accidents beyond the survivor’s control. Common types of personal injury incidents are:

• Car accidents. In 2023, there were 208 motor vehicle deaths in Montana. Survivors become just another statistic, and we forget the injuries they may be suffering through. Injuries from crashes can lead to permanent chronic pain or disability, which affects all aspects of a person’s life.
• Premises liability. These injuries happen on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, like wet floors, broken stairs, or poor lighting.
• Medical malpractice. When a medical professional fails to take the industry-level standard of care when treating you, you can file a claim to recover any damages that resulted.
• Workplace injury. In 2022, the top industries in Montana with fatal injury incidents were transportation, warehousing, retail trade, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting.
• Product liability. These injuries are caused by defective or dangerous products. Such items can include faulty machinery, unsafe consumer products, or food.
• Dog bites. Dog owners are responsible for their dogs, so they are also liable for any damages if their animal attacks someone in most situations.

Assigning Fault in a Montana Personal Injury Case

In Montana, a person can be held responsible for injuries they cause in two main ways:

1. The results of their intentional actions
2. Injuries caused by their failure to use reasonable care in handling their property or themselves

However, if the injured person intentionally caused their own harm or was careless in a way that led to their injury, the other party’s responsibility may be reduced. If you are partly at fault for an accident, you can still recover money for your injuries as long as your share of the fault is not greater than the fault of the other party. However, the amount you receive will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

For example, you are walking across a crosswalk while texting. Then, a driver runs a red light and hits you. The court may find you to be 20% at fault for the accident and the driver to be 80% at fault. This would mean that your final compensation will be reduced by 20%. Hire a personal injury lawyer to secure maximized compensation in your case.

How to Prove Fault in a Montana Personal Injury Case

To win a negligence case, you must prove that:

1. The other person had a legal duty to act with care.
2. They failed to meet this duty.
3. This failure directly caused your injury.
4. You would not have been injured if they had acted properly.
5. Nothing else caused your injury.
6. You suffered real harm or losses as a result.

In Montana, the amount of money awarded in a case must always be reasonable. If an agreement appears to allow an unfairly excessive amount of money, the person can only recover a fair amount instead.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Injuries can have widespread effects on the victim and their loved ones. It can be life-altering, making the victim’s new reality difficult to cope with. Through years of hard work representing our communities, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients. The team at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., is passionate about not letting those responsible for an injury get away without consequences.

FAQs

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing My Personal Injury Claim in Montana?

In Montana, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years. These include cases for harm caused by someone’s actions or negligence. If someone dies because of another person’s wrongful act, the family generally has three years to file a wrongful death claim. It’s important to act quickly, as evidence is key to winning any personal injury case.

What Evidence Can Help Win My Personal Injury Case?

Strong evidence that proves the other party’s fault is how most personal injury cases are won. This evidence can include:

• Witness statements of the incident
• Police or medical reports
• Photographs of any injuries and the scene of the incident

For injuries involving a workplace, evidence can include maintenance logs of machines, black boxes, and camera footage.

What Is the Burden of Proof in a Personal Injury Case?

In Montana, if you are filing a personal injury case, you generally have the burden of proof. Therefore, it is your responsibility to show that your injury or condition is more likely than not caused by the incident in question. This means that there is over a 50% chance your claim is true. You do not have to prove it with absolute certainty.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Montana Personal Injury Case?

If you are injured in Montana, there are several types of damages you might recover. Economic damages cover costs that can be calculated, such as medical bills and lost wages from missing work. Non-economic damages are for losses that are harder to quantify, like pain and suffering. Punitive damages are a specific type of damage awarded to victims to further punish the defendant for intentional or particularly harmful behavior.

Choose a Trusted Columbia Falls Personal Injury Attorney

The team at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., can pursue all that you deserve. From your first meeting, you’ll be met with empathy and the dedication to secure compensation. We offer initial consultations to residents of Columbia Falls and the surrounding areas. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can support you.