Jackknife accidents happen when a commercial truck loses traction, causing the cab and trailer to skid sideways and fold together at the hitch, similar to a pocketknife closing. When this happens, the out-of-control truck may sweep across the road and collide with other vehicles. Jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous and may cause severe or fatal injury accidents.
If you were injured in a collision involving a jackknifed truck in Las Vegas, contact Sam & Ash Injury Law. We have helped injured people recover significant compensation from truck accident injury claims. We believe you deserve What’s Right and should know your attorney on a first-name basis. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your truck accident and legal options.
Why Hire Our Las Vegas Jackknife Truck Accident Attorneys
We are committed to helping people injured in truck accidents in Las Vegas seek justice and fair compensation when others are at fault. We know how important your case is to you. Contact attorneys with years of personal injury experience and offer personalized legal representation. Here are a few things that make us stand out:
- Forceful representation – We are not afraid of trucking companies or insurance companies. We know their tactics. We recognize that your bills may be piling up if you have missed weeks of work while recovering from serious injuries. We will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve, and we’re prepared to take the trucking company to court if necessary.
- Practical experience – One of our partners, Ash Watkins, is a former insurance company defense lawyer. Her understanding of how insurance companies operate and approach injury claims gives us an edge when negotiating our client settlements.
- Our record speaks for itself – We have secured millions of dollars for our clients and will fight for the full value of your claim.
- Cutting-edge systems – The less time we spend on administrative tasks, the more time we have to help you. One of our partners, Sam Mirejovsky, co-founded CASEpeer, a new client-management system that firms nationwide have embraced. Our technological edge helps us keep our focus on your case.
- No fees unless you win – We know the financial stress you are feeling and do not want to add to it. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe us any fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
What Is Jackknifing?
Jackknife accidents occur due to braking issues or a loss of traction, causing the trailer swings to one side. As the trailer pivots on the hitch and moves toward the truck, it could hit or crush anything in its path.
What Causes a Truck to Jackknife?
A truck’s momentum keeps the trailer in line behind the cab as it moves forward. When a truck loses traction or the cab and trailer brake unevenly, the momentum of the trailer cause the cab and trailer to swing to one side.
A truck driver’s braking error or careless driving may lead to a jackknife accident. The possible contributing factors to a jackknife accident include:
- Distracted driving – Distracted drivers are slower to recognize potential dangers around them. If a truck driver is distracted, the driver may not see or recognize a hazard in time and slam on the brakes, causing the truck to skid out of control.
- Inexperienced or unqualified truck drivers – Experienced truck drivers know how to correct a skid. If a truck driver has not received adequate training to handle a commercial vehicle or has limited driving experience, the driver may not know how to correct a jackknife skid and bring a truck to a stop.
- Drowsy driving – Many drivers disregard federal hours of service regulations limiting how many hours truck drivers can be behind the wheel daily and weekly. Dangerously fatigued truck drivers are likelier to make mistakes, lose control, and cause a jackknife accident.
- Speeding – Truck drivers who are speeding or driving too fast for the road conditions have less time to respond to a hazard and brake safely. Gradual braking is crucial if a truck driver wants to avoid jackknifing. Otherwise, the truck’s axles might lock up and launch into a skid, leading to a jackknife accident.
- Truck brake failure – Semi-truck brakes require regular inspection and adjustment to function properly. A lack of proper maintenance or a mechanical defect can cause a truck’s brakes to fail and the truck to jackknife.
- Impaired driving – An impaired driver might fail to recognize an obstacle or vehicle in the truck’s path until it is too late to slow down safely. When the driver slams on the brakes or hits something in the truck’s path, the trailer might jackknife and cause additional damage.
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