It takes only moments for a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle, causing it to jackknife and become nearly unstoppable. For anyone in the path of that 80,000-pound vehicle, life-changing injuries are common.
At H&P Law, you will find the Spring Valley jackknife accident lawyer you need, ready to take action. Set up a free case evaluation with us today. Our Spring Valley truck accident lawyers have over 60 years of combined experience.
Why Jackknife Accidents Happen
Like most truck accidents, jackknifing can cause serious risk of injury and loss of life, but most are preventable. Jackknifing occurs when the tractor-trailer’s trailer skids and swings outward, creating a “V” shape with the tractor.
Some of the most common causes of jackknife accidents include:
- Sudden, improper braking: If the truck driver slams on the brakes, that causes the rear trailer wheels to lock. They cannot slow down as fast as the front brakes either. This causes the trailer to swing outward.
- Speeding: Taking curves or on-ramps too fast can cause the trailer to tip or swing to the side. The high center of gravity causes this.
- Shifting cargo: In some cases, the cargo on the truck is what causes the problem because it shifts or becomes unstable. That leads to the trailer being off-center and potentially gaining speed on the tractor.
- Driver mistakes: Often, a distracted or tired driver does not respond properly to changing road conditions, resulting in sudden braking or other abrupt movements.
- Bad weather: Weather conditions can impact the truck’s tractor and trailer, causing it to slow down or stop properly. Ice and snow tend to be the biggest factors, but even wet roads can increase the risk.
To gather information about what happened, our jackknife accident lawyer in Spring Valley will obtain accident reports, retrieve data from the commercial truck’s black box, investigate witness statements, and gather any available information on the truck’s maintenance and upkeep.
This enables us to form a claim against all parties that could be at fault. For many victims, this means extending access to financial support.
Determining Fault After a Jackknife Accident
One of the core reasons our legal team works to identify all underlying factors that contributed to the accident is to ensure we can assign fault to all parties involved.
ost often, there is more than one person or company responsible for your injuries. We want to hold them accountable. This may include:
- The truck driver for reckless driving or inexperience
- The trucking company employing the driver, especially if they failed to address safety concerns or allowed violations of trucking regulations
- The cargo loading company that did not secure the cargo properly, allowing the accident to occur
- A third-party driver who caused or contributed to the accident
- A mechanic or technician who failed to maintain or repair the truck as expected
Each situation deserves fair attention and careful consideration. At H&P Law, we understand what is at stake here, and we know how to deliver results. Our Spring Valley personal injury lawyer will start investigating your accident right away.
Jackknife Accidents Cause Serious Injuries
Understanding fault is just the start of the process. You can expect our team to then fully investigate your injuries and losses. To do this, we speak to your medical providers to understand the extent of your injuries and ability to heal.
Some of the most common serious injuries that benefit from legal guidance include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Spinal cord and column injuries
- Burns from chemical or thermal exposure
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Disfigurement
Many victims suffer ongoing injuries and losses that require significant medical care and treatment. You may find yourself facing months of recovery and rehab, a pile of medical bills, and endless emotional trauma. We fight for you to recover compensation for all of those losses.
What Your Jackknife Accident Claim Is Worth
The value of your jackknife accident depends on how well we can demonstrate all of your losses, including your physical, emotional, and financial losses.
Our team researches this information extensively to build a clear indication of what the insurance company owes you. Some of the losses that may be owed to you include:
- Medical costs: Expenses related to medical care at the time of the accident and any ongoing losses you have, including future medical costs expected
- Loss of earnings: Compensation for any time you missed at work, as well as losses for benefits, bonuses, or other funds you did not earn because you were not at work
- Loss of income–earning capacity: In a situation where you will not fully recover, you can claim compensation for related losses to your future earnings
- Pain and suffering: Demonstration of the impact this accident had on your mental and physical health and overall well-being
- Emotional distress: Recovery of damages related to emotional trauma, including the onset of PTSD, anxiety, and depression
Every situation is vastly different. Expect our team to fight for the full recovery of any losses you have. We hold insurance companies accountable. Review our case results today to learn more about our firm’s track record of success.
Take Action Before Time Runs Out
In Nevada, the statute of limitations (NRS Chapter 11) for most personal injury cases like this is two years from the date of the accident. Insurance companies will do all they can to push that timeline through delays and endless questions.
Our legal team acts quickly, but does not settle in an unfair manner. We will go to court to fight for you to receive a truly fair recovery of your losses through a lawsuit when necessary.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Your Spring Valley Jackknife Accident Attorney
Now is the time to take action, and H&P Law is ready to build your case and claim. Victims of truck accidents need legal guidance from a law firm that understands federal and state trucking regulations and provides comprehensive legal support all the way to court when necessary.
Our jackknife accident attorney in Spring Valley is available to provide you with insight. Set up a free case evaluation with us now to learn how we can help you.
