Missoula, MontanaMissoula Truck Accident
Missoula Truck Accident Lawyers: I-90, US-93 and Semi-Truck Crashes in Missoula County
Boland Aarab PLLP.
A crash with a semi-truck near Missoula is a case against a company, not just a driver. Federal safety rules govern the truck, and the carrier controls the logs, the engine data and the maintenance files. Missoula County cases start in the Fourth Judicial District Court, but many are moved to the federal courthouse on East Broadway. Act quickly: key records can lawfully be discarded within months.
Key Takeaways
- Carriers must keep hours-of-service records for only 6 months (49 C.F.R. § 395.8(k)). A preservation letter should go out right away.
- Out-of-state carriers often move (“remove”) Missoula cases to the U.S. District Court, Missoula Division.
- Montana allows 3 years to file most injury and wrongful-death claims (§ 27-2-204, MCA).
Hurt, or lost someone, in a crash with a commercial truck in Missoula County? Contact Boland Aarab PLLP for a free consultation at (406) 315-3737.
Where do trucks travel in and around Missoula?
Missoula is the crossroads of western Montana’s freight routes. Nearly everything moving between Spokane and Butte, between the Flathead and Idaho, or between the Bitterroot and the interstate passes through the valley:
- Interstate 90. The main east–west freight route runs the length of the county, from Huson and Frenchtown in the west, past the Missoula exits, and east through Hellgate Canyon toward Bonner, Turah and Clinton.
- U.S. 93 north over Evaro Hill. From the Wye interchange (exit 96), U.S. 93 climbs Evaro Hill onto the Flathead Indian Reservation toward Arlee, Polson and Kalispell. The reconstructed highway north of Evaro has dozens of wildlife crossings and a wildlife overpass, a reminder that deer, elk and bears share this corridor.
- U.S. 93 south and Reserve Street. U.S. 93 runs through town on Reserve Street, then south through Lolo toward Florence, Hamilton and the Bitterroot. Heavy trucks share Reserve with shoppers and turning traffic, on a corridor MDT and the city singled out for its high crash history (Reserve Street Safety Action Plan).
- U.S. 12 over Lolo Pass. U.S. 12 enters Montana at Lolo Pass, at 5,233 feet, and drops to Lolo on a two-lane, winding road. Grades, curves and early snow make it one of the more demanding truck routes in the region.
- Montana 200. From the Bonner interchange (exit 109), MT 200 follows the Blackfoot River east toward Clearwater Junction, Lincoln and Great Falls.
Timber hauling. Log trucks and chip trucks have long been part of Missoula traffic. In 2024, Roseburg closed its Missoula particleboard plant and Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake stopped production, ending large-scale wood processing in the county. Timber still moves on these roads, and a log truck’s load securement, weight and brakes are all governed by federal and state rules.
Winter is the season of greatest risk. Black ice in Hellgate Canyon, blowing snow on Evaro Hill and packed snow on Lolo Pass all demand slower speeds. The rules require a truck driver to use extreme caution in hazardous conditions, and a carrier that pushes a schedule through a storm can share the blame.
What happens after a truck accident in Missoula?
Investigation. On I-90, U.S. 93 and U.S. 12 outside city limits, the Montana Highway Patrol investigates, and commercial vehicle crashes may also draw a motor carrier inspection. Inside the city, the Missoula Police Department investigates. Seriously injured people are usually taken to Providence St. Patrick Hospital, the region’s ACS Level 2 / State Regional Trauma Hospital, or to Community Medical Center (DPHHS).
The carrier moves fast. A trucking company’s insurer often has an adjuster, and sometimes a lawyer, working the crash within hours. Our first step is a written preservation demand to the carrier, the driver and any broker or shipper, covering logs, electronic logging device data, engine data, dash-camera video, dispatch messages and the truck itself.
Which court. A lawsuit can be filed in the Fourth Judicial District Court at the Missoula County Courthouse, 200 West Broadway, with a Missoula County jury. Because most carriers on I-90 are based outside Montana, they frequently remove the case to the Missoula Division of the U.S. District Court at the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse, 201 East Broadway (U.S. District Court, Missoula). Federal procedure then applies, but Montana law still governs fault and damages. Appeals from the Missoula Division go to the Ninth Circuit.
Montana law that applies
- Federal safety rules apply to most trucks. Montana adopts the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (ARM 18.8.1502), including hours of service (49 C.F.R. § 395.3), maintenance (part 396) and cargo securement (part 393).
- Shared fault: you can recover if your share of fault is not greater than that of those responsible (§ 27-1-702, MCA).
- Deadlines: 3 years for most claims (§ 27-2-204, MCA), with notice requirements for claims against the State or a local government (§ 2-9-301, MCA).
For more on carrier responsibility, insurance and evidence, see our Montana truck accident lawyer page.
Why hire a Great Falls firm for a Missoula case?
Truck cases are won with evidence and trial preparation, not a street address. We are based in Great Falls and handle truck cases statewide. Our attorneys travel to Missoula for depositions, inspections, hearings and trial, and we bring in reconstruction and trucking-safety experts wherever the crash happened. Because so many truck cases end up in federal court, our federal experience in the District of Montana matters as much as our familiarity with state court.
The Boland Aarab Way
- We build cases for trial. Our firm has tried more than a dozen jury trials, and our attorneys have spent more than 4,000 hours in the courtroom.
- We know federal court. Our attorneys have handled more than 40 cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana over nine years, and Samir Aarab has argued twice before the Ninth Circuit.
- We protect verdicts. We had a $168,500 jury verdict reinstated by the Montana Supreme Court in Voegel v. Salsbery, 2023 MT 137.
- You work with the lawyers. The attorneys who brief and argue appeals handle your case from the first call.
We also handle Missoula car accident and Missoula wrongful death cases, and other Missoula personal injury claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Missoula truck accident case end up in federal court? Often, if the carrier is from another state. Those cases usually go to the Missoula Division at the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse, 201 East Broadway, where Montana law still decides fault and damages.
Who investigates a semi crash on I-90 near Missoula? The Montana Highway Patrol handles crashes outside city limits, including the interstate. Missoula police handle crashes inside the city.
What if a log truck caused the crash? Log trucks are commercial vehicles subject to weight, securement, brake and driver rules. The trucking company, the driver and sometimes the company that loaded the logs can share responsibility.
Does winter weather on Evaro Hill or Lolo Pass excuse the truck driver? No. Drivers must slow down and use extra caution in snow and ice, and a carrier that dispatches into dangerous weather can share responsibility.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a truck crash in Missoula County? As soon as you can. Hours-of-service records need to be kept for only 6 months, and a preservation demand is the surest way to keep evidence from disappearing.
Talk to a Missoula Truck Accident Lawyer
Contact Boland Aarab PLLP for a free consultation at (406) 315-3737.
Our attorneys: Caitlin Boland Aarab · Samir F. Aarab
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
