Jackknife truck accidents can be horrific because the truck driver has no control of the deadly vehicle careening down a busy road. It is fairly common for big rig accidents to end in fatalities. If you have been involved in a crash like this, our tractor-trailer collision attorneys can help you consider your legal options.
There are three braking techniques to overcome jackknifing. If a truck driver has ignored these options and caused a catastrophic accident that injured you, call us. Jackknife truck accidents in Boca Raton can be devastating, but Your Damage Lawyer can fight for the compensation that you deserve.
When an 18-wheeler loses traction due to weather or road conditions, the steering locks, compelling the trucker to brake to avoid an accident. Braking stops the truck’s cab, but if a trailer is attached, it can swing sideways until it and the cab mimic a jackknife’s handle and blade. If the driver does not reduce speed, the trailer and cab are likely to tip over and keep sliding, often into other vehicles.
Truckers carry a special commercial driver’s license and are taught how to control their vehicles. They understand they have a duty to drive responsibly and keep others safe, but accidents can happen, often because of trucker errors exacerbated by fatigue or alcohol. Common reasons why a truck jackknifes include:
Commercial trucks are equipped with black boxes to monitor how the truck is performing. Truck drivers also must keep logs itemizing how many hours per day they drive and what maintenance is routinely done. Immediately after a jackknife truck crash in Boca Raton, our attorneys will request this valuable evidence, talk to witnesses, scrutinize police reports, and seek surveillance or cell phone videos of the wreck as we build your case.
All truck drivers have a duty to drive like a reasonable person would in a similar situation. If they breach this duty and drive in a way that endangers others, and if these actions cause an accident that injures you, you have the right to compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. These losses include your:
The trucker’s driving error could have caused the crash, but the trucking company could also be vicariously liable if it encouraged the driver to shirk maintenance or drive more hours than allowed and risk becoming fatigued.
Our Boca Raton attorneys assess each jackknife truck accident to determine how much compensation an injured person is entitled to, and we negotiate vigorously with insurance companies and take cases to trial when settlement offers are unfair.
Jackknife truck accidents in Boca Raton endanger everyone on the road when they occur. If you have been injured because of one, you will likely face a long, expensive recovery, and you may not be able to work while you heal.
We can help. Your Damage Lawyer can handle your case and answer your questions, treating you with respect. We fight hard to win the money you are entitled to after an accident. Call now to get started.
