Virginia Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer
When a tractor-trailer jackknifes, the driver has no control of the trailer as it skids across the roadway. The potential for damage is severe if a heavily loaded trailer collides with other vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a jackknifed semi, a Virginia jackknife truck accident lawyer can help you get financial compensation for your losses. Call and schedule a consultation today to discuss your case with a Virginia truck accident lawyer.
How Virginia Jackknife Truck Accident Attorneys Help Injured People
Inappropriate braking, faulty or defective equipment, and improper load are the typical causes of a jackknife accident, and each of these culprits is avoidable through proper vehicle maintenance, driver behavior, and load and inspection procedures.
Being involved in a truck accident can inflict significant property damage as well as catastrophic and even fatal physical trauma and emotional harm. Accident survivors and family members of those killed in fatal truck accidents often have a difficult road ahead of them, but recovering financial compensation from those liable for the collision can help ease the path.
That is why it is important to find a jackknife truck accident lawyer in Virginia. Your attorney can help to identify all sources of liability and insurance coverage and will work to prove causation to help you receive fair compensation for your medical expenses, property damage, and more.
Understanding Jackknife Truck Accidents
When a passenger vehicle locks its brakes or slides on a slick road, the entire vehicle can skid. Often, a driver may be able to regain control of the vehicle and come safely out of the skid.
When a similar situation occurs with a large truck pulling a trailer, such as an 18-wheeler or semi-truck, the trailer skids independently of the cab, leaving the truck driver with no control as the trailer swings alongside the truck at a 90-degree angle—the “jackknife” position. This free skidding trailer can collide with property, pedestrians, or other vehicles, causing significant damage. In some cases, a jackknife accident precipitates a rollover.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists the following factors among those increasing the risk of a jackknife truck accident:
- Speed, particularly in areas where the speed limit is 55 mph or greater
- Adverse weather conditions
- Curved roads
The NHTSA further reports that while the risk of a jackknife accident decreases as the weight of the truck and its cargo increase, the odds of a jackknife increase along with an increase in the length of a truck. These findings demonstrate a need for proper load.
While speed, bad weather, curved roads, and truck length all increase the risk of a jackknife truck accident, bad braking is at the heart of the problem.
If a truck driver applies the brakes improperly or too abruptly, it can cause the brakes to lock, sending the tractor-trailer into a skid.
Similarly, if the truck itself is insufficiently maintained or serviced, brake failure or improper brake adjustment can cause a truck to jackknife.
Finding a Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia
Being injured in a large truck accident can be difficult, but having personal injury representation can provide you with the resources and counsel that you need. Our Virginia jackknife truck accident lawyers are committed to helping our injured clients reach a positive outcome. Call today to schedule a free consultation.
