Car accidents are unpredictable by nature and have unexpected consequences. This was illustrated in a recent hit-and-run accident near the intersection of Milton Road and Main Street in Billings. As two cars headed south on Main Street, a Subaru hit a Honda Civic and pushed it into a utility pole, causing a power outage that affected about 800 utility customers.…Read More
Drunk drivers are a continuing danger on Montana’s roads. In addition to imposing criminal penalties, Montana law permits those injured in a drunk driving accident to bring a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver. A recent sentencing arising from such a car accident serves as a reminder. Earlier this month, a former police officer was sentenced on one count of…Read More
The North Dakota oil boom has drawn many Montana workers to the state. However, a recent oil field accident reminds us that oil fields can be very dangerous places. A 21-year-old Montana man was found dead by a coworker at one such oil well. The state medical examiner’s report concluded that the young man died from hydrocarbon poisoning caused by…Read More
A Montana woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident 12 years ago hasn’t let it slow her down: she made plans to cross the finish line in this year’s Missoula Marathon. The woman was 19 when a rollover accident left her with brain damage. Before the crash, the woman was on her high school track and…Read More
Truckers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are a deadly menace on Montana roads and throughout the nation. Late in June, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which enforces federal trucking regulations, announced it had taken 287 commercial truck and bus drivers off the road in its annual enforcement sweep, conducted in April and May of this year.…Read More
When operating a motor vehicle, Montana drivers are expected to obey all traffic rules and speed limits, to pay attention to their surroundings, and to maintain a lookout at all times for other vehicles and pedestrians. When the roadways are affected by natural conditions, like rain, extra care must be taken. However, one Billings truck driver may not have accounted…Read More
The Maryland driver involved in a fatal motorcycle-car accident earlier this month is now in custody at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. The accident occurred on Highway 10 in Laurel. The driver of the car allegedly fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. The victim, a motorcyclist, was found unresponsive and with no pulse. Police identified excessive speed as a…Read More
For family members, the sudden loss of a loved one in an automobile accident can be devastating. Although no amount of money can compensate for a wrongful death, obtaining a recovery against a negligent driver may help with expenses and, in some instances, provide a degree of closure. A woman from Billings was recently killed when her vehicle was struck…Read More
Earlier this week, a teenager was sentenced to 2 ½ years behind bars — with a year to serve, and the remainder suspended — for a fatal car accident that happened while he was texting. His sentence reflects a growing trend in many states to criminalize cell phone use while driving. But not in Montana, at least yet. In 2011,…Read More