Jackknife truck accidents are among the most deadly and frightening because the driver loses control of the vehicle, which can cause pileups, blockages, and catastrophic injuries. If you are injured in this type of accident and find your medical and household bills mounting and are also struggling to work, you may be frustrated about what to do next.
Failing to drive in a responsible way makes the trucker negligent and a possible defendant in your personal injury lawsuit. If the truck malfunctions, the manufacturer, or the trucking company that failed to inspect it, may also be liable. Call our truck collision attorneys now to discuss your jackknife truck accident in Terre Haute.
When an 18-wheeler loses road traction, it locks up, causing the driver to hit the brakes to avoid an accident. Braking stops the cab, or the truck’s cabin, but the attached trailer can swing sideways, continuing until it and the cab resemble a jackknife. If the trucker is speeding or did not adjust their speed for inclement conditions, the cab and trailer can tip over and keep sliding, potentially into other vehicles whose drivers do not have enough time to get out of the way.
Most truckers are responsible and understand their duty to not put other motorists in harm’s way. Sadly, big rig accidents may still happen because of trucker error. Common reasons for a truck to jackknife include:
Commercial trucks are equipped with black boxes to record how the truck systems are performing and truckers must keep logs detailing hours driven and maintenance performed. Our attorneys will request and scrutinize these valuable pieces of evidence, interview witnesses, and seek any surveillance or cell phone video after a Terre Haute jackknife truck crash.
To prevail in a negligence claim, our attorneys must prove the driver, or the trucking company vicariously or through its own actions, failed to live up to the responsibility a reasonable person in a similar situation would have shouldered. This breach must be the foreseeable and actual cause of the Terre Haute jackknife accident and subsequent injuries.
The trucker’s human error may be the cause, but a trucking company that pressured the driver into breaking federal rules by driving around the clock is also liable, as is the manufacturer of any part that malfunctions under the doctrine of defective products.
An injured motorist whose lawyer proves the case is entitled to compensation that could include payment for current and future medical care associated with the accident, present and future wages lost while recovering, property loss, having to endure pain, disfigurement, or disability, and loss of the enjoyment of life. If the accident meets the high bar for egregiousness, punitive damages may be available. Our attorneys assess each case to determine how much compensation it might be worth to an injured person.
Truck crashes are almost always catastrophic. Jackknife wrecks are among the worst because when the truck tips over, it barrels down the highway on its side, endangering everyone in its path. If you are injured by a negligent trucker, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our credible team understands the federal and Indiana laws that govern trucking. If insurers do not offer a suitable settlement, we could help represent you in court. Call today if you were injured in a jackknife truck accident in Terre Haute.
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Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin
The financial burden that often comes with a serious injury can be too much for many people to bear. Unexpected medical debt, damaged personal property, and the sudden loss of income can impact the budgets of most families. The good news is that a successful injury claim could help reduce that financial strain after a serious accident. Get in touch with a Terre Haute personal injury lawyer with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to learn more.
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