People in Montana enjoy some of the most amazing natural beauty to be experienced anywhere in the country. The wide open roads can bring a sense of freedom and safety that sometimes is not accurate. Whether in town or on rural roads, car accidents can and do happen and may cause serious, lifelong injuries or even death. Records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that vehicular fatalities across Montana have actually declined. While this is very positive, clearly more is needed to continue this trend and too many people continue to die on Montana roads and highways.
Looking at the five years from 2013 to 2017, the number of lives lost in car crashes has varied greatly. In 2013, there were 229 vehicular deaths and then the following year saw a welcome drop to 192. That was followed by a jump to 224 in 2015 but then by two years of consecutive declines first to 290 in 2016 and then to 186 in 2017. Fatalities in accidents involving either alcohol or excessive speed have also both dropped in 2017 but remain a serious problem as drunk driving killed 56 people and speeding killed 59 in just one year.
In Yellowstone County, a total of 85 people lost their lives in vehicle collisions during these same five years. Drunk driving was a noted factor in 37 of those deaths. Speeding was involved in 32 of the deaths.
If you would like to learn more about what you should do after you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, please feel free to visit “the crash compensation and assistance” page of our Montana personal injury website.
At Colton Holm Law Firm, we look forward to learning how we can help you resolve your legal concern.Call us today: (406) 259-9986