Montana Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucks and commercial vehicles are an important part of the trucking industry. They are essential to the economy as they are responsible for the transportation of a variety of goods, materials, and even people across the country.

Different types of commercial vehicles range from large semi-trucks to smaller delivery trucks. Generally, these trucks are bigger in size than personal vehicles. The difference between the sizes of these vehicles is why the impact of the accident can be devastating. Our experienced Montana truck accident attorneys at Beck, Amsden & Stalpes will fight for your rights so you can get the settlement for economic and non-economic damages. Contact us at (406) 568 – 8700 today.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Montana

Common causes of truck/commercial vehicle accidents are the following:

Sleeping or drowsiness, texting or calling, and listening to music can lead to distracted driving.
Mechanical problems in the vehicle itself like faulty breaks or a manufacturing defect. This is sometimes beyond the driver’s control and the blame goes to the trucking company for not doing proper safety inspection.
Driving while drunk is strictly prohibited for truck drivers.
Cargo can sometimes fall out of the truck and onto the road due to poor loading. The vehicles behind can get hit by the heavy load and sometimes the vehicle might even get overturned.
Lack of experience or poor truck-specific training on the part of the driver can cause them to make mistakes.
Blind spots are also common for truck drivers. Often, they can’t see what is in front of the vehicle if it’s too close, what’s beside it on the passenger’s side, or what is behind the truck.
Going beyond the speed limit is also dangerous for truck drivers. There are specific day and night speed limits they must follow.
Our Montana car accident lawyers say other vehicles, most commonly cars, cause 81% of all truck accidents.

How Often Do Truck Accidents Happen?

According to the 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks were responsible for 9.8% of fatal vehicular crashes In Montana, 1,407 accidents involving large trucks were reported in 2017 where 20 people died and 376 were injured.

Trucking Laws and Regulations

In Montana, all vehicles that measure above 1 ton must adhere to the speed limit of 65 mph for interstate highways and 60 mph for primary and secondary highways. At night, the speed limit is lowered to 55 mph for primary and secondary highways.
The usual blood alcohol level that is permitted for drivers is 0.08 while it is lessened to 0.04 for truck drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes a federal law where truck drivers cannot be on duty for more than 14 hours, and within that time, they can only drive for a maximum of 11 hours. Moreover, drivers are required to do 10 hours off before they can drive again.

Who is Liable for Truck Accidents?

While some truck drivers make mistakes that lead to accidents, sometimes they are not the ones who are at fault. They too can merely be the victims of others’ negligence. Cargo loaders may not have followed loading regulations and used substandard straps. Truck owners or trucking companies might not have done enough routine checks. Truck manufacturers might have released defective models. In any case, their insurance companies should be the ones to cover your damages.

Hire a Montana Truck Accident Lawyer Today

It is the job of insurance companies to try everything so you get the least amount of compensation possible. However, it is also our job at Beck, Amsden & Stalpes to make sure the opposite happens.

Contact an experienced Montana truck accident lawyer today for a free consultation.