Car Accidents in Livingston
Located in southwestern Montana, our rural town, Livingston, is home to just over 8,000 inhabitants; however, it attracts many more visitors looking to catch a glimpse of the simple life from yesteryear when traveling south to visit Yellowstone National Park.
Because of this, our quaint town’s local roads and the surrounding highways and interstates often see noteworthy traffic, which is why there are car accidents in Livingston.
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a crash and want to know what your rights to compensation are, contact our firm, Western Justice Associates, PLLC. We’ll connect you with one of our car crash attorneys who can let you know which rights Montana law affords you, including demanding compensation when collisions like yours occur.
Where Wrecks Occur in Our City
A review of locations in Livingston, MT, and other parts of Park County where auto accidents appear to be more common than others include:
- Old Clyde Park Road
- I-90
- Highway 212
- US-89
- Highway 287
While a review of news stories, county and city agencies’ social media posts, and other data reveals that the locations above are where most car accidents in Livingston and Park County in general occur, they can happen virtually anywhere, including on local streets.
What To Know About Car Crashes in Rural Areas Like Livingston, MT
Our state’s roadways see a significant amount of rural traffic, and motorists typically navigate these roads at a fast rate of speed. It, therefore, shouldn’t come as a surprise that the state agency contends that at least 90% of all collisions occur on rural roads like the ones that crisscross Livingston, MT.
The MDT argues that there’s an even distribution of different types of crashes between urban and rural areas. However, studies previously published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) suggest that motorists involved in rural accidents are more susceptible to dying in them because they are:
- Less apt to wear seat belts
- More likely to speed
- Less focused on the road (more prone to distractions)
- More likely to be impaired behind the wheel
In addition to risky driving behaviors such as the ones described above, the GHSA notes that additional factors such as the following only increase the deadliness of rural roadways:
- More simplistic road design
- A shortage of access to safety resources
- Inferior medical services
In terms of the latter, car crash victims often end up suffering far more catastrophic injuries or preventable deaths than they otherwise should or would in car accidents in Livingston and other similar cities.
The reason this happens is two-fold. It occurs because it can take longer for someone to notice and report an accident the more rural an area is (if the driver is knocked unconscious, for example).
Second, once help is summoned, it can take a long time for emergency crews to arrive, the more remote the location is, and also for them to transport the victim(s) to a hospital to receive life-saving care.
When To Turn to a Lawyer After an Auto Accident
Recovering from severe injuries caused by a car collision can be quite involved, financially, emotionally, and physically speaking.
Grieving the untimely loss of a loved one can consume a lot of your time, especially if you find yourself needing to handle final arrangements, assume the role of financial provider for your family in your family member’s absence, or attend counseling to cope with your loss.
Coming to terms with your own injuries and recovering as best as you possibly can or coping with your sudden loss, all while having to learn to appropriately navigate the legal system following car accidents in Livingston, can be a lot to deal with all at once.
That’s why it’s best to bring into the fold a skilled lawyer who knows Montana law, how different statutes apply to cases like yours, and how that impacts your rights.
Reach out for a free consultation with one of our lawyers to discuss your case today.
