On Your Side After A Motor Vehicle Accident
Motor vehicle accidents occur every day, but that does not mean that you are prepared for one when it happens to you. When you should be focusing solely on your recovery, you have to worry about medical bills, arranging for time off work and navigating the complex insurance system with adjusters who aren’t looking out for your best interests.
The attorneys at Towe & Fitzpatrick, PLLC, have over 90 years of combined experience helping people like you who have been injured in collisions involving cars, trucks and motorcycles. We know the tactics insurance companies use. We don’t let them get away with anything, and they know it.
Were you injured in an accident anywhere in Montana? Call our office in Missoula at 800-639-7106 or email us for your free initial consultation.
In your first consultation, we can begin answering questions such as:
- What should I do following a car accident?
- Do I have a personal injury case?
- How much is my claim worth?
- How much will it cost?
- How long will it take to get my compensation?
- Who will pay my medical bills?
- Can I get money now for the medical treatment I need?
- What if my employer won’t give me time off work?
- What do I need to know about my insurance coverage?
- Can I still recover if I was partially at fault?
- What if my car was damaged or totaled?
- Can I get a replacement car while mine is being repaired?
- Should I accept an accident injury settlement?
- Is the settlement I’ve been offered a good one?
- What if the accident involved a drunk driver?
What Is Montana’s Statute Of Limitations For Filing A Car Accident Lawsuit?
Montana generally gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident. You generally have two years to file a claim for property damage, such as damage to your car or other property.
Some exceptions can change these deadlines. For example, if you could not reasonably discover your injury or what caused it when the accident happened, the deadline may start when you discovered or should have discovered the injury. Different rules may also apply when the injured person is a child. These rules can affect when the deadline starts. Claims involving a state or local government may also require you to give notice within a shorter time before filing a lawsuit.
Missing the deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation through a lawsuit. An attorney can review your accident and explain which deadline and other filing rules apply to your claim.
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured Or Underinsured In Montana?
If the driver who caused your accident has no insurance or has liability limits that are too low to cover your losses, your own uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide compensation. UM coverage can apply when the driver at fault has no insurance. UIM coverage may help when the driver’s insurance limits are lower than the compensation you may be entitled to recover.
With UM or UIM coverage, you make a claim with your own insurance company under your policy.
Whether coverage applies can depend on your policy’s terms, the circumstances of the accident and whether your losses meet the policy requirements. The amount you can recover may also depend on your covered losses and policy limits. An attorney can review your policy, help determine whether UM or UIM coverage applies and communicate with your insurance company on your behalf.
Do Not Wait To Get Help | Free Consultations
We encourage you to call our office after any serious collision. An experienced lawyer will review your case for free, answer your questions and help address the concerns you have about the process. Should you choose our firm to represent you, we won’t charge attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Schedule your free initial consultation by calling 800-639-7106 or sending us an email. When your injuries make it difficult to travel, we can meet you at home or the hospital and after hours by appointment.
