During a jackknife truck accident, the cab is slowing down, but the trailer is swinging too far out, at a 90-degree angle. This jackknifing motion often causes the truck to tip on its side or hit cars in other lanes. Truck wreck attorneys are particularly interested in jackknife accidents because they are entirely preventable. If you or a loved one were involved in this type of crash in the Greater Los Angeles Area, contact Hobbs Law Group for a free consultation.
Jackknifing usually occurs when a truck driver travels at high speed and brakes suddenly, causing the truck and trailer to skid out. Skidding is particularly common with complex truck braking systems– which operate differently than passenger vehicles.
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Contributing factors to jackknife accidents include:
Experienced truck drivers know there are many ways to prevent this type of accident. They can brake using the steering axle, the trailer axles, or the drive axles and should never be in a situation that requires “emergency” braking. They are trained to leave adequate following distance, start slowing early, brake over long distances, avoid swerving while braking, and drive in the direction of a skid instead of turning the wheel against it. Lawyers often bring in other truck drivers with commensurate experience to testify as to the many ways the accident could have been prevented.
Jackknife accidents typically occur at high speeds on highways, so the collisions tend to be particularly severe, involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Common injuries include:
When injuries lead to lifelong disabilities, or premature death, you need an experienced law firm to represent your claim to compensate for your losses.
The trucking company is responsible for hiring, training, and supervising. Employers are held directly liable for all truck accidents under a legal theory of negligence known as respondeat superior— which translates to “let the superior be responsible.” In this case, the “superior,” or the trucking company, has a much higher amount of commercial insurance to cover the total amount of damages injured parties may suffer. Typically, drivers are also named in jackknife truck accident lawsuits, as they, too, bear the brunt of responsibility for what happened.
It is vital to work with experienced truck accident lawyers. At Hobbs Law Group, we seek to gather strong evidence of wrongdoing or negligence through the discovery process, which allows us to negotiate a more generous settlement with the insurance company or prove your right to maximum compensation before a judge and jury.
You may be eligible for past and future compensation covering:
With experienced legal counsel, settlements and verdicts can reach hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars.
Contact our team of semi-truck accident lawyers at Hobbs Law Group in Claremont, CA, for expert representation. It is never too early to begin working with an attorney and gathering evidence. We are focused on clients, with free consultations and contingency-based care– meaning you pay nothing upfront until recovery has been made. We are committed to results, building a rock-solid claim to maximum compensation from the outset.