If an 80,000-pound grain truck loses control on the ice-covered highways near Wolf Point, or an exhausted oilfield hauler drifts across the centerline on US-2 outside Culbertson, the results are catastrophic. Roosevelt County isn’t just another dot on the map—it’s a critical corridor where agricultural freight, Bakken basin energy traffic, and transcontinental shipping converge across some of Montana’s most demanding terrain. When that convergence turns violent, you need more than standard legal help. You need an 18-wheeler accident lawyer who understands the difference between a County Route 305 rollover and a city fender-bender.
We’ve spent over 25 years fighting for trucking accident victims. Ralph Manginello has built Attorney911 on one principle: when trucking companies cut corners and lives get destroyed, they pay. Since 1998, we’ve recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families across Montana and beyond—$5 million for a traumatic brain injury, $3.8 million for an amputation case, $2.5 million for truck crash victims. But numbers only tell part of the story. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña spent years defending insurance companies before joining our firm. He sat in those conference rooms where adjusters are trained to minimize your pain and maximize their profits. Now he uses that insider knowledge against them. That’s your advantage when you’re staring down a trucking conglomerate’s legal team.
Why Roosevelt County 18-Wheeler Accidents Demand Immediate Action
The physics don’t change just because you’re in northeastern Montana. An 80,000-pound loaded tractor-trailer carries roughly 20 times the kinetic energy of a passenger car. When that mass hits ice on US-2, or when a fatigued driver misses a curve near Poplar, the destruction is absolute. Roosevelt County sees unique risk factors: brutal winters that turn highways into skating rinks, long stretches of isolation where help is an hour away, and the constant flow of heavy agricultural equipment sharing narrow county roads with interstate freight.
Under Montana law, you have just three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. That sounds like plenty of time. It isn’t. Critical evidence in trucking cases—Electronic Control Module (ECM) data, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records, driver qualification files, and maintenance logs—can be overwritten, deleted, or “lost” within 30 to 180 days. The trucking company isn’t waiting. They have rapid-response investigators and attorneys on retainer who arrive at scenes before the ambulances leave. They’re building their defense while you’re still in shock.
That’s why we send spoliation letters within 24 hours of being retained. These legal demands notify the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties that evidence must be preserved or face severe court sanctions. We don’t wait because your case can’t wait.
The Regulatory Reality: FMCSA Rules That Protect Roosevelt County Drivers
Every commercial truck rolling through Roosevelt County must comply with strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations codified in 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399. These aren’t suggestions—they’re federal law, and violations prove negligence.
49 CFR Part 391 (Driver Qualifications) requires trucking companies to verify that every driver holds a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), passes rigorous medical examinations (renewed every 24 months max), and completes entry-level driver training. When a Montana grain hauler causes a wreck because the company never checked his driving history, that’s negligent hiring under federal law.
49 CFR Part 393 (Vehicle Safety/Cargo Securement) mandates proper loading and equipment maintenance. Out here, we’ve seen too many cases where improperly secured agricultural cargo shifts during transport, causing rollovers on MT-16. The regulations require cargo securement systems to withstand 0.8 g deceleration forces—if they failed, the loading company or trucking company broke the law.
49 CFR Part 395 (Hours of Service) limits driving to 11 hours maximum after 10 consecutive hours off duty, prohibits driving beyond the 14th hour on duty, and mandates a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. These are the most violated regulations in fatigue-related accidents on Montana’s long-haul corridors. ELDs record every minute, and that data is evidence of exhaustion.
49 CFR Part 396 (Inspection/Maintenance) requires systematic vehicle upkeep. Brake failures cause 29% of truck crashes, and FMCSA requires pre-trip inspections covering service brakes, parking brakes, steering, tires, and lighting. When a truck hits black ice near Frazer because the brakes were out of adjustment, those inspection records tell the story.
The Ten Liable Parties We Hunt Down
Most law firms look at an accident and see one driver and one company. We see a web of responsibility. In Roosevelt County, where agricultural co-ops hire independent haulers and energy companies subcontract transport, identifying every liable party is crucial for maximum recovery.
1. The Driver: Direct negligence—speeding for conditions, distracted driving, Hours of Service violations, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company/Motor Carrier: Vicarious liability under respondeat superior (the employer answers for the employee). Plus direct negligence for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or pressure to violate safety rules.
3. The Cargo Owner/Shipper: When a Williston Basin oil company demands rushed delivery through Roosevelt County in whiteout conditions, they share liability.
4. The Loading Company: In agricultural accidents, the grain elevator or livestock yard that improperly distributed weight or failed to secure cargo is liable.
5. The Truck Manufacturer: Design defects in stability control or braking systems.
6. The Parts Manufacturer: Defective tires, brakes, or coupling devices.
7. The Maintenance Company: Third-party shops that negligently repaired brakes or steering.
8. The Freight Broker: When brokers hire carriers with terrible safety records (visible on FMCSA’s SAFER system) just because they’re cheap, they’re negligent.
9. The Truck Owner: In owner-operator arrangements, separate liability exists.
10. Government Entities: When Montana DOT fails to maintain safe road conditions or adequate signage on state highways, they may share liability (though sovereign immunity laws apply).
Montana follows modified comparative negligence—under Section 27-1-702, you can recover if you’re 50% or less at fault, but your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 51% or more responsible, you recover nothing. That’s why proving the trucking company’s violations is critical.
Accident Types We See Across Roosevelt County
Jackknife Accidents: On icy stretches of I-90 or US-2, when a driver brakes suddenly and the trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, blocking multiple lanes. Caused by speeding for conditions, improper braking technique, or empty/light loads that lack traction.
Rollover Accidents: Agricultural trucks with high centers of gravity are particularly vulnerable on curves. Improperly secured grain that shifts mid-turn, or liquid surge in tankers, creates rollover risks on County Route 305 and similar rural roads.
Underride Collisions: The most fatal accident type—when a passenger vehicle slides under the trailer. Rear underride guards are mandatory under 49 CFR 393.86, but side underride guards aren’t federally required. These often occur at intersections on US-191.
Rear-End Collisions: A loaded truck needs nearly 525 feet to stop from 65 mph—two football fields. Following too closely under 49 CFR 392.11 is illegal, yet common when drivers are distracted or fatigued on long hauls toward Williston.
Tire Blowouts: Extreme temperature variations in Montana cause tire degradation. Under 49 CFR 393.75, steer tires require 4/32 inch tread depth. When a blowout causes loss of control, we examine maintenance records to prove the company knew the tires were bald.
Cargo Spills: Grain spills on MT-16, equipment falling from flatbeds—these create secondary accidents and prove violations of 49 CFR 393.100-136 cargo securement rules.
Catastrophic Injuries and Montana Recovery Potential
18-wheeler accidents don’t cause fender-benders. They cause:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): From concussions to severe cognitive impairment. Settlement ranges typically $1.5 million to $9.8 million depending on lifelong care needs and cognitive impact.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Paraplegia or quadriplegia requiring lifetime medical care, home modifications, and loss of earning capacity. These cases often reach $4.7 million to $25.8 million.
Amputations: Whether traumatic (severed at scene) or surgical (due to crush injuries), prosthetics and rehabilitation costs run into millions. Documented ranges: $1.9 million to $8.6 million.
Wrongful Death: When a trucking accident takes a loved one on Roosevelt County roads, Montana law allows recovery for lost income, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Ranges typically $1.9 million to $9.5 million.
Severe Burns: From fuel fires or hazmat spills. Treatment requires skin grafting, reconstruction, and years of therapy.
Under Montana law, there is no cap on economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) or non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in trucking cases. While Montana technically caps punitive damages at $10 million or 3% of net worth under Section 27-1-220, MCA, these are rarely the primary recovery and don’t limit your actual damages.
Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry minimum liability insurance of $750,000 for non-hazardous freight, $1 million for oil and equipment, and $5 million for hazardous materials. Many carriers carry excess policies. We identify and pursue every available policy.
Evidence That Disappears: The 48-Hour Rule
If you’re reading this after an accident in Roosevelt County, evidence is already vanishing.
Electronic Control Module (ECM) Data: Records speed, braking, throttle position. Overwrites in 30 days or less with new driving events. Proves if the driver was speeding or never hit the brakes.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELD): Federally mandated since December 2017. Records Hours of Service compliance, GPS location, and driver duty status. FMCSA requires retention for only 6 months—then trucking companies can delete it.
Dashcam Footage: Often deletes automatically within 7-14 days.
Driver Qualification Files: Must be kept for 3 years after employment ends, but companies “lose” them.
Maintenance Records: Required for 14 months (annual inspections) or 1 year (repairs), but gaps appear once litigation is threatened.
Surveillance Video: Nearby businesses may have footage of the crash, but systems overwrite every 7-30 days.
Drug and Alcohol Testing: Must occur within specific windows after fatal accidents or reasonable suspicion. Results are evidence of impairment.
Witness Statements: Rural Roosevelt County accidents may have few witnesses, but those who stop need to be interviewed before memories fade.
We subpoena cell phone records to prove distracted driving, obtain dispatch records to prove scheduling pressure, and hire accident reconstruction experts who understand Montana’s winter road conditions and how they interact with truck physics.
Why Trucking Companies Fear Attorney911
They have teams of lawyers. We have Ralph Manginello, admitted to federal court in the Southern District of Texas and licensed in both Texas and New York, with over two decades of making negligent corporations pay. We’ve taken on BP after the Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 170. When a university fraternity’s hazing nearly killed a student, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against the institution and national organization. We don’t back down from power.
Our results speak: $50 million recovered for clients across all practice areas. A 4.9-star Google rating from 251+ reviews. As Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” Donald Wilcox told us a previous firm rejected his case—we got him a “handsome check.” Glenda Walker said we fought for her to get “every dime I deserved.”
We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we serve Roosevelt County victims with the same intensity we bring to Texas cases. Geography isn’t a barrier—federal trucking law applies nationwide, and we have the resources to travel to Montana for your case.
Hablamos Español
For our Spanish-speaking clients in Roosevelt County’s agricultural and energy sectors, Lupe Peña provides fluent representation without interpreters. No translations get lost. No nuance missed. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratuita.
What to Do Today
If you or a loved one was injured in an 18-wheeler accident anywhere in Roosevelt County—from Wolf Point to Culbertson, from the Bakken oil fields to the grain silos—call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911. We answer 24/7. The consultation is free. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. We advance all costs.
Don’t give the trucking company’s insurance adjuster a recorded statement. Don’t sign anything. Don’t wait for the evidence to disappear. The clock started ticking the moment that truck hit you. Let’s stop it together.
Hablamos Español. Llamenos hoy: 1-888-ATTY-911.
Your family deserves an attorney who treats you like family, not a file number. You deserve someone who knows that an MT-16 rollover in January isn’t the same as a fender-bender in July. You deserve Attorney911.
Call now. Evidence is disappearing. Justice is waiting.
