As some Montana residents know, the state has one of the highest auto accident rates in the country. A recent accident in west Billings will only add to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Recently, a nighttime car accident involving two vehicles on the west side of Billings sent two people to the hospital and destroyed a power line. According to the Montana Highway Patrol, a 42-year-old man driving a Toyota Camry north on King Avenue failed to stop at the posted stop sign at West 56th Street and struck a Dodge Stratus driven by an 18-year-old.
The Camry driver's wife and 11-year-old son were passengers when the accident occurred. The force of the collision sent the Camry into a power pole. The blow nearly knocked it down.
The driver of the Dodge had to be extricated from his vehicle by emergency responders. He was taken to a nearby clinic in Billings. The 11-year-old son in the Toyota was also taken to the Billings hospital.
The downed power line was being repaired and restored by the NorthWestern Energy Company. A spokesman for the company said the intersection where the accident occurred would remain closed for the night to give workers time to make repairs to the power line, including replacing the power pole.
In the worst case scenario, an accident such as this one results in a death or critical injuries to drivers or passengers. Medical expenses incurred as a result of the crash can also present undue hardships to a victim or his or her family. In the event that one party is at fault, which apparently is the case here, an experienced personal injury attorney can be consulted to help establish liability and seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
