Victims of a head injury often do not realize right away that they may have suffered an injury to the brain. In mild to moderate brain injury cases, symptoms may not appear until days or even weeks after the traumatic event. Montana residents who have been in a car accident or suffered an injury on the job, and parents of…Read More
A number of previous posts in this blog have discussed the risk of serious on-the-job injuries to Montana workers in the Bakken oil fields. Among the most painful and disabling injuries that occur in the oil fields are severe burns. There have been over 3,100 burn injuries in the last five years to workers in the North Dakota oil fields…Read More
Railroads play an important part in Montana’s economy. Long freight trains carry the state’s oil, coal and agricultural products to markets throughout the nation. But trains can be deadly, especially where their tracks cross roads and highways. There are over 3,500 railroad crossings in Montana. The nonprofit group Operation Lifesaver has published some safety tips that can help prevent death…Read More
Distracted driving is a serious safety issue in the United States. A Montana legislator is trying to reduce the danger in our state through a bill that would outlaw talking or texting on a cellular device while driving, unless that device is hands-free. State Representative Virginia Court of Billings is currently drafting the proposed law. If the bill is enacted,…Read More
Most Montanans know that drunk driving is a serious public safety problem. But many may not realize that Montana has one of the most serious drunk driving problems in the nation. Data from 2012 shows that Montana ranked second among all states in drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 people. In 2012 there were nine deaths due to drunk driving accidents…Read More
Truck driver fatigue is a serious danger on Montana roads. When over-the-road truckers drive too long without rest, their alertness and reaction times are adversely affected. In a worst-case scenario, a trucker can fall asleep at the wheel. When a large semi truck is involved in a collision with a smaller vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle can be…Read More
The New Year brought some encouraging news for Montana residents. The Montana Highway Patrol reported that the number of people killed on the state’s roads in 2014 was significantly fewer than in 2013. Motor vehicle accidents claimed 192 lives in 2014 as compared to 229 in 2013, a 16 percent drop. The Billings District, with 30 deaths in 2014, had…Read More
The development of technology to extract oil from the Bakken Shale fields of Montana and North Dakota has brought an unprecedented economic boom to the region. Well-paying jobs have attracted a lot of Montana workers to the oil industry. The work is tough and it can be dangerous. When a Montana oil field worker suffers a workplace injury accident or…Read More
Montana residents are familiar with winter driving. Yet every year accidents occur because someone failed to take winter weather and road conditions into account when driving. This holiday season may be a good time to review some safe winter driving tips. One of the most important tips is to reduce speed and allow yourself some extra time to get where…Read More
A serious auto accident can change a life in a matter of seconds. Car accident injuries can result in hospitalization, lingering pain, lost income from work and the inability to enjoy activities that were once an important part of your life. In cases of catastrophic injuries or a brain injury, an individual may lose the ability to carry out even…Read More