A collision on a busy intersection like King Avenue West and Shiloh Road, a sudden fall on an icy sidewalk downtown, or an unexpected accident at a worksite in the Billings industrial corridor—these events are over in an instant, but the consequences can last a lifetime. If you or someone you love is now facing the immense challenges of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may feel lost, frightened, and unsure of where to turn. The path forward is clouded with medical appointments, mounting bills, and profound uncertainty about the future.
At Rimrock Law, we understand the devastating impact a TBI can have on every aspect of your life. It affects not just your physical health, but your emotional well-being, your ability to work, and your relationships with those you love most. As your dedicated Billings traumatic brain injury attorney, our mission is to lift the legal burden from your shoulders so you can focus entirely on what matters most: your recovery.
We are here to provide the compassionate guidance, unwavering support, and tenacious legal representation you need to secure justice and the financial stability to rebuild your life. The first step is understanding your rights. Contact the team at Rimrock Law to discuss your case during a free, no-obligation consultation.
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 Traumatic Brain Injury Claim
After a devastating injury, choosing a legal team can feel like a daunting task. You need more than just a lawyer; you need a compassionate advocate, a strategic partner, and a team that has the experience and resources to stand up to powerful insurance companies. At Rimrock Law, we have built our reputation on being that and more for families across Montana.
Here is why so many people in Billings and throughout the state trust Rimrock Law with their most serious injury claims:
- Proven Experience and Unwavering Dedication: Our attorneys—Matthew Braukmann, James Dallner, and Phillip Lorenzo—bring decades of combined experience and a track record of recovering over $100 million for our clients. We have handled hundreds of complex personal injury cases, including those involving severe TBIs. We know Montana's legal system inside and out, and we use that knowledge to build the strongest possible case for you.
- Compassionate Advocacy, Fierce Representation: We recognize that while we are fighting a legal battle, you are fighting to heal. Our guiding principle is to let you focus on your recovery while we focus on the fight. We handle the aggressive insurance adjusters, the complex paperwork, and the stressful negotiations, providing you with the peace of mind you need.
- We Don’t Back Down from a Fight: Many firms seek a quick, easy settlement, even if it’s not in their client’s best interest. That’s not how we operate. Insurance companies know that the attorneys at Rimrock Law are prepared to take a case all the way to trial if that’s what it takes to get justice. We are focused on achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family.
To us, “For Us, It's Personal” is more than a slogan. You are not just another case file; you are our neighbor, a member of our community who is hurting. We work as a collaborative team, ensuring that multiple skilled legal minds are examining every angle of your case. We take the time to listen to your story, understand your unique needs, and keep you informed every step of the way.
Common Causes of TBIs
A traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious and life-altering injuries a person can sustain. It occurs when a sudden, external physical force—such as a violent blow, a jolt, or a penetrating injury—damages the brain and disrupts its normal function. The severity can range from a "mild" concussion, which can still have significant long-term effects, to a severe, catastrophic injury resulting in permanent disability or death.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury Cases We Handle
While a TBI can happen in countless ways, our experience as Billings traumatic brain injury lawyers has shown us that they most often result from preventable accidents caused by another party's carelessness. When someone else's negligence is the cause of your injury, you may have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries we see in our practice include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Workers’ Compensation Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
- Acts of Violence
If your injury was caused by any of these situations or another event where someone else was at fault, it is crucial to speak with an experienced TBI attorney in Billings. We can help you determine if negligence was a factor and fight for justice on your behalf.
How Our Lawyers Prove Negligence in a Traumatic Brain Injury Case
In the eyes of the law, simply being injured is not enough to have a valid personal injury claim. To secure compensation, we must prove that your traumatic brain injury was the direct result of another party’s negligence. "Negligence" is a legal concept that essentially means someone failed to act with reasonable care, and that failure caused you harm.
As your personal injury advocates, the team at Rimrock Law will conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to gather the evidence needed to establish the four critical elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The first step is to show that the person or entity who caused your injury (the defendant) owed you a legal "duty of care." This duty is a legal responsibility to act in a way that does not cause foreseeable harm to others. For example, every driver on Montana roads has a duty to obey traffic laws and drive safely. A store owner has a duty to maintain a safe environment for their customers. A trucking company has a duty to properly maintain its fleet and ensure its drivers are qualified and follow safety regulations.
- Breach of Duty: Next, we must prove that the defendant breached, or violated, that duty of care. This is the specific act of carelessness or recklessness. A breach could be a driver who was texting instead of watching the road, a trucking company that knowingly used faulty brakes, a construction site manager who failed to provide proper safety equipment, or a store that ignored a dangerous spill for hours. We use evidence like police reports, witness testimony, traffic camera footage, and expert analysis to prove this breach occurred.
- Causation: This element connects the defendant’s breach of duty directly to your injuries. We must demonstrate that the defendant's negligent actions were the direct and proximate cause of the accident, and that the accident, in turn, caused your traumatic brain injury. This often involves using medical records, doctors' testimonies, and accident reconstruction experts to draw a clear, undeniable line from the defendant's carelessness to your specific medical diagnosis.
- Damages: Finally, we must prove that you suffered legally recognized "damages" as a result of the TBI. These are the tangible and intangible losses you have endured. Damages include all of your medical bills, lost income from being unable to work, future care costs, as well as your physical pain, emotional suffering, and diminished quality of life. We meticulously document these losses to ensure we are demanding the full and fair compensation you are owed.
Proving all four elements requires skill, experience, and resources. The dedicated TBI lawyers at Rimrock Law know exactly what it takes to build a compelling case on your behalf.
Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
Shortly after your accident, you will likely be contacted by an insurance adjuster representing the at-fault party. They may sound friendly and concerned, and they might even offer you a quick settlement check. It can be tempting to accept, especially when medical bills are starting to pile up and you are out of work.
It is critical that you do not accept any offer or sign any documents from an insurance company without first speaking to an experienced Billings traumatic brain injury lawyer.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. The adjuster’s primary job is not to ensure you are fully cared for; it is to protect their company’s bottom line by paying out as little as possible. The first offer they make is almost always a "lowball" offer that fails to account for the true, long-term costs of a traumatic brain injury.
A TBI is not like a broken arm that heals in a few months. The full extent of the damage and its impact on your life may not be known for weeks, months, or even years. Your injury may require:
- Long-term rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Speech, occupational, or cognitive therapy
- Ongoing neurological care and medication
- Modifications to your home or vehicle
- Full-time or part-time nursing assistance
- Treatment for related psychological issues like depression, anxiety, or PTSD
The initial settlement offer will not cover these future costs. Once you accept it, you forfeit your right to seek any further compensation, even if your condition worsens or you discover you need lifelong care.
The attorneys at Rimrock Law will consult with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to calculate the full, lifetime cost of your injury. We will then negotiate forcefully with the insurance company to demand a settlement that truly reflects the impact you TBI has had on you and your family.
Compensation Available in a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
No amount of money can undo the trauma you have experienced or give you back the life you had before the accident. However, securing fair compensation is essential for relieving the immense financial pressure on you and your family and providing the resources needed for the best possible quality of life moving forward.
As your Billings traumatic brain injury lawyers, we will fight to recover compensation for all of your losses, which may include:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages or Income
- Loss of Earning Capacity
- Rehabilitation Costs
- Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Consortium
Our dedicated legal team is committed to securing a result that not only covers your immediate needs but also provides financial stability for you and your family for the future.
Billings, MT Traumatic Brain Injury FAQs
Below are answers to some of the common questions we hear from our clients. For answers specific to your situation, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation.
How long do I have to file a TBI lawsuit in Montana?
In Montana, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including those for traumatic brain injuries, is generally three years from the date of the injury. However, there are exceptions that can shorten or lengthen this deadline. It is absolutely critical to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss this strict deadline and lose your right to seek compensation forever.
What if my TBI symptoms didn't show up right away? Can I still file a claim?
Yes. This is very common with brain injuries. You might feel “fine” at the accident scene, only to develop symptoms like headaches, memory problems, or mood changes days or weeks later. This delayed onset does not prevent you from filing a claim. The most important thing is to seek a medical evaluation as soon as you notice any symptoms and to contact a TBI attorney who can help connect your delayed symptoms back to the initial accident.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident that caused my TBI?
Montana follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as your share of the fault is not more than 50%. Your final compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, your total award will be reduced by 20%. Insurance companies often try to unfairly shift blame onto the victim to reduce their payout, which is why having an experienced lawyer to defend you is so important.
How much does it cost to hire a Billings traumatic brain 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 successfully recover compensation for you, either through a settlement or a jury verdict. Our fee is a percentage of the total recovery. This arrangement allows everyone, regardless of their financial situation, to have access to top-tier legal representation.
Contact Our Billings Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Today
The physical pain, the emotional turmoil, and the financial stress of a traumatic brain injury can feel like an impossible weight. The compassionate and experienced legal team at Rimrock Law is here to lift that burden and fight for you.
While you focus on healing, we will focus on the fight. We will handle every legal detail, from the initial investigation to aggressive negotiations with the insurance company, and we will not hesitate to take your case to court if that is what it takes to secure justice. You are not a case number to us. You are a member of our community, and we are committed to helping you get the resources you need to move forward with security and dignity.
Your journey to justice begins with a single conversation. Contact the trusted Montana injury lawyers at Rimrock Law today at (406) 606-1650 or through our online form for a free, confidential, and no-obligation case evaluation. Let us show you how we can help.