Belgrade, Montana Personal Injury Blog

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by Remington Arms Co. LLC to a lower court's finding that families impacted by the Sandy Hook massacre can sue the gun manufacturer. Advocates for gun reform say that the high court's decision, which lets the lawsuit move forward, may help other victims and survivors of gun-related crimes sue the gun manufacturer.

These lawsuits have largely been prevented or not gone far because of a federal law enacted nearly 15 years ago. That law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, protects gun manufacturers as well as sellers from lawsuits based on injuries and deaths caused by "criminal or unlawful misuse" of a gun. However, a lawsuit can still be brought if a company has "knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the product."

A 23-year-old man who's facing multiple charges for a fatal crash that killed a Kalispell mother and daughter has pleaded not guilty. The Minnesota man, who is currently in jail in Flathead County on $500,000 bond, appeared in court earlier this month. He is accused of vehicular homicide while being under the influence of alcohol.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, the man was driving northbound on Montana Highway 35 in July when he moved into the southbound lane. He crashed head-on into the vehicle carrying the two women. According to a local television report, they both died at the scene. The Minnesota man was taken to the hospital.

Many people consider the legal right to own a gun a big part of their life. While there's nothing wrong with owning a gun and storing it in your home, it's critical to do so with the well-being of your loved ones in mind.

For example, if you keep guns in the same house as your children, there are steps you can take to prevent a potentially serious accident. Here are five to keep in mind:

• Keep guns out of reach: When guns are out of reach and out of sight, they're typically out of mind. Leaving guns lying around, such as in an unsecured box or on a table, is inviting trouble.
• Use a gun lock: This goes along with the point above. A gun that is not in use should be stored in a locked container that is out of sight and out of reach. And since you're using a gun lock, even if the gun is found, your children won't be able to access it.
• Store ammunition in a separate container: By doing this, your children won't be able to use the gun even if they find it. Once again, store the ammunition in a locked container that is out of reach.
• Be careful when traveling with your gun: For example, if you're taking your gun in your car, be sure that it has a lockable container. This keeps your children and others away from the gun, both while you're in and outside of the vehicle.
• Talk to your children about gun safety: You don't want to jump into this too soon, but there are benefits of explaining the risks associated with guns. You may also want to teach your children how to properly handle a gun should they come in contact with one.

One reason why commercial truck accidents can be so serious is that many times the contents of the truck spill onto the road. Everything from large, heavy objects to toxic chemicals can create a road hazard for vehicles that weren't even near the site of the crash.

Recently, a semitruck overturned on Interstate 90 near St. Regis, spilling approximately 56,000 pounds of talcum powder onto the road and into the St. Regis River. According to the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), the driver was turning a corner near Drexel around 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 15 when the trailer section of the truck hit a barrier, causing the talcum powder he was carrying to fall out of the truck.