It depends, and the biggest myth is that a rideshare passenger claim is "too complicated to be worth it." If you were just a passenger, fault usually is not your fight. The real question is how bad you were hurt and which insurance layer was active when the crash happened.

If you had minor soreness, no ER visit, and a quick recovery, maybe not. A small soft-tissue claim after a black-ice crash on I-90, Huffine Lane, or 19th Avenue can get eaten up by delays, medical-record fights, and arguments that winter conditions - not negligence - caused everything. People lose money here by assuming "Uber has huge insurance, so I'll automatically get paid." That is wrong. You still have to show injury and damages.

If you had ER care, imaging, missed work, or ongoing treatment, it often is worth pursuing. As a passenger, you may have access to multiple policies: the rideshare company's coverage, the at-fault driver's liability insurance, and sometimes med-pay coverage. Another bad myth is "the drivers will sort it out." They usually do the opposite. Insurers point at each other while your bills from Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital keep coming.

If you have lasting problems - concussion symptoms, back injuries, surgery, or mobility limits in winter - it is much more likely to be worth it. Long travel for specialists, physical therapy, and lost earning capacity can drive claim value far beyond the first offer. Early offers after a snow-season wreck are often low because insurers bet you do not know what future care will cost.

A few Montana specifics matter:

• You generally have 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Montana.
• A police report from Bozeman Police or the Montana Highway Patrol can help pin down vehicle positions, ice conditions, and fault.
• Do not assume the rideshare app status is a detail that "doesn't matter." It can decide which policy applies and how much coverage is available.

The hassle is real. The myth is that the hassle means the claim has no value.