When you drive on Montana’s roads and highways, you are likely sharing them with a truck driver. Sometimes these truck drivers act aggressively, which puts you and everyone else on the road in danger.
Driving around an aggressive truck driver can be a terrifying experience. The large size of a truck means that if an accident occurs, the driver of a passenger vehicle will likely suffer serious or life-threatening injuries.
How to safely avoid a truck driver
The best way to handle an aggressive truck driver is to avoid them. Slow down and let them pass by you. Consider pulling off an exit or into a safe place to let them get a safe distance ahead if you cannot avoid them.
Consider calling the authorities and reporting the truck driver once you are in a safe place. Just because you are safe does not mean that they are not still a danger to other drivers on the road or that you might not encounter them again up ahead.
Sometimes you cannot avoid an aggressive truck driver and are forced to drive near them. Remember to stay calm and focused on the road. Drive as far away from them as possible, giving yourself plenty of following distance.
Do not drive aggressively yourself
It is natural to get angry and be tempted to drive aggressively when you encounter an aggressive truck driver on the road. Resist this temptation and remember that it will only increase the chance of an accident. Avoid making eye contact or gestures with the truck driver. Keep your eyes on the road.
This may be difficult but remember that the truck driver’s behavior is not personal. Fatigue, stress or worry over missing deadlines are common reasons truck drivers drive aggressively.
Additionally, recognize that their behavior may not be intentional. Truck drivers are under tight deadlines, spend long hours on the road and get distracted. They may correct their behavior if they realize they are driving aggressively.
Holding a truck driver responsible for negligent driving
This does not mean that truck drivers should not be held responsible for their actions if their aggressive driving causes an accident. Aggressive driving is negligent driving.
Injuries from a truck accident in Montana can be serious or life threatening. The cost of treating injuries from a truck accident can be astronomical and you may suffer long-term physical and mental effects.
You have legal rights and options after an accident with an aggressive truck driver. A personal injury action can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Proving negligence requires showing that a truck driver breached their legal duty to drive safely and that breach caused your accident. You must also prove your damages, or how much you are asking for in compensation, to successfully prove negligence.
Montana’s negligence law
You must be prepared to defend yourself against a claim by the truck driver that you were also negligent.
Montana is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning that your compensation may be reduced in proportion to your own negligence and if you are found to be 51% or more negligent you cannot recover any compensation.
This means you must be prepared to present a strong case for negligence and prepare an effective defense strategy anticipating any potential counterclaims of negligence.