Jackknife Truck Accidents in Athens

Jackknife truck accidents in Athens can lead to horrible injuries and significant property damage. In a crash, the truck’s head or cab can hit another vehicle, and the trailer can swing across multiple lanes of traffic, crushing or colliding with other vehicles in its path. The severity of the crash can lead to totaled vehicles and catastrophic injuries.

If you were involved in a crash with a jackknifed truck, the skilled attorneys at Law Offices of Joshua W. Branch, LLC, could help you identify the way forward, explore your legal options, and provide you with adequate information so you can manage your expectations.

What Causes Jackknifing in Trailers?

A commercial vehicle jackknifes when the driver brakes suddenly and steers the truck’s head to control it, but the forward force keeps the trailer moving. This causes the trailer to swing outward in the same direction as the truck, effectively turning it into a large weapon that crushes everything in its path. The result is a truck with a locked head that looks like a partially folded pocketknife.

Several things can cause a jackknife truck crash, including:

• Loss of vehicle control due to excessive speeding
• Defective vehicle parts, such as failed brakes or blown tires
• Trucker error due to distractions, fatigue, or an impaired state
• Adverse weather conditions, such as black ice or snow-covered roads that cause the truck’s tires to lose traction and not grip properly

Depending on the circumstances, a truck may jackknife due to a single issue, such as black ice or a spill, or a combination of factors. For instance, if the driver was not paying attention and realized too late that traffic was suddenly congested, they may brake to stop the truck. This, combined with wet roads in Athens, may cause the truck to jackknife and crash.

How Liability Is Established in Jackknife Truck Accidents

The basis for filing an injury claim in Athens is identifying who is responsible for the jackknife accident and proving that their negligence caused the truck crash. To do this, a lawyer could examine:

• The driver’s in-cab actions before the crash
• The speed at which the driver was traveling and how they applied the brakes
• The trucker’s experience and training
• The driver’s adherence to federally mandated service hours
• The truck’s maintenance and inspection records
• Road conditions at the time of the crash

Our team may do this by reviewing the truck’s black box, dashcam, or other available footage.

What Compensation Is Available to Victims of Jackknifed 18-Wheelers?

In many cases involving a jackknifing truck, occupants of other vehicles on an Athens road are often shocked and unable to react in time to get out of the way before impact. This essentially makes victims defenseless, just waiting for whatever happens.

This is a horrible event to experience, and crash victims often suffer catastrophic injuries as a result. The damages you could recover include medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, property damage, and reduced earning capacity if you suffered permanent disability. You could also seek compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact an Athens Attorney at the Law Offices of Joshua W. Branch, LLC, after a Jackknife Truck Crash

Effective legal representation can help victims of jackknife truck accidents in Athens pursue compensation for their losses. If you sustained injuries in a jackknife truck accident, the lawyers at Law Offices of Joshua W Branch, LLC, could help you obtain the financial remedies you need.

Call our team now for a free consultation.