Why Montana Ranks 4th in the Nation for Truck Fatalities per Capita

Montana’s roads are among the deadliest in America for truck accidents. The Big Sky State ranks 4th nationally for truck fatalities per capita, with a rate nearly three times higher than the national average. This alarming statistic affects real families and communities across Montana every year.

If you suffered an injury in a serious commercial truck accident, our Montana truck accident lawyers are here to help. Call Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP at 406.442.7830 today. We’ve been helping injured Montana truck accident victims since 1978.

Montana’s Truck Safety Crisis by the Numbers

Forty-five people died in Montana truck accidents in 2023. At 4.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, Montana’s rate is triple the national average. Just three states – Wyoming, North Dakota, and West Virginia – are more dangerous.

The Montana Department of Transportation reports that commercial vehicle crashes killed 189 people between 2019 and 2023. Large trucks were involved in 15% of all traffic deaths in Montana during this period, despite making up only 4% of registered vehicles in the state.

Why Montana’s Geography Makes Trucking More Dangerous

Montana’s vast landscape creates unique challenges for truck drivers and increases accident risk. The state covers 147,000 square miles with a population of just over one million people. This means long stretches of isolated highway with limited emergency services.

Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 carry heavy truck traffic across the state, connecting major freight corridors. These highways cross mountain passes where weather conditions change rapidly. Ice, snow, and high winds create hazardous driving conditions that can overwhelm even experienced truck drivers.

Rural highways in Montana often lack the safety features found on urban interstates. Many roads lack median barriers, have limited lighting, and have narrow shoulders. When truck accidents happen on these remote stretches, emergency response times can exceed 30 minutes.

Weather Conditions That Kill

Montana’s harsh weather plays a major role in truck accidents. Winter storms can drop temperatures to -40°F and dump several feet of snow in a matter of hours. Ice storms create glass-like road surfaces that make stopping a loaded semi-truck nearly impossible.

Wind presents another serious hazard. Montana regularly experiences sustained winds over 40 mph, with gusts reaching 80 mph or higher. High-profile vehicles like tractor-trailers can flip over or jackknife in these conditions, especially when carrying light loads or pulling empty trailers.

Summer brings its own dangers through sudden thunderstorms, hail, and flash flooding. Visibility can drop to zero in minutes, leaving drivers unable to see the road ahead or vehicles around them.

While Montana’s weather creates real challenges, it doesn’t excuse poor driving decisions. Commercial drivers are professionals who must adapt to conditions and drive safely regardless of the weather. When they fail to do so, they can be held accountable for the resulting crashes and injuries.

Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations

Long-haul trucking through Montana often involves extended driving periods across empty highways. The monotonous landscape and straight roads can cause highway hypnosis, where drivers zone out and lose focus.

Federal regulations limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour work period. However, enforcement of these hours-of-service rules can be challenging on Montana’s remote highways. Electronic logging devices help track driver hours, but some drivers still find ways to exceed legal limits.

Driver fatigue contributes to slower reaction times, poor judgment, and microsleep episodes, where drivers briefly lose consciousness. A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speeds needs a significant distance to stop safely, making split-second reactions critical.

Infrastructure Challenges on Montana Highways

Across Montana, many highways were built decades ago for lighter traffic loads and smaller vehicles. Today’s trucks are longer, heavier, and more numerous than the roads were designed to handle.

Bridge weight limits force some trucks onto alternative routes through smaller towns and rural roads. These detours often involve highways with steeper grades, tighter curves, and less room for error.

Construction zones create additional hazards as lane restrictions force trucks into closer proximity with passenger vehicles. Work zone accidents involving trucks often result in multiple fatalities due to the size and weight differences between vehicles.

Who Is To Blame After a Montana Truck Crash

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Montana, several parties might be responsible for your damages:

• Trucking companies – May be liable for hiring unqualified drivers, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to violate safety regulations
• Truck drivers – Can be held responsible for fatigue, distraction, speeding, or other negligent behaviors
• Maintenance companies – Liable if poor maintenance contributed to brake failure or other mechanical problems
• Cargo loading companies – Responsible when improper loading causes accidents

Montana follows comparative negligence rules, meaning you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Fighting for Justice Against Big Trucking

Truck accident cases are complex and require extensive investigation. Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and investigators working to minimize their liability. You need experienced legal representation to level the playing field.

An experienced truck accident and personal injury attorney at Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP will examine driver logs, maintenance records, and company policies that may have contributed to your accident.

Don’t wait to seek legal help. Montana has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence preservation and investigation should begin immediately.

Call Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP today at 406.442.7830 or fill out our confidential contact form to discuss your case and explore your legal options.