Great Falls Truck Accident Lawyer

Expert Truck Accident Attorney in Great Falls, MT

Commercial trucks pass through Great Falls every day traveling Interstate 15, U. S. Highway 87, and numerous other roads that link Central Montana to other areas and communities throughout Montana. Differences in weight and size can cause catastrophic injuries when a passenger vehicle collides with a tractor-trailer or another large truck. A Great Falls truck accident lawyer can examine the crash and determine who might be responsible.

Representing People Injured on Montana Roads

Bliven Law Firm, P.C., has been helping clients in Montana and Oregon for over 30 years. Our attorneys represent people in personal injury cases arising out of truck crashes, car accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death claims.

Bliven Law Firm, P.C., represents clients in Cascade County and other Western and Central Montana communities. While we prefer to find negotiated resolutions when possible, we also stand ready to file a claim and litigate any claims that don’t achieve a satisfactory or fair valuation through settlement.

The Difference in Truck Accident Claims

Large trucks played a role in 5,218 fatal crashes in 2024. This was 3% fewer than in 2023, but 30% more than the average over the past 10 years. The rate of fatal crashes involving large trucks, measured per 100 million miles driven, has fallen by 3% since 2023, though it remains 9% higher than the 10-year average.

There are several reasons why truck accidents can be legally complex. A collision with a commercial truck can involve additional laws and parties.

Trucking companies and many large commercial trucks are regulated by federal safety laws. Those rules address things like allowable driving time, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and securing cargo. Commercial trucks may involve more than one company, such as the carrier, truck owner, maintenance companies, cargo loaders, and more.

Insurance coverage can be more complex as well. Identifying who owned or operated the truck and the driver’s relationship with that company is often an important first step in evaluating a truck accident claim.

Federal Hours-of-Service Rules and Driver Fatigue

Federal truck accident laws include hours-of-service regulations to prevent driver fatigue. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 395 sets forth truck driver hours-of-service rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Those rules limit the number of hours certain covered commercial drivers can drive and be on duty.

Property-carrying drivers who follow the standard hours-of-service rules can generally drive up to 11 hours after having 10 consecutive hours off duty. A covered driver cannot drive after 14 consecutive hours of coming “on duty,” and drivers must take a break of at least 30 minutes after driving for eight cumulative hours without an interruption that qualifies as off-duty time. There are exceptions to those limits.

Many drivers required to follow the federal hours-of-service rules must use electronic logging devices to track their duty status. That evidence can be important if driver fatigue or over-reaching the driving limits is suspected after an accident.

Montana regulates commercial motor vehicles as well. Montana Code Annotated § 61-8-801 outlines the purpose of Montana’s commercial motor vehicle safety provisions, including improving highway safety and adopting motor carrier safety standards that are consistent with federal motor carrier safety regulations.

Liability in a Truck Accident

Many times, the truck driver may be responsible for a crash if his or her negligent driving causes a collision. However, the investigation should not end with the driver. Depending on the circumstances, a trucking company can be legally responsible for its driver’s conduct or its own conduct. There can be numerous questions concerning:

• Hiring
• Supervision
• Training
• Scheduling
• Safety measures
• Maintenance
• Compliance with federal and state laws

Other responsible parties can include a company that was responsible for maintaining the truck, a business that loaded or secured the cargo, another motorist, or a manufacturer whose defective part contributed to the collision.

Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Great Falls

You may want to hire a truck accident lawyer to investigate not only the commercial driver but also every company that may bear responsibility for your injuries. Your Great Falls truck accident attorney can help you document your injuries and any resulting financial losses, communicate with insurance companies, and negotiate a settlement. If necessary, your lawyer can file a claim and prepare your case for court.

FAQs

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, get to a safe place, if possible, and call 911. Seek medical treatment for any injuries and contact the authorities who may respond to the scene. Take pictures of vehicles involved, the road conditions, any skid marks, debris, the truck driver’s information, and the trailer number. Ask those who witnessed the crash for their contact information. Do not give a statement to anyone about who was at fault. Hire a truck accident attorney.

Should I Provide the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster With a Recorded Statement?

No, you typically are not obligated to give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance carrier merely because its adjuster asks you to. Recorded statements taken days or weeks after a crash can become part of a contested claim when injuries may not have fully manifested themselves or all of the facts have not been discovered. You can provide basic identifying information, if asked.

Can I Make a Claim if I Was Partially at Fault for the Truck Accident?

You may be able to make a claim if you were partially at fault for the truck accident. Montana is a modified comparative negligence state. In general, an injured party can recover damages if his or her negligence was not greater than the negligence of the defendant(s), but a victim’s recovery is reduced by his or her percentage of fault.

What if the Truck That Hit Me Was From Out-of-State?

If the truck that hit you was from out-of-state, you may still be able to file a claim. Trucking companies that travel between states are known as interstate trucking companies and may be subject to federal trucking regulations and state laws where the accident occurred. Just because the trucking company is based out-of-state does not mean you must file a claim in that state as the injured party located in Montana.

Bliven Law Firm, P.C., For Your Truck Accident Needs

If you were injured in a truck accident, Bliven Law Firm, P.C., can tend to the legal side while you focus on recovery. Contact us to begin seeking compensation.

Great Falls Truck Accident Lawyer Reviews