The design of a tractor-trailer makes it susceptible to a unique type of accident known as jackknifing, which involves a truck’s trailer kicking out sideways so that it is front of the cab. When a truck jackknifes, it often ends up skidding across several lanes of traffic and may collect several other vehicles in a wreck, often with catastrophic results.
Establishing liability and recovering compensation after jackknife truck accidents in Olive Branch can be difficult without help from a seasoned truck accident attorney. The team at the law office of David E. Gordon knows how to uncover hard-to-find evidence and paint a cohesive portrait of fault that can help you effectively pursue the compensation you deserve.
How Jackknifing Accidents Occur
Various circumstances could lead to a truck jackknifing, many of which are a result of driver error. Even if inclement weather makes the road slick, or other drivers make sudden lane changes, it is a truck driver’s responsibility to account for hazardous conditions and drive carefully at all times. If they do not, they might bear liability for any ensuing wreck.
However, jackknife truck accidents in Olive Branch are not always entirely a truck driver’s fault. For example, if a truck ends up jackknifing because it is overloaded, liability for that wreck can fall on not only the truck driver, but also the company that allowed the truck to be overloaded in the first, or potentially a third party that loaded the truck.
Likewise, while accounting for bad weather is part of a truck driver’s job, fixing potholes on poorly maintained roads is not. If the source of a jackknife wreck is a road condition that a municipal entity had the responsibility to correct, that entity could potentially be named as a defendant in an ensuing case.
What Damages Could Be Recoverable?
Regardless of who is named as a defendant in a local jackknife truck crash case, the injured person can pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages if they can successfully demonstrate fault. Recoverable economic damages typically center around medical bills but may also include wage loss and car repair bills, whereas non-economic damages usually have to do with the plaintiff’s subjective “pain and suffering.”
As with any civil claim based on a traffic accident, people injured in jackknife collisions may need to work hard and seek help from a Board-certified lawyer like David to ensure they do not miss out on compensation due to comparative fault. Additionally, any prospective plaintiff must file suit within the three-year deadline or their right to file a claim could cease, which is why it is wise to work with a lawyer who can keep track of the deadline.
Discuss Jackknife Truck Accident Litigation with an Olive Branch Attorney
Given the immense damage that jackknife wrecks can cause to both the vehicles and people involved, it is often hard to establish exactly what happened and who was to blame due to a lack of video or documentary evidence. Without help from someone like David E. Gordon, you might have your work cut out for you in recovering any compensation.
If you were recently hurt in a jackknife truck accident in Olive Branch, retaining skilled legal representation should be a top priority. Call a lawyer today to learn more about your legal options.
