Jackknife truck accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings out from behind the cab, becoming perpendicular to both the cab and other traffic on the road. When jackknife accidents take place, the risk of serious, potentially fatal collisions with other motorists increases significantly, as these truck accidents can trigger deadly rollover and/or underride accidents.
After jackknife truck accidents caused by negligence, our Denver truck accident attorneys will advocate victims’ rights to compensation and justice.
While any number of factors – like, for instance, poor weather or road conditions – can contribute to jackknifes, in most cases, the negligence of a driver and/or trucking company plays a role in causing these serious collisions. In such cases, victims of jackknifes accidents should remember that:
- They will likely be entitled to compensation.
- The Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm will be here to help defend their rights, stand up to insurers on their behalf and ultimately do what is necessary to help them get the compensation they need and deserve.
Negligence and Jackknifes
Some specific examples of the negligence that can cause jackknife truck accidents include:
- Truck drivers’ failure to pay attention to the road – When drivers are distracted, they are more likely to have to slam on the brakes last minute to avoid a collision or try to stop trucks at red lights. This can cause the brakes to lock up and jackknifes to occur.
- Truck drivers’ intoxication, fatigue and/or inexperience – All of these factors may also prevent drivers from recognizing important visual cues and promptly responding to them; in turn, this can lead to the last-minute need to forcefully slam of the truck’s brakes, which increases the chances of jackknife accidents.
- Failure to maintain trucks – This is a particular point of concern when it comes to the maintenance of a truck’s braking system and the hitch that secures the trailer to truck cab.
- Failure to secure and/or properly balance truck loads – If a jackknife accident occurs with a fully loaded truck or a truck in which the cargo is not properly balanced, there is a higher chance of the jackknife ending with a rollover (according to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Denver Truck Accident Attorneys at McLaughlin Law Firm
Have you been hurt in jackknife truck accident? Or have you lost a loved one in any type of trucking accident? If so, don’t hesitate to contact the Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm With more than 35 years of combined legal experience, our skilled attorneys are effective at aggressively advocating victims’ rights, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to helping victims obtain the highest possible compensation for their injuries and losses.
When truck accident survivors – including families who may have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident – choose to work with us, they can count on us to:
- Help them build the strongest possible cases
- Provide them with personalized attention and the highest quality of legal services from the initial consult through the final disposition of their cases
- Work tirelessly to help them achieve the best possible outcomes to their case in the most efficient manner possible.
We Are Ready to Fight For You – Let’s Talk about Your Case
If you have been injured in a truck accident, the Denver trucking accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm are ready to fight for you. We invite you to learn more about your rights and get a thorough, professional evaluation of your case by meeting with us for a free, no obligations initial consult.
To set up this meeting today, call us at 720-420-9800 or email us using the form on this page.
