If you have driven on southern California’s interstates and highways, you may have seen a tractor-trailer that was involved in a jackknife accident. It is typically not an event that can go unnoticed. Unfortunately, these types of truck accidents are all too common in Carlsbad, and can cause serious damage to both people and property.
A jackknifed tractor-trailer looks exactly as it sounds. A tractor-trailer jackknifes when the trailer, or back end of the truck, swings out to the side of the tractor. The tractor will often overtake the trailer and turn on its side so that it ends up resembling the folding blade of a pocketknife.
Tractor-trailers don’t jackknife on their own. Jackknife accidents are caused by a driver’s mistake or inattention. They mainly occur due to speeding. For example, a tractor-trailer can jackknife if the driver makes a turn at a high rate of speed. Improper braking and slippery road conditions can also contribute to jackknifing accidents.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by a jackknifed tractor-trailer, you are entitled to recover damages for the harm you suffered. The Carlsbad jackknife accident attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers have over 20 years of experience in representing people injured in jackknife accidents.
Our firm has an in-depth understanding of the laws and regulations which govern the trucking industry. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients who were injured in accidents with commercial trucks. We fight for all of our clients so that they recover the compensation they deserve.
Call the Carlsbad jackknife truck accident attorneys as soon as possible to discuss your truck accident case. Our team of attorneys is available to speak to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us now at (619) 349-1682. If you prefer, you can contact us by email or by online chat. Our initial consultation is free.
Do I Need a Jackknife Accident Attorney?
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, we understand that a serious jackknifing accident can destroy the lives of its victims and their families, and we want to help. Our attorneys are not afraid to take on the truck companies. We will do everything possible to make sure that they pay for the harm you suffered so that you can begin to put your life back together.
Pursuing a claim for a jackknife truck accident is a complicated process. You need an experienced truck accident attorney to take the helm to ensure a successful resolution of your case.
For example, your jackknife truck accident attorney will conduct a thorough investigation in order to collect the evidence necessary to prove that the truck company and the truck driver were responsible for the accident.
Your attorney will obtain the police report and speak to the investigating officers. They will also speak to any eyewitnesses to the accident. Furthermore, your attorney will visit the accident site to take pictures and any necessary measurements.
With the aid of an expert, your attorney will also inspect the tractor-trailer in order to determine exactly how the accident happened. By taking photographs of the damage to the vehicles, your attorney will be able to show the devastating effect of the accident.
An experienced jackknife attorney will also make sure that all responsible parties are brought into the case. In addition to the truck company and the truck driver, this may include any company that may have maintained and repaired the tractor-trailer, manufacturers of defective truck parts, or the entity that may have loaded cargo into the tractor.
Your attorney will also seek to retain medical experts to testify about the extent of injuries you suffered in the accident, and the effect that the injures have had on your life.
The jackknife accident attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers will aggressively pursue a full and fair settlement on your behalf.
If an out-of-court settlement is not possible, our attorneys will be ready and willing to take your case to trial.
Why Choose Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers to Handle My Case?
The attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are solely dedicated to representing people injured in accidents due to no fault of their own.
We have obtained millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients and are proud of our successes. Our attorneys are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, where membership is limited to attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Less than 1% of lawyers in the country belong to this prestigious group.
It is not all about the money at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. We are also proud that our clients choose us to represent them during a very difficult period in their lives. We believe in building relationships with our clients that last long-term.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Most, if not all, truck accident cases will involve proving that the truck driver was negligent.
It is the injured party’s burden to prove negligence. In order to prevail, a plaintiff asserting claims of negligence must prove the following elements:
- That a duty was owed by the truck driver;
- That the truck driver breached that duty;
- That the breach caused your injuries; and
- That you suffered damages because of the accident.
All commercial vehicle operators have a legal duty to operate their tractor-trailers safely. It is easy to understand that if an accident were to occur, a standard-sized motor vehicle is no match for an 18-wheeler, and the law takes this into consideration.
By conducting a thorough investigation and speaking to the right experts, your attorney will be able to prove how the duty was breached by the tractor-trailer operator.
Most truck accidents involve speeding. However, there are often other factors that come into play in a truck accident. These may include driver fatigue, the use of drugs or alcohol, inadequate training, equipment failure, or poor weather conditions.
Jackknife accidents are not the only kind we see, either. We have experience with rollover accidents, rear-end accidents, and underride accidents too.
The Carlsbad truck accident attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers will collect all of the evidence necessary in order to prove your negligence claim. Once we prove that negligence caused your accident, we will work tirelessly to recover the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Jackknife Accident
We’ve provided answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive about jackknife accidents. Don’t hesitate to discuss any questions you have about your accident with one of our attorneys.
What types of injuries are caused in jackknife accidents?
Jackknife accidents can cause very serious injuries. Some common injuries include cuts and lacerations and fractures, along with spinal cord injuries to the neck and back.
Often times, jackknife accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, blood clots, or hemorrhaging. These types of injuries can require a lifetime of medical care.
In the worst-case scenario, a jackknife accident can lead to death.
What types of damages am I entitled to in my jackknife accident case?
Damages that you can recover include payment for your medical expenses, including all past and future medical bills. You may also be entitled to recover any wages you lost because of the accident. If you cannot return to the job you had when the accident occurred, you may also recover damages for your lost earning capacity.
Your damages will also include a money award for your pain and suffering. The amount you recover will depend on the nature and extent of your injuries. These general damages will also take into account the loss of enjoyment of life you experienced after the accident and any mental anguish you suffered as well.
Your settlement or verdict will also likely take into account any scarring or disfigurement you suffered because of the accident.
What should I do if I’ve been involved in a jackknifing accident?
If you were involved in a jackknife accident with a tractor-trailer, you should first and foremost seek medical treatment for your injuries. If circumstances permit, you should remain at the accident scene to speak to the investigating police officer about how the accident occurred.
You should also attempt to obtain the names and addresses of any eyewitnesses to the accident. Also, it is very important to take photographs of the vehicles involved in the accident at the accident scene. These will be very helpful in proving how the accident occurred and who was at fault for the accident.
As soon as possible after the accident, you should seek the help of an attorney in pursuing a claim for the injuries you sustained in the accident. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the more likely it is your claim will be successful.
It is also important to remember to never give a statement about the accident until you have retained an attorney. That statement can be used against you later on if you pursue a lawsuit against the truck driver and the truck company.
Contact a Carlsbad Jackknifing Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a jackknife accident with a tractor-trailer in Carlsbad, call the Carlsbad truck accident attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers as soon as you are able. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get started on your case and help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Call us today at (619) 233-5020 to reach a lawyer at our Carlsbad office. You can also reach out to us online. Our initial consultation is always free.
If you cannot make it to our office, we will come to you. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you do not owe us a fee until we obtain money damages for you.
