Billings, MT Truck Accident Lawyer

Key Takeaways

• Truck accidents often cause severe, life-altering injuries and high financial stakes.
• Multiple parties may be responsible for a truck accident, including truck drivers, trucking companies, manufacturers, cargo loaders, and others.
• Trucking crashes frequently involve complex investigations and aggressive insurance defense teams.
• Victims may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
• Take prompt legal action to preserve evidence that may be essential to your claim.
• A Billings truck accident lawyer can handle the legal process while you focus on recovery.
• Yellowstone Law has decades of experience fighting for Montana truck accident victims.
• Call Yellowstone Law for help pursuing the full and fair compensation for the full and fair value of your damages.

Why Choose Yellowstone Law for Your Billings Truck Accident Case?

When your life has been disrupted by a truck accident, choosing the right law firm is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Here’s why people across Montana trust Yellowstone Law to handle these challenging cases:

We know Montana and its roads

From the winding curves of I-90 west of Billings to the bustling freight corridors through Laurel, our attorneys know the places truck crashes happen. We’re local lawyers deeply invested in our communities and committed to protecting Montanans.

We have the resources to take on big trucking companies

Truck accident claims often demand costly expert analysis, accident reconstruction, and deep-dive investigations into trucking company records. Yellowstone Law has the financial and professional resources to challenge the biggest trucking carriers and their insurers.

We treat you like a person, not a case file

We understand you’re dealing with more than legal questions—you’re dealing with pain, financial fear, and emotional fallout. We keep you informed, answer your calls, and stand beside you every step of the way.

Why Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous

A collision with a passenger car is bad enough. But a crash involving a large commercial truck can destroy more than vehicles—it can devastate entire families. Trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds dwarf cars and pickups on Montana highways, leaving little chance for those in smaller vehicles to avoid severe injuries or fatalities when a crash occurs. These massive vehicles have longer stopping distances, larger blind spots, and higher risks of mechanical failures or cargo spills. In Montana, snow and ice can compound the danger, making already-risky maneuvers even deadlier. Common types of truck accidents include:

• Jackknife accidents, when a trailer swings out to form a sharp angle with the cab
• Underride accidents, where smaller vehicles slide beneath the truck’s trailer
• Override accidents, where a truck rides up and over a smaller car
• Blind spot accidents, where truck drivers fail to see nearby vehicles
• Rollover accidents, especially on tight curves or during evasive maneuvers
• Load accidents from shifting, spilling, or falling cargo.

Some of the most hazardous trucking corridors around Billings include stretches of I-90 through Yellowstone County, intersections along US-87 near Lockwood, and the busy truck routes through Laurel and downtown Billings. These are highways many Montanans travel every day.

Truck Accidents in Billings, Montana

Truck accident statistics in Billings aren’t just numbers. They affect our neighbors, friends, and families and ripple throughout entire communities. In one recent year, Montana reported about 800 commercial truck crashes statewide. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, those crashes resulted in 274 injuries and 27 fatalities. The majority of those affected were occupants of passenger vehicles, not the truck drivers themselves. Montana consistently ranks among the states with the highest rate of truck-related fatalities per capita, highlighting the importance of road safety and vigilance for all motorists sharing the road with commercial vehicles. The state’s vast rural road network and challenging weather conditions further contribute to the frequency and severity of these accidents, especially when truck drivers fail to lower their speed or keep their brakes in good condition.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Billings?

Almost all truck accidents in Billings stem from human error. That means most crashes are avoidable mistakes or rule violations. Some leading truck crash causes include:

• Driver fatigue, sometimes worsened by unrealistic delivery schedules
• Distracted driving, including mobile device use
• Speeding or driving too fast for Montana’s road conditions
• Impaired driving from alcohol or drugs
• Improper loading, causing cargo to shift or spill
• Brake failures or other mechanical problems due to poor maintenance
• Inadequate training or supervision of drivers
• Aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating or unsafe lane changes.

Truck accident cases usually require investigating whether a trucking company pushed a driver to meet impossible schedules or neglected maintenance that could have prevented a tragic crash.

Yellowstone Law Will Handle the Insurance Companies

If you’ve been in a truck accident, there’s a good chance the trucking company’s insurer has already called you, or will soon. They may sound friendly and sympathetic, but their job is to protect the company’s bottom line, not your best interests. Trucking companies and their insurers start working to limit their liability immediately after a crash. An experienced truck accident lawyer with Yellowstone Law can level the playing field, bringing powerful leverage to your case that can’t be dismissed or ignored. Unfortunately, many accident victims trust the insurance companies to do the right thing and pay them fairly for all their damages. But the opposite actually paints a more accurate picture. Insurance adjusters may try to secure quick settlements before you hire a lawyer or fully understand your injuries or future costs. Once you accept their check, you may give up your right to claim further compensation, even if your medical bills keep rising. Call Yellowstone Law Firm and let us stand between you and the insurance companies. We will make sure they respect you and your claim, or we will take them to court.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Billings, MT Truck Accident Case?

Truck accidents rarely involve just a single careless driver. Unlike a typical car crash, many layers of responsibility can exist in a truck accident claim. Depending on the details, several parties might be held legally and financially responsible for your injuries:

• The truck driver, if they were distracted, fatigued, impaired, or driving recklessly
• The trucking company, for pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic schedules, failing to maintain vehicles, or negligent hiring and training
• A maintenance contractor, if poor repairs or inspections led to mechanical failures
• The manufacturer of the truck or truck parts, if a defect contributed to the crash
• A shipping company or cargo loader, if improper loading caused the cargo to shift or spill
• Other drivers involved in the collision.

Determining liability often requires a thorough investigation and expert analysis. Yellowstone Law knows what to look for in driver logs, maintenance records, and other crucial evidence to reveal where fault truly lies.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accidents often leave people with serious injuries that affect their health, work, and families for years to come. Some injuries may heal with time, while others change lives forever. Common injuries in truck accident cases include:

• Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries, such as partial paralysis, full paralysis, and severe nerve damage
• Broken bones, sometimes requiring surgeries or a long recovery
• Internal injuries, like organ damage or internal bleeding
• Burns, from fires or hazardous materials
• Amputations, resulting from traumatic impacts or surgical necessity
• Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash and torn ligaments

Any of these injuries can bring overwhelming medical costs, lost income, and significant emotional distress. Truck accident victims deserve compensation that reflects the true impact on their lives.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Billings, MT

If you’ve already received medical care or you’re still in treatment, that’s the right first step after any truck accident. But there’s more you can do to protect your health and your legal rights. Consider taking these actions next:

• Hire a lawyer. Trucking companies and their insurers act fast. Having a Billings truck accident lawyer on your side immediately helps protect your rights and preserves vital evidence.
• Keep all medical appointments. Missing treatments can hurt not only your health but also your injury claim. Consistent medical care creates records that connect your injuries to the accident.
• Document your experience. Write or record your pain levels, emotional struggles, and how your injuries disrupt daily life. These details can be powerful evidence later.
• Preserve evidence. Keep any physical items related to the crash, including damaged personal belongings, torn clothing, or medical devices.
• Avoid discussing your accident on social media. Insurance companies may search your online posts for anything they can twist against you.
• Don’t talk to insurance adjusters alone. Even innocent comments can be used to minimize your claim. Let your lawyer handle these conversations.

The sooner you involve legal help, the better your chances of recovering the compensation you may deserve.

What Compensation is Available to Truck Accident Victims?

Truck accidents can shatter your physical health and financial stability. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. Money can’t erase the trauma of a crash, but it can help you rebuild your life. Compensation in a truck accident case typically falls into two categories:

• Economic damages: These cover financial losses like medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, property damage, and future medical care. Truck accident victims often face mounting medical bills for surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, and specialized equipment.
• Non-economic damages: These address the personal cost of injuries, such as physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on relationships.

If a truck accident leads to a fatality, surviving family members may also bring a wrongful death claim. This can help recover funeral expenses, loss of income the loved one would have provided, and damages for the loss of companionship. At Yellowstone Law, we work tirelessly to calculate every dollar you’re owed. We know how insurance companies try to undervalue claims, and we won’t let them shortchange you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a deadline for filing a truck accident lawsuit in Montana?

Yes. In Montana, you generally have three years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting longer can mean losing your right to seek compensation entirely. However, exceptions exist, so speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

What if I am partly to blame for the truck accident?

Montana follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you’re partially responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages as long as you’re less than 50% at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Do truck drivers have special driving rules in Montana?

Yes. Truck drivers must follow both federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Montana-specific rules to help reduce accidents. These include hours-of-service limits, weight restrictions, and equipment safety standards.

How long do truck accident cases take to resolve?

Every case is different. Some settle in a few months; others may take a year or longer, especially if the case goes to trial. Factors affecting timelines include the severity of injuries, the complexity of liability, and how willing the insurance company is to negotiate fairly.

How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?

At Yellowstone Law, we handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. We only collect legal fees if we recover compensation for you. Your consultation is free, so there’s no risk in calling to learn your rights.

How Can a Lawyer Help with My Billings Truck Accident Case?

If you’re recovering from a truck accident, the last thing you should worry about is battling a powerful trucking company or deciphering legal paperwork. Yellowstone Law can help. When you hire our firm:

• We investigate the crash, gathering evidence from driver logs, vehicle records, and surveillance footage.
• We work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to build a solid case.
• We handle negotiations with insurance companies determined to pay you as little as possible.
• We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, ensuring you’re ready for any outcome.
• We keep you informed and answer your questions promptly so you’re never left in the dark.

Contact the Billings Truck Accident Lawyers at Yellowstone Law Today

Truck accidents leave more than twisted metal in their wake. They leave families worried about medical bills, lost income, and uncertain futures. If a trucking crash in Billings has upended your life, you deserve help from lawyers who care deeply about your story and who know how to fight for your maximum compensation. The Billings trial accident lawyers at Yellowstone Law, have recovered millions for people injured on Montana roads. We’re ready to do the same for you. Don’t wait for insurance companies to decide your future. Let’s talk about your options today. Call (406) 259-9986 or contact us online for your free consultation. Let us help you reclaim the life you’ve worked so hard to build.