18-Wheeler Crash Claims | Hire the Best Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers in Austin
Because of how long their trailers are and how much cargo they typically carry, semi-trucks can lose traction and balance very easily in poor road conditions compared to smaller passenger cars. When a commercial vehicle’s trailer ends up skidding ahead of its cab after the truck driver loses control of the vehicle, it is known as a jackknife crash.
Jackknife truck accidents in Austin often involve multiple vehicles, cause extensive property damage and personal injury, and often have fatal consequences for others on the road. If you got hurt in or lost a family member to this kind of trucking accident, a skilled lawyer can help you seek civil compensation from the driver or company responsible for your losses.
What Causes Jackknife Truck Accidents?
Before exploring the top jackknife truck accident lawyers in Austin, it is essential to understand what causes such accidents. The Jackknife truck accidents happen when an 18-wheeler or semi truck skids, causing the trailer to swing out in a way that it looks like a jackknife.
A good jackknife truck accident attorney is well-versed in the top factors that can contribute to a jackknife accident, including:
- Sudden Brakes: Improperly maintained brakes, especially on the trailer and on the slick and wet roads, can cause it to lock up and swing out.
- Poor Road Conditions: Rain, ice, snow, or even loose gravel can reduce traction and make it difficult for truck drivers to maintain control.
- Driving High Speed: Driving too fast for conditions increases the risk of losing control, especially when you try to put a sudden brake.
- Driver Error: Inexperienced or fatigued drivers may be more prone to making mistakes that lead to jackknife accidents.
- Improper Load Securement: If the cargo is not properly secured, it can shift during transit, causing instability and increasing the risk of a jackknife.
Various factors can increase the risk of jackknifing accidents, such as inclement weather conditions that decrease traction between a truck’s tires and the road’s surface, or unsecured cargo shifting inside a trailer during transit. Even if these factors are not present, a truck driver exceeding the speed limit, taking turns too quickly, or following traffic too closely could also put them at risk of causing or being involved in a wreck.
In some cases, jackknife accidents result from malfunctions within the truck itself. For example, if a commercial vehicle’s brakes malfunction as the driver approaches a sharp turn, they may end up taking the turn too quickly and jackknifing as a result. The specific cause of a jackknife trucking accident can have a significant impact on an injured person’s civil recovery.
Understanding these factors is crucial when investigating a jackknife truck accident. An Austin jackknife truck accident lawyer can help determine the cause and identify liable parties.
What Are The Consequences Of Jackknife Truck Accidents?
Our jackknife truck accident attorney will help you deal with the consequences of Jackknife accidents, which largely involve:
- Multiple Vehicle Collisions: The out-of-control trailer can block multiple lanes of traffic, leading to collisions with other vehicles.
- Rollover Accidents: The force of the trailer swinging out can cause the entire truck to roll over.
- Serious Injuries and Fatalities: The sheer size and weight of a semi-truck make jackknife accidents particularly dangerous, often resulting in severe injuries or death.
Who Is Liable In A Jackknife Truck Accident?
While truck drivers are often to blame for negligently allowing their trailers to jackknife, this is not always the case. For example, if a truck jackknifes because it was loaded with cargo in excess of federal weight limits, had defective brakes or steering, or its operator was trying to avoid another negligent driver, fault may lie with the truck driver’s employer, the third-party company that last serviced the vehicle, a part’s manufacturer, or someone else on the road with them prior to the incident.
Identifying who is responsible for an Austin jackknife truck crash can be crucial to building a successful claim for compensation. In addition to collecting, preserving, and presenting evidence of fault, one of our qualified team members can work to ensure an ensuing lawsuit or settlement demand accounts for all a victim’s damages, including medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
Our Austin jackknife truck accident attorneys understand that Liability in a jackknife truck accident can extend beyond the truck driver. The potentially liable parties may include:
- The Truck Driver: For negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence.
- The Trucking Company: For negligent hiring, training, or maintenance practices.
- The Cargo Loader: For improper loading or securement of cargo.
- The Truck Manufacturer: If a defect in the truck's design or manufacturing contributed to the accident.
Navigating these complexities requires the guidance of an experienced jackknife truck accident lawyer in Austin.
Why Do You Need an Experienced Austin Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer?
Jackknife truck accident cases are complex and require specialized knowledge, expertise and experience. Here's why you should choose jackknife truck accident lawyers in Austin from Team Justice:
- Immediate Investigation: The best jackknife truck accident attorneys in Austin will act quickly to investigate the accident scene. This includes gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preserving critical information.
- Expert Analysis: Our Austin jackknife truck accident lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts. They can determine the cause of the accident and identify all liable parties.
- Thorough Review of Trucking Records: We examine trucking company records. This helps uncover evidence of negligence. Records include maintenance logs, driver logs, and safety records.
- Aggressive Yet Compassionate Representation: We aggressively represent your interests in negotiations with insurance companies. If necessary, we are prepared to take your case to trial to fight for the full compensation you deserve. We provide compassionate and supportive legal representation to our clients.
- Experience with Trucking Regulations: Our jackknife truck accident attorneys in Austin thoroughly understand federal and state trucking regulations.
- Proven Track Record: We have a history of success in handling truck accident cases. Our jackknife truck accident attorney in Austin never fails to demonstrate their expertise and fight for their clients with ultimate compassion.
- Resources: Our Austin jackknife truck accident lawyer has the resources to conduct thorough investigations and retain expert witnesses.
Our experienced and highly skilled jackknife truck accident lawyers in Austin are ready to help you understand your rights. We can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our jackknife truck accident attorney in Austin today to discuss your case.
Let an Austin Attorney Help after a Jackknife Truck Accident
While any roadway collision involving a tractor-trailer has the potential to cause devastating injuries, jackknife truck accidents in Austin are especially dangerous. Because these types of wrecks often involve multiple vehicles, anyone who suffers injuries in this kind of incident should take full advantage of their right to seek civil compensation for their losses.
A qualified attorney on our team can discuss your unique circumstances with you and determine the best course of action for your situation. Get in touch with our firm today to schedule a consultation.