A severe accident on the busy stretches of King Avenue West, a multi-car pile-up on Zimmerman Trail, or a devastating workplace incident in the industrial areas downtown can leave you or a loved one with life-altering injuries.
These are not just injuries; they are catastrophic events that redefine your future, impacting your ability to work, your financial stability, and your overall quality of life. You are facing a future filled with medical appointments, rehabilitation, and immense personal challenges. During this difficult time, you should not have to bear the financial and emotional burden alone.
At Rimrock Law, we understand the profound impact a catastrophic injury has on you and your family. We are here to provide the steadfast legal support and compassionate guidance you need to navigate this journey. While you focus on what matters most—your healing and recovery—our dedicated team will fight for justice and compensation on your behalf. The first step is a simple conversation. Contact a Billings catastrophic injury lawyer at Rimrock Law today.
Our dedicated injury lawyers are here to help you understand your rights and options, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your recovery.
Why Choose Rimrock Law for Your Billings, Montana Catastrophic Injury Claim
After a life-altering event, choosing the right legal advocate is one of the most critical decisions you will make. You need more than just a lawyer; you need a dedicated partner who understands Montana law, has a proven track record of success in high-stakes cases, and genuinely cares about your well-being. The team at Rimrock Law embodies this combination of strength, experience, and compassion.
Our attorneys bring over 40 years of combined experience to the table, specifically focused on helping injured Montanans. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients because we are not afraid to take on large insurance companies and powerful corporations.
Unlike firms that aim for a quick, low-value settlement, we prepare every catastrophic injury case as if it will go to trial. This meticulous preparation sends a clear message to the opposition: we will not back down from the fight for our clients.
Our mission is to lift the legal burden from your shoulders. While you and your family focus on healing and adjusting to your new reality, we will handle every aspect of your legal claim, from gathering evidence and negotiating with insurers to fighting for you in court if necessary.
Let us be your advocates and your strength during this challenging time. Contact us today to discuss your case and legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is not defined merely by its severity at the moment it occurs, but by its long-term, life-altering consequences. Legally and medically, it is an injury so profound that it results in permanent disability, disfigurement, or a lifelong need for medical care and assistance. These injuries fundamentally change a person's ability to live independently and perform the daily activities they once took for granted.
While some incidents are unavoidable accidents, many catastrophic injuries are the direct result of another person's or entity's carelessness or reckless behavior. When negligence is the root cause, you have the right to hold the at-fault party accountable for the immense harm they have caused.
Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases We Handle
Our Billings catastrophic injury attorneys have seen these devastating injuries arise from a wide range of situations, including:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
- Premises Liability Incidents
- Defective Products
- Medical Malpractice
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
If your or your loved one’s injury was caused by someone else’s failure to act with reasonable care, you may have strong grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Our lawyers have experience representing clients who have suffered a wide range of life-changing injuries. We understand the unique medical challenges and long-term care requirements associated with each.
Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries we handle include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
- Severe Burn Injuries
- Amputations / Loss of Limb
- Internal Organ Damage
- Multiple Bone Fractures
- Vision and Hearing Loss
The physical, emotional, and financial toll of a catastrophic injury is immense. Our team can help you understand your legal options and pursue full compensation for a secure future.
How Our Lawyers Prove Negligence in an Accident Resulting in Catastrophic Injuries
The foundation of nearly every personal injury claim, including those for catastrophic injuries, is the legal concept of negligence. In simple terms, negligence is the failure of a person or entity to use a reasonable level of care, resulting in harm to another. To win your case and secure compensation for you, your catastrophic injury lawyer must prove that the at-fault party was negligent.
To build a successful catastrophic injury claim, we must meticulously establish four key elements:
- Duty of Care: We must first show that the defendant (the at-fault party) owed you a legal "duty of care." This is a legal responsibility to act in a way that does not cause foreseeable harm to others. For example, every driver on a Montana road has a duty to obey traffic laws and drive safely. A property owner has a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.
- Breach of Duty: Next, we must prove that the defendant breached this duty. This is the specific action or inaction that was careless or reckless. A driver who was texting and ran a red light has breached their duty. A construction site manager who failed to provide proper safety equipment has breached their duty.
- Causation: We must then draw a direct link between the defendant’s breach of duty and your injuries. It is not enough that they were careless; their carelessness must be the direct and proximate cause of the accident and the resulting catastrophic harm. For example, the driver's act of running the red light caused the T-bone collision, which in turn caused your spinal cord injury.
- Damages: Finally, we must demonstrate that you suffered actual, quantifiable losses—or damages—as a result of your injuries. These damages include everything from your medical bills and lost income to your physical pain and emotional suffering.
At Rimrock Law, we leave no stone unturned in proving these four elements. Our investigation may involve dispatching accident reconstruction experts, interviewing witnesses, securing surveillance footage, subpoenaing company records, and collaborating with top medical and financial experts to illustrate the full, lifetime impact of your injuries.
Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
After a catastrophic accident, an insurance adjuster from the at-fault party's company may contact you very quickly. They may sound friendly and concerned, and they may even present you with what seems like a substantial settlement offer. It can be tempting to accept it, especially when medical bills are already piling up.
You should never accept the first offer from an insurance company without speaking to an experienced Billings catastrophic injury lawyer.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their primary goal is to protect their bottom line, which means paying out as little as possible on claims. The first offer they make is almost always a "lowball" offer, calculated to be just enough to make you go away before you realize the true lifetime cost of your injury.
Catastrophic injuries are unique because their full financial impact is often not known for months or even years. You may require future surgeries, lifelong physical therapy, prescription medications, in-home nursing care, and expensive modifications to your home and vehicle. The initial settlement offer will not account for these future needs. Once you accept it, you forfeit your right to seek any further compensation, even if your medical condition worsens or new complications arise.
The Billings personal injury lawyers at Rimrock Law know the tactics insurance companies use. We will handle all communications with the insurance company for you. We will work with medical and life care planning experts to calculate the true, long-term cost of your injury, ensuring that any settlement we negotiate or verdict we win covers all of your past, present, and future needs.
Compensation Available to Billings Catastrophic Injury Victims
No amount of money can ever undo the harm you have suffered. However, securing a comprehensive financial recovery is essential to ensuring you have the resources you need to live with dignity and receive the best possible care for the rest of your life. As your dedicated legal advocates, our goal is to identify and pursue every dollar of compensation you may qualify for under Montana law. This compensation, known as “damages,” may include:
- Current and Future Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity
- Home and Vehicle Modifications
- In-Home Care and Assistance
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Disfigurement and Scarring
- Loss of Consortium
In rare cases of extreme recklessness or malice, Montana law also allows for punitive damages, which are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
Billings, MT Catastrophic Injury FAQs
We know you have countless questions during this challenging time. Below are answers to some of the common concerns we hear from our clients.
How long do I have to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Montana?
In Montana, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is three years from the date of the injury. For medical malpractice claims, it is two years. While this may seem like a long time, it is crucial to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Building a strong catastrophic injury case requires immediate investigation to preserve evidence and interview witnesses while their memories are fresh.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident? Can I still recover compensation?
Yes. Montana follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident. If you are found to be partially at fault (for example, 20% responsible), your total compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. The insurance company will try to shift as much blame as possible onto you; it is our job to protect you and minimize any finding of fault on your part.
How much does it cost to hire a catastrophic injury lawyer at Rimrock Law?
We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely no upfront costs. We only get paid attorney’s fees if and when we win your case by securing a settlement or a court verdict on your behalf. Our fee is a percentage of the total recovery, so our success is directly tied to your success. This allows you to access skilled legal representation without any financial risk.
Will my case have to go to court?
The vast majority of personal injury cases are resolved through a negotiated settlement without ever going to trial. However, we believe the best settlements are achieved when the other side knows you have a team of skilled trial lawyers who are fully prepared to take the case before a jury. At Rimrock Law, we prepare every case for trial from day one. This positions us to negotiate from a position of maximum strength and ensures we are ready for a courtroom battle if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair and just settlement.
My loved one is incapacitated by their injury and cannot make decisions. Can I file a claim on their behalf?
Yes. If a loved one (such as a spouse, parent, or child) has suffered a severe TBI or is in a coma, they are legally unable to file a claim themselves. In these tragic situations, a court can appoint a legal guardian or conservator, often a close family member, to make legal and financial decisions on their behalf, including the decision to hire a lawyer and pursue a personal injury claim. We can guide you through this sensitive process with compassion and care.
Contact Our Billings Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
You are facing one of the most difficult challenges of your life. The road ahead is long, and the future is uncertain. But you do not have to travel it alone. You need a team of fierce advocates who will stand by your side, protect your rights, and fight tirelessly for the resources to help you live the fullest life possible.
The team at Rimrock Law is ready to be that strength for you. We will handle the complex legal burdens, the aggressive insurance adjusters, and the intricate court procedures so that you can pour all of your energy into your physical and emotional recovery. We see you, we hear you, and we are here to help. Let our experienced injury attorneys in Billings, MT, Matthew Braukmann, James Dallner, and Phillip Lorenzo, put their decades of experience to work for you and your family.
Your fight is our fight. Contact Rimrock Law today at (406) 606-1650 or through our online form for your free, no-obligation case evaluation. Let us start the fight for you.