When a semi-truck’s trailer goes out of alignment with the truck’s forward movement, the truck and trailer can fold into a V-shape—resembling a jackknife—and crash into nearby vehicles, causing serious injuries. When jackknife truck accidents in Bartlett happen because of someone’s negligence, injured passengers should seek assistance from an experienced truck accident attorney to recover compensation for their losses and injuries.
Our truck accident legal team at The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs understands the complex physical and mechanical systems of modern semi-trucks, and we can use that knowledge to help you demonstrate how negligence caused an otherwise preventable jackknife accident.
What Causes a Semi-Truck To Jackknife?
Jackknife truck crashes continue to occur in Bartlett despite the adoption of accident-prevention systems such as trailer and truck anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control modules, and pneumatic steel pins that lock a trailer into place when a jackknife accident is imminent. David and Elissa will closely analyze the evidence of a jackknife accident for clues that the driver:
- Braked too suddenly or did not adapt control of the semi-truck to account for wet or slippery roads
- Drove too fast through turns so that the truck’s speed forced the trailer to swing out in the direction opposite to the turn
- Jerked the truck’s steering wheel too quickly after becoming distracted or losing focus due to fatigue
- Failed to maintain the truck’s safety systems that might have prevented a jackknife accident
- Pulled a trailer that was overloaded or with cargo that had an uneven weight distribution
Our truck accident lawyers often work closely with mechanical engineers and other experts to bolster an argument about how negligence led to a jackknife crash.
Potentially Liable Parties
A Bartlett truck driver’s liability insurer will be liable for jackknife accident losses and injuries that are the result of the driver’s negligence, but other parties and their insurance carriers may also bear some responsibility. For example, an employer or contract carrier may be liable if it forced a driver to operate a semi-truck with an improperly loaded or overloaded trailer. Manufacturers of safety systems that are designed to prevent jackknife accidents may also be liable if the systems had design flaws or failed to work as intended.
In all cases, crash victims should ensure that the lawyer they hire to represent them has the knowledge and experience to scrutinize the evidence and identify all potentially liable parties. If accident-related losses and expenses exceed the limits of a driver’s liability insurance, the lawyer will need to pursue other insurance carriers to recover the full compensation.
The Importance of Contacting a Lawyer Promptly
Tennessee has a relatively short one-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. For this reason, Bartlett motorists injured in jackknife truck wrecks should first get the medical help they need to stabilize their injuries, then promptly reach out to an experienced attorney to recover the compensation they deserve. Any delay in contacting and retaining a lawyer will place the injured motorist at risk of losing the opportunity to collect compensation.
Speak to Our Bartlett Attorneys After a Jackknife Truck Wreck
The attorneys at The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs offer complimentary consultations to those who have suffered injury in jackknife truck accidents in Bartlett. When you work with us, you do not owe us any fees unless we recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation to discuss your case.
