Truck accidents in Montana are different than regular car accidents. The size and weight of commercial trucks compared to your passenger vehicle often means that you are the one who ends up with catastrophic or permanent injuries.
Car accident injuries
Injuries from a truck accident are often much more serious than the average car accident injuries. Brain injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement or even permanent paralysis are some examples of truck accident injuries that can change your entire life.
Additionally, truck drivers and trucking companies are held to certain standards when operating their vehicles on the roads. For example, truck drivers must adhere to strict rules about when they can drive their trucks and the amount of weight they can carry, while trucking companies are responsible for ensuring trucks are properly maintained.
Learning who is responsible
Another unique factor in truck accidents is determining who to sue. The truck driver, trucking company or truck manufacturer are all potentially liable parties depending on the cause of the crash. One party could be entirely responsible or multiple parties may share the blame.
When you are suffering from injuries after a truck accident, you might be tempted to take the first offer from the insurance company because you need the relief. Your medical bills are likely piling up and you could be unable to work.
However, the first offer from an insurance company is rarely the best offer and not enough to cover all your losses. The goal of most insurance companies is to pay you as little as possible.
Beware of insurance company tactics
They try to achieve this goal in many ways. They might try to say you contributed to the accident since Montana’s negligence laws reduce your compensation if you are partly to blame. They could try to take advantage of your fragile state by trying to negotiate with you immediately after the accident, even when you may still be in the hospital.
Do not let insurance companies bully you into a settlement that is less than your case is worth. Having your case evaluated by a professional can increase your chance of receiving the compensation you need.
