The family of a 39-year-old Montana man who died in the Bakken oil fields has brought a federal lawsuit against the Texas oil company that owned and operated the well where the man died. The victim was discovered dead on a catwalk at the drilling site in July of 2013. He had been inspecting oil levels in an oil collection…Read More
Silicosis is a serious and disabling lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust. This material is found in rock, sand, granite and soil. It is also used for abrasive blasting in some occupations. Occupations at risk for silicosis include sandblasting, drilling and crushing rock and concrete, road construction and repair, and asphalt and concrete repaving. Symptoms of silicosis…Read More
When a Montana resident is injured in an accident, one of the most important priorities is determining whether the accident is covered by insurance. In many cases, more than one insurance policy will provide coverage, and it is important to identify all available policies that may provide a source of financial recovery. Many accidents, including dog bites and slip and…Read More
A serious car accident can happen to anyone, and its effects can be long-term for those involved. Without warning, an ordinary errand in the car or pickup turns into a nightmare of wrecked vehicles, serious injury and possibly lifelong disability or even death. Unfortunately, serious car accidents happen on a regular basis around the United States, and the Billings area…Read More
No one ever plans to be injured in a car accident, but it happens every day in Montana. When it happens, it throws whatever plans you did have out the window. Suddenly you have to deal not only with a wrecked car, but with pain, lost time from work, medical appointments and sometimes the inability to get around or do…Read More
A head-on collision between a pick-up truck apparently driven by a teenager and a semi-trailer truck has killed three young men and left a fourth in critical condition. As is the case with most car-truck accidents, details on the accident and its cause were not immediately clear. The pick-up truck was apparently carrying four teenagers. It was heading south on…Read More
Montana drivers are very familiar with highway work zones, especially in the summer months when construction projects are in full swing. Being delayed by the lane reductions, traffic cones and slower speed limits in work zones can be frustrating. But for those who make their living working on road construction, work zone traffic control is critical to their safety. According…Read More
When an airliner crash, passenger train derailment or ship sinking claims hundreds of lives, the event becomes a major news story around the world. In the aftermath of such tragedies, safety advocates and politicians often call for new safety measures for the mode of transportation in question. Sometimes these calls are heeded and new regulations are enacted to prevent similar…Read More
When a motorcycle is involved in a collision with a car or truck, the motorcyclist is at a severe disadvantage. Motorcyclists lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, and are at greater risk of being severely injured or killed than occupants of larger vehicles. When the driver of the larger vehicle is intoxicated, the risk is even more deadly. Recently…Read More
In recent years there has been a lot of media attention given to the dangers of drunk driving and texting while driving. While these driving behaviors are serious safety issues in Montana, it is important to remember that speeding remains the cause of a significant number of deadly motor vehicle accidents. In fact, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association,…Read More