Montana Truck Accident Attorneys

Many Montana trucking accidents would be preventable if truck drivers and their employers complied with industry safety standards and guidelines. When truck drivers violate the law and breach their duties to Montana drivers, our attorneys of Hoyt & Blewett PLLC can be there to utilize our vast experience in Montana law to hold truck drivers and their employers responsible for causing injuries.

We frequently handle truck accident claims caused by:

• Distracted driving
• Driver fatigue
• Truck rollovers
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Unsafe driving conditions, including fog, rain, and snow
• Unlicensed drivers
• Negligent hiring of truck drivers
• Failure to train
• Inadequate truck maintenance
• Oversized trucks
• Overloaded trucks
• Defective equipment
• Traffic violations

Perhaps the most prominent problem that leads to trucking accidents in Montana is truck driver fatigue. Trucking companies are legally permitted to push their truck drivers to extreme lengths each shift. It is not uncommon for a trucker to have to work 14 hours in a day, with 11 of those hours spent driving. Unsurprisingly, a trucker who has been on the road for that long becomes fatigued, increasing the chance of a serious truck accident.

Exhaustion behind the wheel is known to cause:

• Reduced reaction times
• Worsened vision
• General confusion
• Loss of motor control

The logging industry is large in Montana, which means logging trucks are on the road most of the time in all corners of the state. If you see a logging truck on the highway, then you should do your best to stay away from it. Logging truckers are subjected to the same long hours as other commercial truckers in the state, meaning they are likely exhausted while driving.

To make matters worse, logging trucks carry immense amounts of cargo. The increased weight of their cargo makes the truck harder to control and take longer to come to a complete stop. There is also the added issue of logging freight coming loose while in transit, which could throw enormous logs and trees onto the road behind the vehicle.

If it is not a logging truck that causes a truck accident on the highways of Montana, then it is probably a semi-truck or commercial truck instead. Trucks are the favorite way for companies and corporations to move product, equipment, and materials. As such, the highways are often full of commercial trucks.

The harsh climate of many parts of Montana make for dangerous roads and driving conditions year-round. Inexperienced truck drivers may struggle to control their vehicles when it is snowing, raining, hailing, or foggy. A storm may even blow debris like tree branches onto the road, causing a trucker to swerve and lose control of their truck.

While road conditions can certainly be problematic, it is important to realize that truckers always have the responsibility to navigate them carefully. If you are hit by a commercial or logging truck during inclement weather, you can still file a claim against that trucking company. They may try to discourage you by blaming the weather. Be persistent by gaining the representation of our Montana truck accident attorneys.

Another complex occurrence in truck accidents is when a defective truck part is the root of the accident. Brakes and tires are prone to failure without proper maintenance. If a truck part defect cases your truck accident, what party is liable for your damages?

The answer could vary, depending on the circumstances:

• Trucker who failed to maintain their vehicle
• Truck part manufacturer who sold a defective part
• Maintenance crews who did inadequate maintenance to the vehicle
• Trucking company who did not allot time for vehicle maintenance

Our attorneys can thoroughly investigate the situation to determine who has been negligent and contributed to your trucking accident caused by a part defect. It is entirely possible that multiple parties will need to be named liable in your claim.

Call (406) 233-1302 today to get started.