Gillette Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers

Legal Representation After a Gillette Jackknife Accident

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an accident with a big-rig, you are likely going through a very traumatizing time in your life. Truck accidents are some of the most dangerous of all collisions on the road and often involve multiple vehicles and many victims, either catastrophically or fatally injured. Of all truck accidents, what is arguably the most dangerous is when a truck jackknifes and ends up sprawled over several lanes, causing massive collateral damage.

Anyone who has been injured in a jackknife accident is, honestly, lucky to be alive. If you or a loved one are victims of this horrific type of accident, you need an experienced Gillette truck accident attorney by your side to help you through the legal processes required to pursue the compensation you deserve. Determining who is responsible for the accident can be difficult, and our team at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. has the experience needed to help you make it through it.

Back to Top

What Is a Jackknife Accident?

A jackknife accident is defined as an accident where a truck and its trailer starts skidding, and the trailer swings out from behind the cab. The cab and trailer make an “L” or “V” angle similar to a common jackknife (another name for a folding pocketknife), which is why it’s called “jackknifing.”

A jackknifed truck can take up all lanes of a freeway and cause tremendous damage to surrounding vehicles, drivers, and their passengers. If the truck was moving fast enough, a jackknifed truck can flip onto its side and skid down the roadway, taking out everything in its path. Because jackknifing can occur suddenly and without warning, these accidents allow for no time for cars to get out of the way and to safety.

Back to Top

How Do Jackknifes Occur?

Many different factors can cause jackknifing accidents, including:

• Brake failure. If the brakes fail during a sudden stop, the cab and trailer can start going at different speeds, causing the trailer to swing up from behind.
• Driving too fast. If a truck driver is speeding and has to suddenly stop, an 80,000-pound trailer may not respond to the brakes fast enough, causing them to lock up and forcing the trailer to jackknife.
• Road conditions. Poor road conditions can cause sudden changes in the direction of the truck and result in a jackknife.
• Inexperienced drivers. Drivers who aren’t sufficiently trained to handle traffic while driving in a truck can easily make a mistake that causes their truck to jackknife.
• Driver fatigue. Despite strict regulations limiting the number of consecutive driving hours, truckers and truck companies make their money by delivering goods on time and often drive more than they should. Driving for longer than the regulations allow can result in the driver becoming fatigued and making fatal mistakes while on the road.

Back to Top

Potential Compensation for Victims

If you or a loved one are victims of a jackknife truck accident in Campbell County, you may be eligible for significant compensation. Because of the catastrophic nature of such accidents, the injuries sustained are often severe and sometimes fatal. Typical compensation for jackknifing victims includes:

• Short term medical expenses and hospital bills
• Long term medical expenses, including prosthetics, assisted living devices, physical therapy, and continued care
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Inability to work
• Change of career due to injuries

If a loved one has died in a jackknifing accident, you may be further eligible for wrongful death compensation which includes:

• Medical expenses leading up to death
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of consortium (loss of the family benefits of having your loved one around)
• Loss of physical and financial support

Back to Top

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Jackknife Accident?

Determining liability in a Gillette trucking accident can be challenging, as there are many potential parties who could be responsible for what occurred. Trucking companies are known for retaining insurance companies and attorneys that fight hard to reduce the value of claims, so it is vital to have sufficient evidence to prove that they or another party are responsible. Liability in a trucking accident could be assigned to:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The truck manufacturer
• The roadway maintenance department of the local government
• Another driver
• Third-party manufacturers who manufactured a defective part used on the truck
• The truck maintenance company
• The firm that loaded cargo incorrectly

Back to Top

How a Campbell County Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

At Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., we have an in-depth understanding of the laws, regulations, and function of big-rig trucks. We know exactly how to perform a thorough investigation of your case and collect evidence to prove liability and fight to pursue the compensation you deserve.

We are a low-volume law firm, meaning we only take a select number of cases at any one time, and we take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, and you will owe no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. Our team of award-winning trial lawyers has an unbeatable work ethic and impressive win-loss record in the courtroom. Call us today at (307) 257-7800 to schedule your free case strategy session.

Back to Top