Best Car Accident Lawyers in Missoula

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Missoula, Montana?

  The non-emergency contact number for the Missoula police station is (406) 552-6300.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Missoula, Montana?

  You can request for a copy of a Missoula police accident report by calling 406-552-6303. Under normal circumstances, it can become available within seven to 10 days from the request date.

• How many vehicular crashes occur in Missoula each year?

  The police department of Missoula responds to around 1,800 reported crashes each year. Fourteen percent of these are related to alcohol, correlating with the national and state average. The department has prioritized traffic and DUI enforcement since 2003 and increased DUI arrests up to 1,026 from a low of 358 within nine years.

• What are the penalties for a hit-and-run case in Missoula?

  The highest penalty for a hit-and-run driver in Missoula, according to Montana law, is a 50,000-dollar fine, a 10-year prison sentence, and driver’s license revocation, if death or serious injuries are involved. Less serious injuries may mean a 5,000-dollar fine and a maximum of one year jail time. First-time offenders involving no injuries could mean a fine of 300 dollars and a maximum of 20 days in jail. Subsequent convictions equal six months in jail and a 500-dollar fine.

• What are most serious and significant types of crashes that occur in Missoula?

  In Montana, where Missoula is located, the crashes with the most serious injuries and fatalities are roadway departure accidents involving single vehicles. Most of the fatality victims in these crashes are unrestrained vehicle occupants. In rollover crashes, among the greatest concerns involved occupants being ejected. These victims have a four-fold likelihood of incurring fatal injuries as compared to victims who remained restrained within their vehicle.

• Where do most fatal crashes occur in Missoula?

  Astonishingly, nine out of 10 crashes with fatalities in Montana, where Missoula is located, occur on rural roadways. However, the various types of crashes occurring in the region are distributed evenly between urban and rural roadways. The high proportion of high-speed vehicular miles of travel on low-volume rural roads is a critical issue of traffic safety in this area.

• What is the statute of limitations regarding the filing of personal injury cases in Missoula?

  What is the statute of limitations regarding the filing of personal injury cases in Missoula? Montana tort law, which encompasses Missoula, states that the plaintiff should file the personal injury claim case within three years of their injury. Underage minors are an exception to this rule; the statute of limitations in their case does not begin until the plaintiff reaches 18 years of age. Thus, if a child incurred an injury on their 10th birthday, their parents have 11 years to file their claim.