Jackknife accidents, which endanger truck drivers and motorists alike, can cause devastating accidents due to their large size and the weight of their vehicles. Negligent driving behaviors can cause a driver to lose control of their truck and end up in the dreaded jackknife position. If you’ve been involved in this type of accident, a Paradise jackknife accident lawyer can help you prepare a claim to cover your losses.
H&P Law is your ally when you must figure out how to file a claim and recover compensation after a jackknife accident. A Paradise truck accident lawyer answers your questions, investigates the accident, gathers evidence, and provides unrelenting representation. Your claim receives our devoted attention, and our services and strategies are tailored to your needs from the very start.
Damages a Jackknife Accident Lawyer in Paradise Can Help You Recover
H&P Law can help you negotiate a fair settlement for losses sustained in a jackknife accident. We know how to communicate with insurance companies and truck industry personnel to secure compensation while also protecting your rights. Our Paradise personal injury lawyers fiercely negotiate on your behalf to recover the following losses, as applicable:
- Medical services ranging from emergency care to rehabilitation
- Accommodations, equipment, and medications
- Loss of income or earning capacity
- Cost to fix or replace your vehicle
- Death benefits for fatalities
- Lost quality of life and enjoyment
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other forms of emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and/or consortium
To ensure your settlement sufficiently covers your losses, we meticulously calculate the value of each loss. We also consult with professionals who can provide a clear, robust picture of the challenges you may face so that we can craft a strong case based on accurate information. Our team also prepares you for how soon you have to file a truck accident claim in Nevada, which is two years from the time of the crash.
A Variety of Factors Can Contribute to Jackknife Accidents in Paradise, Nevada
When they’re working properly, semi-trucks are aligned, and the cab and trailer move in sync with one another. However, if anything disrupts a truck’s normal functioning, then a jackknife accident can occur. This type of accident involves the cab and trailer pivoting in a “V” because each part moves independently of the other. Truck drivers lose control, and cars in their oncoming path can be injured.
These accidents can be caused by human error or recklessness. If a truck is speeding and takes a curve too fast or brakes suddenly, it can cause the truck’s wheels to lock up and start to jackknife. Mechanical issues arising from poor maintenance or defective parts can also cause wrecks. Drivers can also be responsible for errors caused by fatigue, weather, unsecured cargo, distractions, or impairment.
Jackknife accidents can result in extensive damage and have highly complex claim processes. As such, you should hire a lawyer to file a truck accident claim. We can help ensure that paperwork and evidence are filed correctly and negotiate a higher settlement than you would if you handled your case yourself.
Lawyers Must Determine Which Parties Are Liable for an Accident
The cause of a jackknife is important for many reasons. Not only does it show the sequence of events, but it also shows who may be at fault. This is important because there are multiple parties who could be at fault for causing a jackknife accident. The driver is often the most obvious party. They are out on the road and expected to follow regulations, use caution, and respond to potential hazards in real time.
Trucking companies are the next party that many people think about. After all, they are responsible for enforcing regulations, ensuring safety measures are in place, properly vetting and training drivers, and more. However, if they fail to perform these duties, they could be held legally liable for damages. Setting unrealistic deadlines is also a common factor that can lead to unsafe behaviors and accidents.
The remaining parties that could contribute to an accident may be a little further removed, but are no less liable for an accident resulting from their negligence. For example, cargo loaders can be at fault when a jackknife accident occurs because of unsecured or imbalanced cargo. Both mechanics who don’t maintain or repair trucks and manufacturers of defective parts can be held liable as well.
Forms of Evidence You Can Use to Build a Strong Case and Establish Liability
To build a strong case that you were injured because of another party’s negligent actions, you will need to provide evidence of their actions. While a police report, photos, medical records, and witness statements are vital, you may need additional evidence to establish liability. A Paradise jackknife accident attorney can help you with this by digging into the details of your case.
We talk to trucking companies to secure data from the truck’s black box, driver logs showing hours of service (HOS), maintenance and inspection records, traffic surveillance, cargo manifests, driver history records, and more. This information can provide us with a clearer picture of what factors contributed to the accident, and who is liable.
Our team demonstrates the at-fault party’s negligence by showing that they disregarded their duty of care to safety and caused an accident and injuries. For this, they may be liable to pay damages. However, if fault is shared, NRS 41.141 applies, which provides that individuals who are 50% or less at fault may recover reduced damages, while those more than 50% at fault are barred from recovering damages.
H&P Law Provides Critical Support After a Jackknife Accident
H&P Law doesn’t hesitate to fight for you when you have been the victim of negligence. We advocate for you when you have to file a claim against the trucking industry and ensure that you’re not taken advantage of.
When you’re reeling from your losses, a jackknife accident attorney in Paradise identifies a way forward and fights for you. Take the first step and schedule a free case evaluation with our team.
