Yellowstone County 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys: Your Fight for Justice Starts Here

The impact was catastrophic. One moment you’re driving along I-90 through Yellowstone County, and the next, an 80,000-pound truck has changed your life forever. The agricultural trucks hauling grain, the oilfield equipment carriers heading to the Bakken, the commercial freight moving between Billings and Missoula—they’re everywhere on our Montana highways. And when one of them makes a mistake, you pay the price.

At Attorney911, we’ve spent over 25 years fighting for trucking accident victims across the United States, including right here in Yellowstone County. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families devastated by 18-wheeler crashes—from a $5 million traumatic brain injury recovery for a logging accident victim to a $3.8 million settlement for a client who lost a limb after a car crash. We know the federal regulations that govern these cases, and we know how to make trucking companies pay when they break them.

The clock is already ticking. Evidence in Yellowstone County trucking accidents disappears fast. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Trucking companies send rapid-response teams to the scene before the ambulance even arrives. If you’ve been hurt in an 18-wheeler accident anywhere in Yellowstone County—from Billings to Laurel to Shepherd—you need an advocate who moves just as fast.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. We’re available 24/7, and we don’t charge a dime unless we win your case. Hablamos Español—if you prefer Spanish, ask for Lupe Peña, our associate attorney whose unique background defending insurance companies now works in your favor.

Why Yellowstone County 18-Wheeler Accidents Demand Specialized Legal Experience

Not every car accident attorney understands the complexity of commercial trucking cases. In Yellowstone County, where I-90 serves as the primary artery for freight moving across the Northern Rockies and where agricultural harvests create seasonal spikes in commercial traffic, 18-wheeler accidents present unique challenges that require specific expertise.

The Physics Are Brutal

Your car weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds. That’s not just bigger—it’s twenty times heavier. When that weight collides with a passenger vehicle at highway speeds through Yellowstone County, the results are devastating. An 18-wheeler traveling at 65 mph needs nearly 525 feet to stop—that’s almost two football fields. When a truck driver is distracted, fatigued, or driving too fast for Montana’s winter conditions, they can’t stop in time.

Federal Regulations Create Accountability

Unlike regular car accidents, commercial trucks are governed by strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), Parts 390-399. These laws control everything from how long drivers can stay on the road to how cargo must be secured to how often brakes must be inspected.

When trucking companies violate these regulations—and they often do—they create liability that can lead to substantial recoveries. Our firm understands these complex federal laws and how to use them to prove negligence.

Multiple Liable Parties Mean Higher Recoveries

In a typical car accident, you might sue one driver. In an 18-wheeler accident in Yellowstone County, we investigate ten potentially liable parties: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo owner, the loading company, the truck manufacturer, parts manufacturers, maintenance companies, freight brokers, the truck owner (if different from the carrier), and even government entities responsible for road design. The more parties we identify, the more insurance coverage we can access—and the better your recovery.

As client Glenda Walker told us after her case settled, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s exactly what we do for every Yellowstone County trucking accident victim we represent.

Meet the Attorney911 Team: Experience That Makes the Difference

When you hire Attorney911 for your Yellowstone County 18-wheeler accident case, you’re getting more than just a lawyer—you’re getting a team with 50 million dollars in recoveries and the specific experience needed to take on Fortune 500 trucking operations.

Ralph Manginello: 25 Years Fighting for Victims

Ralph Manginello has been standing up for injury victims since 1998. A graduate of the University of Texas and South Texas College of Law, Ralph is admitted to practice in both Texas and New York, and he’s admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas—critical for handling interstate trucking cases that cross state lines.

His experience includes litigating against the world’s largest corporations, including involvement in the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation that resulted in over $2 billion in industry-wide settlements. Ralph knows how corporate defendants think, and he knows how to beat them. As one client, Ernest Cano, put it: “Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”

Lupe Peña: The Insurance Defense Advantage

Here’s what makes Attorney911 different from other firms advertising in Yellowstone County: our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years working at a national insurance defense firm before joining our team.

Why does this matter to you? Because Lupe knows exactly how trucking insurance companies evaluate claims, minimize payouts, and train their adjusters to deny legitimate cases. He’s been inside the room where they decide how to pay you as little as possible. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight FOR you. As he said in a recent interview, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Lupe is also fluent in Spanish, meaning we can serve Yellowstone County’s Hispanic community directly without interpreters. “Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-288-9911.”

Three Offices Serving You Wherever You Are

With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve trucking accident victims across the United States. For our Yellowstone County clients, we offer remote consultations and are prepared to travel to Montana for your case. Distance is never a barrier to getting the representation you deserve.

Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents We Handle in Yellowstone County

Yellowstone County presents unique hazards for commercial trucking. The combination of I-90’s high-speed corridor, the steep grades and mountain passes connecting us to Wyoming, extreme winter weather that can turn roads to ice in minutes, and the heavy agricultural and oilfield traffic creates dangerous conditions. Here are the accident types we see most often in our Yellowstone County cases:

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife occurs when the truck’s trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, often sweeping across multiple lanes of I-90 or Montana Highway 3. In Yellowstone County, these are especially deadly during winter months when black ice is common.

Why they happen: Sudden braking on slippery surfaces, driving too fast for conditions (violating 49 CFR § 392.6), or improper brake maintenance (violating 49 CFR § 396).

The injuries: Multi-vehicle pileups, crushing injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and fatalities.

Rollover Accidents

With Yellowstone County’s position near the Beartooth Mountains and the varying elevations on routes like the Bozeman Pass approach, rollover accidents are common. These occur when a truck tips onto its side or roof, often due to speeding on curves or unbalanced cargo shifts.

Why they happen: Taking curves too fast (49 CFR § 392.6 violations), improperly secured cargo (49 CFR § 393.100-136), or driver fatigue leading to overcorrection.

The injuries: Catastrophic crushing injuries, spinal cord damage, and often fatalities for vehicles caught beneath the trailer.

Underride Collisions

Among the most deadly accidents we handle, underrides occur when a passenger vehicle crashes into the rear or side of a trailer and slides underneath. The roof of the car is often sheared off at windshield level.

Why they happen: Inadequate rear impact guards (violating 49 CFR § 393.86), sudden stops without warning, or lack of side underride guards (currently not federally mandated but often negligent).

The injuries: Often decapitation, severe head trauma, or instant death. These cases demand aggressive representation because they almost always involve clear negligence.

Rear-End Collisions

Trucks require 40% more stopping distance than passenger vehicles. When a truck driver is distracted, fatigued, or following too closely on I-90 through Billings, they can’t stop in time.

Why they happen: Following too closely (49 CFR § 392.11), distracted driving (49 CFR § 392.82 prohibits handheld phone use), or brake failure from poor maintenance (49 CFR § 396.3).

The injuries: Whiplash, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries from the violent impact of an 80,000-pound vehicle.

Wide Turn (“Squeeze Play”) Accidents

In Billings’ urban areas, confined spaces along commercial routes, or at rural intersections near agricultural processing facilities, trucks must swing wide to make right turns. When they fail to check blind spots or signal properly, they trap passenger vehicles in the “squeeze play.”

Why they happen: Failure to signal (49 CFR § 392.2), inadequate mirror checks, or improper training on truck maneuvering.

Blind Spot (“No-Zone”) Accidents

Commercial trucks have massive blind spots—20 feet ahead, 30 feet behind, and one lane to the left. The right-side blind spot is largest and most dangerous. When truck drivers change lanes on I-90 without checking these zones, disaster follows.

Why they happen: Failure to check mirrors, improperly adjusted mirrors (49 CFR § 393.80 requires proper mirrors), or distraction.

Tire Blowout Accidents

Montana’s temperature extremes—from summer heat on the interstate to winter cold—cause tire failures. When a steer tire blows on a truck traveling at highway speed near Billings or Laurel, the driver often loses control completely.

Why they happen: Inadequate tread depth (49 CFR § 393.75 requires 4/32″ on steer tires), improper inflation, or failure to inspect (49 CFR § 396.13).

Brake Failure Accidents

Brake problems factor in approximately 29% of large truck crashes. Given Yellowstone County’s elevation changes and mountain passes, brake failure is particularly dangerous here.

Why they happen: Failure to maintain brake systems (49 CFR § 393.40-55), deferred maintenance to save costs (49 CFR § 396.3), or driver abuse of brakes on descents.

Cargo Spill and Shift Accidents

Agricultural trucks carrying grain, sugar beets, or livestock, and oilfield equipment carriers often travel through Yellowstone County. When cargo shifts or spills onto I-90 or Highway 87, it creates chaos.

Why they happen: Violation of cargo securement rules (49 CFR § 393.100-136), exceeding weight limits, or improper loading by third parties.

Head-On Collisions

When fatigued or impaired truck drivers cross center lines on two-lane highways in rural Yellowstone County, the results are almost always fatal for the passenger vehicle occupants.

Why they happen: Driver fatigue (49 CFR § 395 Hours of Service violations), impairment (49 CFR § 392.4-5), or distraction.

FMCSA Regulations: The Rules Trucking Companies Break

Federal regulations exist to keep you safe. When trucking companies violate them, we use those violations to prove negligence. Here are the critical regulations governing Yellowstone County commercial traffic:

Part 390: General Applicability

Establishes that all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) over 10,001 lbs operating in interstate commerce must follow FMCSA rules.

Part 391: Driver Qualification Standards

49 CFR § 391.11 requires drivers to be at least 21 years old, speak English, hold a valid CDL, and pass medical exams every 24 months. 49 CFR § 391.51 requires trucking companies to maintain Driver Qualification Files including background checks, medical certifications, and driving records.

How this helps you: If the company failed to verify the driver’s qualifications or hired someone with a history of violations, they’re liable for negligent hiring.

Part 392: Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles

• § 392.3: Prohibits operation while fatigued or impaired. “No driver shall operate… while the driver’s ability or alertness is so impaired… through fatigue, illness, or any other cause.”
• § 392.4-5: Prohibits drugs and alcohol (BAC over .04%).
• § 392.6: Prohibits speeding or scheduling routes that require speeding.
• § 392.11: Requires reasonable following distance.
• § 392.82: Prohibits handheld mobile phone use while driving.

Part 393: Vehicle Safety and Cargo Securement

• § 393.100-136: Detailed cargo securement rules requiring loads to withstand 0.8g forward deceleration and 0.5g lateral acceleration. Violations here prove negligence when cargo shifts.
• § 393.40-55: Brake system requirements. Worn brakes or improper adjustment violate these rules.
• § 393.75: Tire requirements. Tires with insufficient tread are violations.
• § 393.86: Rear impact guard requirements for trailers.

Part 395: Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations

These are the most commonly violated rules:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit: Cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-Hour Duty Window: Cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
• 30-Minute Break: Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
• 60/70-Hour Rule: Cannot drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days.
• ELD Mandate: Since December 2017, drivers must use Electronic Logging Devices (§ 395.8) that automatically record driving time.

Why this matters: ELD data proves fatigue violations definitively. We subpoena this data immediately.

Part 396: Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance

§ 396.3 requires systematic inspection and maintenance. § 396.11 requires drivers to prepare post-trip reports on vehicle condition. § 396.13 requires pre-trip inspections.

How this helps you: If the driver reported brake problems and the company failed to fix them, we prove deliberate negligence.

Who Can Be Held Liable? All Ten Parties

Most law firms only sue the driver and trucking company. We investigate every potentially liable party to maximize your recovery under Montana law. In Yellowstone County, this often includes:

1. The Truck Driver: For speeding, distraction, fatigue, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company: Vicarious liability for their employee’s negligence, plus direct liability for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance.
3. Cargo Owner/Shipper: If they demanded overloaded trucks or failed to disclose hazardous cargo.
4. Loading Company: If improper securement caused the accident.
5. Truck Manufacturer: For design defects in brakes, stability control, or fuel tank placement.
6. Parts Manufacturer: For defective tires, brakes, or steering components.
7. Maintenance Company: For negligent repairs that failed to fix known problems.
8. Freight Broker: For negligently hiring carriers with poor safety records.
9. Truck Owner: If different from the carrier, for negligent entrustment.
10. Government Entities: For dangerous road design or failure to maintain safe highways (though sovereign immunity limits apply in Montana).

Under Montana’s modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar), you can recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault. If you’re partially responsible, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault—but unlike contributory negligence states, you don’t lose everything if you share some blame.

The Evidence Time Bomb: Why 48 Hours Matters

Evidence in Yellowstone County 18-wheeler accidents disappears faster than you think. While you’re in the hospital at Billings Clinic or St. Vincent Healthcare, the trucking company is already working to protect themselves.

Critical evidence that vanishes:

• ECM/Black Box Data: Can be overwritten in 30 days or with new driving events
• ELD Logs: Only required to be kept for 6 months
• Dashcam Footage: Often deleted within 7-14 days
• Driver Qualification Files: May be “lost” if not preserved
• Maintenance Records: Can be altered or destroyed
• Witness Memories: Fade within weeks

The Spoliation Letter

When you hire Attorney911, we immediately send a spoliation letter to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties. This legal notice demands preservation of:

• All electronic data (ECM, ELD, GPS, telematics)
• Driver Qualification Files and medical records
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Cell phone records
• Dashcam and surveillance footage
• Physical evidence (the truck itself)

Once this letter is sent, destroying evidence becomes “spoliation”—subject to court sanctions, adverse jury instructions, or even default judgment.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Recovery

Given the physics involved, Yellowstone County trucking accidents often cause catastrophic injuries requiring millions in lifetime care. Our firm has secured multi-million dollar settlements for:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Settlements typically range from $1.5 million to $9.8 million depending on severity. TBI can cause permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, and inability to work. Lifetime care costs can exceed $3 million.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Including paraplegia and quadriplegia. Settlements range from $4.7 million to $25.8 million or more. These cases require life care planning, home modifications, and 24/7 attendant care.

Amputation

Whether traumatic (at the scene) or surgical (later due to infection), amputations settlements range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million, accounting for prosthetics (needing replacement every 3-5 years), rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity.

Severe Burns

Often from fuel fires or hazmat spills on I-90. Burn injuries require multiple skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and carry high infection risks.

Wrongful Death

When a trucking accident kills a loved one in Yellowstone County, surviving family members can recover settlement ranges from $1.9 million to $9.5 million, covering lost income, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and funeral expenses.

Important: Montana caps punitive damages at the greater of $10 million or 3% of the defendant’s net worth, but there’s no cap on compensatory damages for trucking accidents.

Montana Insurance Requirements and Your Case

Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry:

• $750,000 minimum for non-hazardous freight
• $1,000,000 minimum for oil, equipment, and large vehicles
• $5,000,000 minimum for hazardous materials

Many carriers carry $1-5 million or more in coverage. Montana also requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance.

This high coverage means that when we prove negligence, there’s actually money available to compensate you fully—unlike car accidents where the at-fault driver might only have $25,000 in coverage.

As client Donald Wilcox discovered after another firm rejected his case: “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” We take cases others won’t because we know how to win them.

Frequently Asked Questions: Yellowstone County Trucking Accidents

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Yellowstone County, Montana?
Under Montana law, you have 3 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and 3 years for wrongful death claims. However, waiting is dangerous—evidence disappears and witnesses forget. Contact us immediately.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Montana uses modified comparative negligence. If you were 50% or less at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover. Don’t let the trucking company blame you without evidence—we’ll prove what really happened using black box data.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
NO. Never give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize your claim. As client Chad Harris warned: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them”—meaning at Attorney911, we handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing.

How much is my case worth?
It depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But given that trucking companies carry $750,000 to $5 million in coverage, and given our track record of multi-million dollar verdicts, we fight for maximum compensation.

Do you handle cases in Billings and throughout Yellowstone County?
Yes. While our offices are in Texas, we handle 18-wheeler accidents nationwide. We offer remote consultations and travel to Yellowstone County for your case. We know Montana law, Montana courts, and Montana’s trucking corridors.

¿Hablan español?
Sí. Lupe Peña, nuestro abogado asociado, habla español perfectamente. No necesita intérprete—llame al 1-888-288-9911 y pida hablar con el abogado Peña.

What to Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Yellowstone County

1. Seek immediate medical attention at Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare, or the nearest emergency room. Adrenaline masks pain—internal injuries may not show symptoms immediately.
2. Call the police and ensure a report is filed. This creates crucial documentation.
3. Photograph everything: vehicles, truck license plates (including the trailer), damage, road conditions, weather, and your injuries.
4. Get information: Driver’s name and CDL number, trucking company name and DOT number, insurance information, and witness contacts.
5. Do NOT sign anything from the trucking company or their insurer without legal review.
6. Call Attorney911 immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 to preserve evidence before it disappears.

Choose Attorney911: Proven Results, Personal Attention

When you choose Attorney911 for your Yellowstone County 18-wheeler accident case, you get:

• 25+ years of experience from Ralph Manginello, admitted to federal court
• Insider knowledge from Lupe Peña’s insurance defense background
• Multi-million dollar results, from the $5 million TBI case to the $3.8 million amputation recovery
• Aggressive evidence preservation—we send spoliation letters within 24 hours
• Spanish language services without interpreters
• No fee unless you win—we advance all costs and work on contingency (33.33% pre-trial, 40% if trial required)

As client Kiimarii Yup shared: “I lost everything… my car was at a total loss, and because of Attorney Manginello and my case worker Leonor, 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”

We don’t treat you like a case number. We treat you like family.

The trucking company has lawyers working right now. You deserve someone fighting for you. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 or 1-888-288-9911 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and we don’t get paid unless you win.

Hablamos Español. Llame hoy al 1-888-288-9911.

Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers
Serving Yellowstone County, Montana
Ralph Manginello, Managing Partner
Lupe Peña, Associate Attorney
1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com