When a truck jackknifes, the truck driver no longer has control of the big rig. The jackknifed truck may skid out of control, flip or rollover – causing a serious accident. If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident in San Antonio, help is available at Hill Law Firm. Our San Antonio truck accident attorneys can help you hold someone accountable for your collision.
What Is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
A jackknife truck accident describes when a large commercial truck – specifically, a tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler – folds into a jackknife shape and causes an accident due to the truck driver losing control of the truck. In a jackknife situation, the trailer skids and swings out to form an acute angle with the cab of the truck, resembling a partially open jackknife.
What Can Cause a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Jackknife accidents are often preventable. They can arise due to mistakes made by negligent truck drivers, such as a driver who applies the brakes too suddenly, speeds around a corner, follows too closely, drives while drowsy, falls asleep behind the wheel or drives under the influence. Handling a large truck incorrectly increases the odds of a jackknife accident.
Equipment malfunctions can also lead to jackknife truck accidents in Texas. If a truck’s brakes fail or a tire blows out, for example, the driver may lose control of the truck and the trailer may swing outward. Failure to properly inspect, maintain and repair a truck’s equipment makes these dangerous mechanical failures more likely to occur.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that involved a truck in a jackknife position, you may have grounds to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against one or more parties for causing or contributing to the crash. If a truck driver made a mistake that resulted in the collision, for example, you may be able to hold the individual driver or a trucking company responsible.
If an investigation finds that a cargo company, equipment manufacturer or another party is responsible for the jackknife accident, that party may be held accountable for your injuries and losses instead of the trucking company. A thorough investigation of the crash by a jackknife accident attorney in San Antonio may be necessary to identify the cause.
Financial Compensation Available for a Jackknife Accident
Filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit for your jackknife truck accident could result in financial compensation for various economic and noneconomic losses.
Examples include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Property damage repairs
- Lost wages and future capacity to earn
- Long-term or permanent disability or disfigurement
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
If you lost a loved one in a fatal jackknife accident in San Antonio, your family may also be eligible for wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial costs.
Contact an Attorney After a Truck Jackknife Accident in San Antonio
Most jackknife truck accidents in Texas are preventable. If you sustained an injury in this type of crash in San Antonio, you may be eligible for financial compensation from one or more parties. A San Antonio personal injury lawyer from Hill Law Firm can help you with your case by explaining your legal options, gathering evidence of fault, filing your claim and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Contact us for a free case consultation.