Do you need help recovering financially after a devastating car accident? Our family-owned law firm has fought for Montanans for over 75 years.
Car accidents are a leading cause of personal injury, loss, and accidental death in Montana and nationwide. According to state statistics, 433 people in Montana were injured in motor vehicle collisions in 2015, and an additional 224 people were killed. This data represents an increase of 17 percent over the previous year. In fact, Montana is one of the worst states in the country for auto accidents with more than double the crash fatality rate compared to other states.
Accident statistics become all-too-real when you’re the victim of an accident or you lose a beloved family member to a motor vehicle crash.
Whether you were traveling at high speeds down I-90 or you wrecked on a rural road, the fallout can include painful, debilitating injuries such as severe burns and brain injuries, significant medical expenses, loss of income, and much emotional stress and trauma.
A serious car, truck, or motorcycle accident can cause severe trauma for victims that is extensive, costly, and sometimes permanent. If you or a loved one were the victim of any type of motor vehicle accident, don’t wait to seek help. The clock on filing your claim is ticking. There’s no better time than right now to take a close look at your legal options. Our experienced car accident lawyers in Great Falls, MT can help you seek fair compensation that’s appropriate for your losses. You DON’T have to accept a low ball settlement from insurers.
Why hire Murphy Law Firm?
- We put our clients first
- We ONLY represent the injured
- Compassionate, aggressive and personal legal representation
- Licensed attorneys with extensive legal knowledge
- 75+ years of combined experience
- We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients
- Contingency fee (you don’t pay unless we win)
- Free consultation
Attorney Thomas J. Murphy
Founder of Murphy Law Firm
Montana’s legal system is complex and difficult to navigate. From the start, we’ll work hard to prove the facts of your case. We’ll thoroughly investigate the accident to prove liability, and to calculate your present and future damages. Let our family help yours by fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Case results
Murphy Law Firm has successfully represented thousands of Montanans, including complex workers’ compensation claims.
Types of auto accidents
No two accidents are the same — which is why cases come in all shapes and sizes. At the Murphy Law Firm, we specialize in many different types of auto accident cases. Some of our main areas of expertise include:
Each year, thousands of Montanans are seriously, and sometimes permanently, injured on-the-job. Many of these injuries are the result of a motor vehicle accident. Whether you’re injured while driving heavy-machine equipment on the jobsite or involved in a collision while performing work-related duties, you will likely be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits — regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
In the tragic event that the negligence of another driver causes the death of your loved one, we can help you recover survivor compensation. While the loss of a loved one leaves a devastating void that’s impossible to fill with any amount of money, financial assistance can help provide the means for you and your family to start rebuilding your lives. On top of deep emotional losses, monetary damages in wrongful death cases include reimbursement for funeral/burial expenses and loss of future financial support.
More often than not, accidents involving semi-trucks, heavy duty trailers and 18-wheelers are more deadly and serious than an average car accident. The sheer size and weight of large trucks makes them particularly dangerous on Montana roads. Whether you’re a truck driver or someone who was seriously injured in a truck accident, it’s important to know your legal rights.
Other common types of auto accident cases we handle include distracted driving crashes, hit and runs, drunk driving/DUI cases, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian and bicyclist collisions.
Montana has one of the highest rates of drunk driving deaths in the nation per vehicle mile traveled. Any driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher is considered alcohol-impaired, and will face criminal penalties.
But if you’re injured by a drunk driver in Montana, you may have to file a personal injury (civil) lawsuit against the at-fault driver or a third-party to recover compensation for your economic and noneconomic damages.
Montana car accident laws
Determining fault & liability in auto accident cases
Many accident survivors suffer from no fault of their own, but rather they are merely casualties of someone else’s negligent behavior. The primary causes of serious car accidents in Montana are excessive speeding, intoxicated driving, distracted driving (texting and driving), animals crossing the road, defective auto parts, dangerous weather and unsafe roads. Many of these actions are considered negligent, reckless, or even criminal, and as a result, accident victims may be entitled to substantial compensation.
Montana is a modified comparative fault state, which means determining liability is extremely important. The amount of blame for an accident attributed to each party affects the amount of recoverable damages they can receive.
According to Montana statutes ( 27-1-702. Comparative negligence), personal injury victims are allowed to seek compensation in cases even if they are ruled to be up to 50% responsible. The law states:
Contributory negligence does not bar recovery in an action by a person or the person’s legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or injury to the person or property if the contributory negligence was not greater than the negligence of the person or the combined negligence of all persons against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed must be diminished in the proportion to the percentage of negligence attributable to the person recovering.
For example, let’s say you’re found to be 20 percent at fault for a crash. In this case, your total damages will be decreased by 20 percent. If the other party successfully claims you were 50 percent at fault, then your damages can drop to zero.
If you’re the victim of a careless driver or faulty equipment, it’s in your best interest to speak to a highly qualified attorney as soon as possible. Insurance adjusters are in the business of deflecting blame from their clients and avoiding paying high-dollar claims. At the Murphy Law Firm, our experienced attorneys know how to ensure liability is placed exactly where it should be.
Personal injury statute of limitations
According to Montana Code section 27-2-204, car accident victims have 3 years to file a personal injury claim for compensation in Montana’s civil courts. The “clock” starts running on the date of the accident — or, in the case of a fatality, from the date the person was killed in the accident. For property damage claims to a person’s vehicle or other belongings, any lawsuit must be filed within 2 years of the date of the crash.
While this deadline might seem far away, scheduling a trial date for your Montana accident claim can take a year or more from when the lawsuit is filed. During this time, your attorney must also investigate the accident, take depositions, conduct discovery, negotiate with other parties and build your case. If the outcome isn’t favorable, you may be able to appeal the decision, but that will require more time to resolve.
In short, it’s impossible to know how long your car accident case will take to get resolved, which is why you should talk with an experienced auto accident attorney now about the quickest and best route to recovery — before it’s too late.
See how our Montana auto accident attorneys can help YOU
Murphy Law Firm has a team of highly experienced personal injury, workers’ compensation and wrongful death attorneys with a proven track record. We fight exclusively for accident victims, working to help injured Montanans seek every penny of compensation due for their injuries and losses.
To help build your case, we conduct thorough accident scene investigations, interview all key witnesses, and perform extensive background research. We also work to thoroughly calculate the impact of the accident on your life including past, current, and future expenses.
We can help you obtain reimbursement and compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium (income, companionship, child care, etc.)
- Emotional distress (pain and suffering)
- Punitive damages (money given as punishment)
With our team behind you, you can focus on recuperation and recovery — without the added stress of dealing with dishonest insurers who are just waiting for you to make a mistake. We are adept at handling even the most complex cases, such as crashes caused by faulty automotive equipment (product liability) or accidents that occur while you’re on the job.
If you’re the victim of a serious auto accident, seek effective legal help as soon as possible.
Schedule your free consultation today.
“I recommend Murphy Law Firm to anyone who needs legal assistance with a Workers’ Compensation claim. I was beyond impressed with Tommy Murphy’s handling of my case and ecstatic about the outcome. Incredibly professional and knowledgeable. No one in Montana knows more about this area of law.”
