Recent Blog Posts
Following Too Closely Behind a Motorcycle: A Simple Mistake That Can Become a Montana Wrongful Death Case
One car length. That is sometimes the only gap between a driver’s split-second mistake and a motorcyclist’s death. Tailgating a motorcycle does not look like much from behind the wheel of a car. A rider has no bumper, no airbag, and no steel frame to absorb a hit from behind. When a driver misjudges… Read More »
What Spinal Injuries Happen After a Jackknife Truck Accident?
A jackknifed semi can cross three lanes in the time it takes to blink. When a loaded trailer swings out and slams into your car, the force travels straight through your seatbelt and into your spine. That is why spinal cord injuries are one of the most common and most serious outcomes of a… Read More »
2026 Montana Traffic Fatality Trends: What Is Still Causing Serious Crashes?
Montana has recorded fewer traffic deaths so far in 2026 than at the same point in 2025, according to the Montana Department of Transportation, which counted 118 fatalities through this point in the year compared to 141 a year earlier. That is real progress after 198 people died on Montana roads in 2025. But… Read More »
Deer and Elk Collisions in Montana: Who Pays When Another Vehicle Is Involved?
Montana ranks second in the nation for the odds of hitting a deer this year, behind only West Virginia, with State Farm putting the chances at roughly 1 in 53. Fall makes it worse. October, November, and December bring the rut, hunting season, and shorter days, and that combination pushes deer and elk onto… Read More »
Winter Car Accident Liability in Montana: Who Is Responsible When Snow or Black Ice Causes a Crash?
Snow and black ice do not cause crashes by themselves. Drivers do. Under Montana law, winter weather is rarely a valid excuse. Every driver has a duty to slow down and adjust to the road in front of them. So if another driver slid through an icy intersection and hit you, that driver can… Read More »
Can a Rear-End Crash Really Hurt Your Spine?
Yes, a rear-end crash can hurt your spine, even when the damage to your bumper looks minor. The sudden snap of your head and neck can strain muscles, tear ligaments, and push a spinal disc out of place. Many people walk away from a “fender bender” feeling fine, then wake up two days later… Read More »
Seat Belt Nonuse and Serious Injury Claims: How Comparative Fault Actually Works in Montana
If you were hurt in a crash and were not wearing your seat belt, that fact cannot legally be used to reduce or deny your injury claim. Insurance adjusters in Montana bring it up anyway, hoping you will not know the law. You do not have to accept a lower offer because of where… Read More »
Hours-of-Service Pilot Programs in 2026: What Montana Truck Crash Victims Should Know About Fatigue Defenses
If a truck driver ran a red light, crossed the centerline, or rear-ended your vehicle on a Montana highway, fatigue may have been the reason. Driver exhaustion is a factor in 13% of large-truck crashes nationwide, and the federal rules designed to prevent it are now being tested in new ways. In 2026, the… Read More »
Spoliation in Truck Accident Cases: What Happens When ELD, GPS, or Truck Data Disappears?
When a commercial truck crashes, the most powerful evidence often lives inside the truck itself. Electronic logging devices, GPS systems, and onboard black boxes record speed, location, braking, and hours behind the wheel. But what happens if that data disappears before you can use it? Courts take the destruction of evidence seriously, and trucking… Read More »
Revoked ELDs in 2026: Could Logbook Problems Strengthen a Montana Semi-Truck Injury Claim?
If a semi-truck hit you on a Montana highway, the driver’s logbook may be one of the most important pieces of evidence you’ll ever see, or one of the most important things that quietly disappears. In 2026, that problem has become more common than most people realize. Since January 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier… Read More »