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Lewistown Truck Accident Lawyers

The Advocates is a personal injury law firm based in Lewistown, Montana. Our truck accident lawyers have been serving Lewistown for decades.

A Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Assist You with Your Case 

Car accidents are more common in Lewistown, but truck accidents usually result in much more serious injuries and even fatalities. The Advocates have years of experience with every practice area involving personal injuries, so we know that injury claims involving trucks are usually more complex.   

You will have to deal with the trucker’s insurance company, higher medical expenses, and getting property damage fixed. The legal issues that stand in the way of you getting compensation are immense. That is where our truck accident lawyers come in.  

Our attorneys will bring a mix of compassionate legal representation and firm resolve to see your injury claim to completion.   

The Advocates have seen the whole gambit of personal injuries. Our team is here to provide legal advice for everyone in the great state of Montana. Contact us today for a free consultation!

The Next Steps in Your Montana Truck Accident Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Property Damage

Get the damage on your car assessed and fixed

Treatment

Seek medical treatment as soon as you can

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.  

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.  

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.  

For more information on how settlements and payments work, please see our contingency fee information page.  

If the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.  

Your attorney will gather evidence, monitor your medical treatment progress, keep an accurate record of all relevant documents and facts to support your claim, negotiate and correspond with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary.   

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will zealously pursue your claim through resolution. 

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process depends on many factors, including but not limited to the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and much more.  

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to several years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which, if you do not resolve or file a lawsuit within the prescribed time, you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you focus on healing. Generally, once all evidence has been gathered and your medical treatment has been completed or you are back to feeling yourself again, your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to secure a settlement on your behalf.  

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a lawsuit in the litigation phase. Your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator. 

A Team of Truck Accident Professionals Assigned to Your Case  

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.  

We can help you: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a settlement or judgment against the at fault party 

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

Understanding Trucks in Montana

Semi-truck driving in the right lane on a desert highway.

What exactly is a truck? 

A truck is a vehicle larger than a passenger car, mainly used to transport special equipment or other goods.   

A whole range of vehicles can be considered a commercial truck. Some of the defining qualities of this type of vehicle are:  

  • Weight: Trucks have different weight categories. They range from a Class 1 pickup truck weighing less than 6,000 pounds to a Class 8 tractor-trailer (also called a semi-truck) weighing 33,001 pounds or more.  
  • Purpose: A good rule of thumb is that trucks transport things while passenger vehicles transport people. However, there are some exceptions, such as buses. City transit and school buses are categorized as trucks.  
  • Design: Trucks usually have a much heavier chassis or frame, which supports the heavy loads they have to haul.   
  • Height: Trucks are usually taller, wider, and longer than passenger vehicles. They have a higher ground clearance and a much more durable suspension system.   

Knowing what a truck is can help you with your personal injury claim. This information will help your personal injury lawyer better investigate your accident.

What types of trucks can you expect to see in Lewistown? 

All of them!  

You can see buses driving down main street, ranchers pulling trailers, and semi-trucks shipping goods. Highway 87 runs through town, meaning cars are close to trucks daily.   

With so many trucks in and around Lewistown, drivers must be careful. Montana has one of the highest percentages of truck crashes leading to fatalities, at 15%.   

Red truck transport with container on winter road
Truck driver talking on his cell phone

The critical reasons why truck drivers crash 

Rather than examining the factors that cause truck crashes, like fatigue or drug use, it is much more helpful to know why a driver might crash in response to certain factors.  

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has four categories for the reasons truck drivers might crash:  

  • Performance: The driver overreacted to road conditions by overcorrecting on ice, for example.  
  • Non-performance: The driver failed to act because of an impairment, such as falling asleep or having a heart attack.  
  • Decision: The driver made a bad choice, such as speeding.   
  • Recognition: The driver failed to notice what was happening on the road due to distraction. 

Most common truck accident injuries   

  • Traumatic brain injuries   
  • Neck and back injuries   
  • Broken bones   
  • Internal injuries   
  • Lacerations and contusions   
  • Burns   
  • Psychological injuries  
  • Wrongful death of a loved one 
Semi-truck turned over on the highway
Policeman writing up report on incident where their was a person injured

What to do after a truck accident   

Experiencing a truck accident can be chaotic and stressful. However, it is crucial to stay as composed as possible and follow these steps:  

  • Ensure safety  
  • Call 911 
  • Provide the police with facts of the accident 
  • Exchange information with all parties involved in the accident 
  • Document every aspect of the scene 
  • Keep all documents related to the accident, such as medical bills 
  • Do not admit fault 
  • Seek medical attention 
  • Consult an experienced personal injury attorney 

Trucking Accidents and Personal Injury Law in Montana

Close up focus on courtroom microphone with attorney in the background.

How fault is determined in a Montana trucking accident   

Truck accidents are a bit different than other types of accidents. 

Truck drivers will usually take the blame if they do not follow traffic laws and practice safe driving. If their negligence, such as drinking and driving, causes you serious injuries, then they will usually be personally responsible.   

Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring driver competence, conducting thorough background checks, and providing adequate training. They must also properly maintain their fleets to prevent mechanical failures and comply with federal hours-of-service regulations to avoid pressuring drivers into unsafe practices. Failure to meet these responsibilities can result in liability for accidents and legal repercussions.  

Determining fault is a migraine-inducing yet essential part of the personal injury claim process, and it is best left to the legal experts. 

Statute of limitations for trucking accidents   

The statute of limitations in Montana is three years from the date of the accident. This is for litigation involving personal injuries. Cases involving property damage must be filed within two years.  

There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations. A common one is the delayed discovery rule. With this rule, the statute of limitations begins on the date an injury caused by the accident is discovered. Some injuries may not be apparent until several years after the incident.  

Medical bill from the hospital, concept of rising medical cost.

What damages can I seek in my truck accident claim?  

Every case is different, so you should speak to a personal injury attorney to know what you can seek in your specific case.  

As a general guide, some common damages sought by truck accident victims include:  

  • Medical expenses  
  • Property damage  
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity  
  • Non-economic damages like pain and suffering  
  • Funeral and burial expenses in cases of wrongful death  

A personal injury attorney with The Advocates can help you determine what you can seek. Contact our Lewistown office today for a free case review. 

When Should I Hire a Lewistown Truck Accident Lawyer?

As legal professionals, we recommend that you begin the accident claims process right away. Three years seems like a long time, but the further away you get from the accident date, the harder it will be to gather evidence and pursue compensation.  

The first step is a simple one: Call our law office, and within minutes, you can speak to a truck accident attorney. They are super lawyers ready to represent you and fight for what you deserve.  

Semi-truck accidents are devasting; there is no doubt about it. The Advocates want to minimize your pain and suffering by representing you in a court of law.   

We are here for every injury victim from Great Falls, Lewistown, Billings, and every other town in Montana. If you are facing severe injuries from a truck accident, The Advocates have got your back. You deserve it. You deserve an Advocate. 

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