A jackknife accident occurs when a semi-truck or any vehicle towing a trailer experiences the trailer spinning outward to the side at a sharp angle. When the trailer bends towards the cab, it creates the shape of a jackknife.
Jackknife accidents can be devastating to others on the road, as a heavy and uncontrolled trailer swings to the side in other lanes of traffic. When a jackknife accident occurs, crash victims often suffer serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
Diaco Law can help in these situations. We represent crash victims and those who have lost loved ones, and we help them fight for full and fair compensation for losses. To find out more about the assistance we can offer, contact a truck accident lawyer in Tampa today to schedule a free consultation.
How do Jackknife Accidents Happen?
Jackknife accidents usually occur when a commercial truck or vehicle towing a trailer skids or engages in sudden and heavy braking. The risk is greatest on a downgrade. The wheels of the cab or trailer may lock, triggering the incident.
Many different kinds of driver behavior can lead to these serious accidents, including:
- Cargo that is not properly loaded
- Slippery roads that increase the risk of skids
- Excessive speed
- Driver distraction
- Driver fatigue
- Mechanical failure
- Steep curves or grades
In these and other situations, the crash usually happens because of negligent failure on the part of the truck driver. This can make the driver, and sometimes the driver’s employer, legally liable for the collision that occurs.
How can a Tampa Jackknife Accident Attorney Help?
If you or someone you love was hurt, a Tampa jackknife accident lawyer will help you to:
- Identify defendants: This could include truck drivers, trucking companies under vicarious liability laws, other motorists on the road, those responsible for truck maintenance, or those responsible for road design and maintenance if problems with the road itself were the cause of the accident.
- Investigate the crash: Trucking companies and their insurers often send their own investigators to an accident scene to try to cast doubt on who is liable for the crash. Our team will subpoena black box data from the trucks’ onboard recorders, gather other evidence from the crash scene, and work with accident reconstruction experts who can help to prove how the crash occurred.
- Work with you to demonstrate the extent of your loss: You should be paid for all of the damage done. Jackknife accidents often cause devastating or even fatal injuries, so victims should be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress, while surviving loved ones should collect wrongful death damages.
- Negotiate a settlement or fight for you in court: We’ll help you negotiate a settlement with the insurer for the trucking company, driver, or other defendant. If there is no fair settlement offer, our firm includes skilled trial attorneys who are prepared and ready to go to court to help you get justice.
Diaco Law has helped many jackknife accident victims to get justice, and we’ll work to make the strongest case possible so you can recover the money you need to rebuild after you suffer serious injuries.
Contact a Tampa Jackknife Accident Lawyer Today
Diaco Law won’t charge legal fees unless we win, and we’ll work from day one to help you make a compelling claim after a crash. Contact a Tampa jackknife accident lawyer at our firm today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you.