Introduction

Thomas Bulman clerked for the Montana Supreme Court before graduating from the University of Montana School of Law in 1980, a foundation that shaped the practice he built over the following four decades in Missoula. Bulman Jones and Cook PLLC now operates with four attorneys and handles personal injury, workers compensation, elder law, and Social Security disability claims across western Montana, with motorcycle cases extending to Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Practice Areas

The firm covers a wide range of injury, disability, and elder law matters from its Missoula office.

Personal injury cases handled by the firm include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, ATV accidents, catastrophic injuries, burn injuries, defective product cases, and wrongful death claims. Motorcycle accident investigations are conducted with the assistance of one of Montana top motorcycle safety officers, an unusual resource that produces stronger evidence for these cases. ATV accident cases reflect the practical reality of Montana life, where ATVs weighing up to 500 pounds and capable of speeds above 60 mph are used daily for ranching, livestock management, farming, and remote transportation.

Premises liability representation is handled primarily by attorney Bradley J. Jones, covering slip and fall accidents, defective steps, inadequate security leading to assault or sexual violence, fire and electrocution incidents, school and playground accidents, and swimming pool injuries. Montana premises liability law distinguishes between invitees, licensees, and trespassers in the standard of care applied, and the firm applies these distinctions in building its cases. A three-year statute of limitations applies to these claims.

Workers compensation cases help injured Montana workers secure benefits for medical bills, lost wages, and permanent impairments. Attorney Bradley J. Jones leads this practice, assisting clients with the full claims process from initial reporting through mediation and hearings before the Workers Compensation Court. Social Security disability claims are handled alongside workers compensation matters, offering comprehensive coverage for disabled workers.

Elder law services cover Medicaid planning, long-term care options, asset protection, nursing home planning, and guardianship establishment for adults who have lost the ability to manage their personal, health, or financial affairs. The firm also addresses elder abuse cases involving bedsore injuries, medication errors, fractures from falls, malnutrition, and physical abuse in care settings.

Attorney Profiles

Thomas Bulman founded the firm after clerking for the Montana Supreme Court and completing the University of Montana School of Law in 1980. Over 40 years of practice in Missoula have established him as one of the region senior personal injury attorneys.

Bradley J. Jones joined as an intern and earned his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 2013. His background is atypical for a personal injury attorney: he has experience as a business owner, a journeyman carpenter, and an Infantry Officer with the Montana Army National Guard, credentials that inform his negotiation and litigation approach. He leads the premises liability and workers compensation practices.

Joan E. Cook is a partner whose experience contributes to the personal injury and family law sides of the practice.

Spencer Bradford earned his law degree in 2018 and is the firm newest attorney. He is fluent in Spanish, providing Spanish-language legal representation to clients throughout the Missoula area.

Location and Service Area

Bulman Jones and Cook PLLC is located at 3011 American Way, P.O. Box 16775, Missoula, MT 59808. The firm is reachable at (406) 721-7744. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The firm serves clients in Missoula, Lake, Mineral, and Ravalli counties in Montana, with motorcycle accident representation extending to Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Firm website: bulmanlaw.com

Client Focus

The firm serves injured Montanans across a broad range of circumstances, from car and ATV accidents to elder abuse victims and injured workers disputing denied workers compensation claims. Spanish-speaking clients are served by Spencer Bradford. The contingency fee arrangement means clients pay no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation on their behalf. Free consultations are offered, and the firm recommends prompt contact following any injury because evidence and claim filing deadlines vary by case type.

Frequently Asked Questions

What personal injury cases does the firm handle?
The firm handles car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, ATV accidents, catastrophic injuries, burn injuries, defective products, premises liability, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims throughout western Montana.

Who are the attorneys at the firm?
The attorneys are Thomas Bulman (founder, Montana Supreme Court clerk), Bradley J. Jones (former Infantry Officer and journeyman carpenter), Joan E. Cook, and Spencer Bradford (fluent Spanish speaker).

Does the firm handle workers compensation disputes?
Yes. The firm assists injured workers with the full Montana workers compensation process, including denied claim challenges, hearings before the Workers Compensation Court, and Social Security disability claims.

What elder law services are offered?
The firm provides Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, asset protection, nursing home planning, guardianship establishment, and elder abuse representation.

Does the firm offer Spanish-language representation?
Yes. Attorney Spencer Bradford is fluent in Spanish and provides representation to Spanish-speaking clients.

What is the premises liability statute of limitations in Montana?
Montana allows three years to file a premises liability claim. The firm recommends prompt consultation after any injury to preserve evidence and meet applicable deadlines.

Closing

Bulman Jones and Cook PLLC has served western Montana for over four decades, building a multi-attorney practice across personal injury, workers compensation, elder law, and Social Security disability. The firm is available at (406) 721-7744 for free consultations Monday through Friday. Spanish-language representation is available through attorney Spencer Bradford. For more information, visit bulmanlaw.com or contact the office at 3011 American Way, P.O. Box 16775, Missoula, MT 59808.