Key points
- We represent people hurt in crashes in and around Havre. We do not have an office there; we meet by phone, video or appointment.
- Most Montana injury claims must be filed within three years.
- A Hill County lawsuit is often filed in the Twelfth Judicial District (Liberty, Hill and Chouteau Counties).
Crashes on Havre-area roads
Hi-Line roads carry grain trucks and farm equipment, long rural distances between towns, and hard winter driving with blowing snow. We represent people hurt on roads including:
- U.S. 2, the Hi-Line, east toward Chinook and west toward Chester and Shelby
- U.S. 87 south toward Big Sandy and Great Falls
- Havre city streets and rural county roads across the Hi-Line
Meeting with us
Where we meet. We do not have an office in Havre. Our office is in Butte. We meet Havre clients by phone, by video in our virtual office, or in person by appointment. Our local Havre line, (406) 344-8989, rings Bob McCarthy's cell phone directly.
What happens after a Havre crash
Crashes here are usually investigated by the Havre Police Department inside city limits and the Montana Highway Patrol or Hill County Sheriff outside them. Injured people are often treated at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre or a nearby clinic. We gather the crash report, medical records and bills, insurance information and any available video, and we send preservation letters when a commercial vehicle is involved.
If a crash happens on the Rocky Boy's or Fort Belknap Reservation, or involves a tribal member, there can be added questions about which court has jurisdiction. Raise this with us early.
Montana law that applies
- Most injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within three years.
- If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share, but not barred unless your fault is greater than the combined fault of the others.
- When fault is reasonably clear, the at-fault driver's insurer may have to pay accident-related medical bills as they come in.
- Claims against a city, county or the state must first be presented in writing.
Courts for Hill County
| Court | Covers |
|---|---|
| Montana district court | Twelfth Judicial District (Liberty, Hill and Chouteau Counties) |
| Federal court, if the case is filed in or moved to federal court | U.S. District Court for Montana, Great Falls Division, Missouri River Courthouse in Great Falls |
Frequently asked questions
Can a Butte lawyer handle my Havre case?
Yes. Bob McCarthy is licensed in Montana state and federal courts. Most of the work in an injury case, including records, insurer negotiations and court filings, can be handled from anywhere in the state, and we travel for depositions, mediations and trial.
Where would my Havre case be filed?
A lawsuit for a crash in Hill County is often filed in the Twelfth Judicial District (Liberty, Hill and Chouteau Counties). Where to file depends on the facts, and if the other side is from out of state, the case may be moved to federal court, in the Great Falls Division, Missouri River Courthouse in Great Falls.
Who investigates a crash in the Havre area?
Usually the Havre Police Department inside city limits and the Montana Highway Patrol or Hill County Sheriff outside them. We request the crash report and any photos or video they collected.
How soon should I call?
As soon as you can. Evidence such as video, vehicle data and witness memories fades quickly, and most Montana injury claims must be filed within three years.