Missoula Car Accident Lawyer

When people are seriously injured in a car accident, they’re confronted with expensive medical bills, loss of income, physical pain and suffering, financial distress and emotional frustration. All the while, they must continue to treat for their injuries, and those bills continue to grow and keep coming in the mail.  

If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident in Missoula or anywhere in Montana, contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest and we have a long track record of helping our clients obtain the maximum amount of compensation available to them after a crash.

When the crash was the fault of somebody else, victims should be fully compensated for all of their damages and losses. What comes to issue is the fact that the insurer of the person who caused the accident makes money by cashing premium checks, investing that money and paying out as little as possible or even nothing on claims. They’re cheap and they’re stubborn.  

When an accident victim thinks that he or she can control their injury claim without an attorney, the opposing insurer has them right where it wants them. It’s the adjuster for the insurance company who will take control of the claim. That’s why we want to step in as your Missoula car accident lawyers as soon as possible.

You can expect that a claims adjuster for the opposing insurance company will be contacting you shortly after your accident. That individual will sound friendly and genuinely sympathetic with your plight, but that’s simply not true. The purpose of that phone call is to set the stage for devaluing or even denying your personal injury claim. The law doesn’t require you to give that opposing insurer any information at all about how your crash occurred or your present medical condition. The best thing that you can do is to politely tell that adjuster that you’ll get back to him or her, and then, call us to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. Anything that you say to us is confidential.

If you give that insurance adjuster an inch, he or she will try and take a mile. In that initial phone call, you can expect that the adjuster will ask you to give a recorded statement. There’s no reason to give one, especially without an attorney being present on your behalf. The adjuster already knows how the accident happened, and it’s far to early to remark on the full nature and extent of your medical condition. Any inconsistencies or deviations from what you told the police after the accident will be used against you. Your credibility will be attacked, and the opposing insurer will use that against you in order to devalue your claim. That can ultimately cost you thousands of dollars. Here are some other ways that the other insurer will try to save money:

• By making a quick and low settlement offer in the hope that it gets you before you know the full extent of your condition.
• By monitoring your social media accounts looking for inconsistent statements or even photos to allege that you weren’t injured to the extent claimed.
• By making statements or promises that will cause you to ignore the statute of limitations in your case.

In order to prevail on a personal injury claim or lawsuit, the person who suffered injuries must prove that the other driver was careless and negligent. Here are some common examples of negligent driving:

• Distracted driving while talking on a cell phone, texting, using an infotainment center, eating or attending to personal grooming while driving.
• Causing a rear-end collision by following too closely for weather or traffic conditions.
• Failing to stop at traffic signals or stop signs.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any combination of the two.
• Making unsafe, abrupt or erratic lane changes.

Call 911 right away after an accident. Ask for police to come the scene and since you’re hurt, ask for paramedics too. The police will investigate the accident and compile a written accident report. Paramedics will document complaints of pain, document your injuries and transport you to the nearest emergency room. You’ll be examined and treated there. The records of the paramedics and emergency room personnel will start a line of medical records that will be relied on by both sides to the injury claim.

Don’t think that you can’t afford a quality Missoula car accident lawyer to represent you for your injuries and losses. It won’t cost you a penny to hire us to represent you. That’s because we’re retained in car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you incur no legal fees at all unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you. Don’t give control of your case to the opposing insurer. Take advantage of our free consultation and case evaluation offer, and contact us right away after any accident. We’re respected, experienced and aggressive Missoula car accident lawyers.

Head-on collisions account for only about two percent of all traffic accidents, but a person is about five times more likely to be severely injured or killed in a head-on accident as opposed to any other accident scenario. These crashes are typically violent. It’s a simple matter of physics that when two vehicles collide head-on at 50 mph, it’s like hitting a wall at 100 mph. Back seat occupants might be a bit safer in a head-on crash. That’s because they’re not as close to the impact as drivers or front seat occupants.

Last week, a head-on collision closed Highway 200 east of Bonner in Missoula County at about 3:00 p.m. A total of nine people from three vehicles were involved in the crash when a Nissan Rogue SUV hit a Chevrolet Silverado pick up truck. The driver of the pick up had to be extricated from the vehicle by first responders. He was transported to a local hospital along with another person who suffered only minor injuries. According to Missoulian, all others involved in the accident declined treatment.

As per the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 75 percent of all fatal head-on collisions occur on undivided roads with two lanes of traffic. Of those, 83 percent were on rural roads. Here are some of the common causes of those collisions:  

• Failed, unsafe and reckless passing maneuvers. 
• Distracted driving, talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. 
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of both. 
• Drowsy or fatigued driving. 
• Driving too fast for weather or road conditions.

Victims of head-on crashes who are fortunate enough to survive often suffer severe or catastrophic injuries that are physically, emotionally and financially devastating. Some typical injuries resulting from these types types of collisions follow:

• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Traumatic spinal cord injuries.
• Facial lacerations and fractures.
• Severe dental injuries.
• Leg, hip and arm fractures.
• Rib fractures and internal organ damage.

A thorough investigation is critical for establishing fault in head-on crashes. Even if there aren’t any eyewitnesses, the physical evidence from the scene and the vehicles can be used to prove liability. The crash scene can be fully assessed. Skid marks, gouge marks and tire tracks can tell the story of who was in the correct lane of travel at the time of impact. If eyewitnesses do exist their statements can be taken. Police accident reports might also be obtained and reviewed, and the investigating officers can be interviewed.

If you’ve been injured in a head-on crash that was caused by the carelessness and negligence of another driver, you’re probably eligible for compensation for your damages. That compensation can include payment of your medical bills, lost earnings, permanent disability or disfigurement, pain and suffering and loss of a normal life. In the event of a wrongful death, the decedent’s family members are eligible for other compensation.

You can consult with us on any motor vehicle accident with injuries or wrongful death at no cost. We’ll listen to you closely, answer your questions and advise you of your full range of legal options. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation.