Jury Verdict: $8.775 Million in Catastrophic-Injury Trial
Bozeman, Montana – Trucking Safety & Medical Examiner Negligence
Our client stopped to help a stranded semi on a winter night. Minutes later, a chain-reaction crash caused life-changing injuries. The Bozeman personal injury lawyers at Beck, Amsden & Stalpes, PLLC proved that a certified medical examiner should never have cleared the truck driver to be on the road. A Gallatin County jury agreed.
Highlights:
- Total jury award: more than $8.775 million
- Accountability: 51% fault assigned to the medical examiner, 49% to other drivers, and 0% to our client
- Net recovery against the medical examiner: $4.475 million
Why it matters:
- Safety gatekeepers held to account. Medical examiners who certify commercial drivers must follow FMCSA standards. When they don’t, the public is put at risk.
- Good Samaritan protected. The jury assigned no fault to our client for stopping to help—exactly what Montana’s law encourages.
- Evidence, not speculation. We exposed destroyed records and after-the-fact theories that could not withstand scrutiny.
Our approach:
- Built a clear, step-by-step story connecting improper certification to preventable harm.
- Presented leading experts in occupational medicine, crash reconstruction, human factors, and life-care planning.
- Neutralized blame-shifting by showing that our client acted reasonably and responsibly under the circumstances.
We represent people, not corporations. If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a trucking or roadway incident, or harmed by a professional safety lapse, we are ready to help. Call (406) 586-8700 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Disclaimer: Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.