(864) 582-0416 Large 18-wheelers often carry heavy loads and travel along highways, hauling cargo many miles at a time. Even though truckers tend to be skilled drivers and know how to handle such a big vehicle, a truck with a trailer has the ability to jackknife and cause an accident.
The results of jackknife truck accidents in Spartanburg can be severe, with physical injuries and damage to your vehicle. If you have been harmed by a jackknifed truck, you should speak to an experienced truck crash attorney who can help you take legal action. Call Holland & Usry for a free* case review.
The primary cause of a jackknife accident is a change in speed. A large truck moving quickly and suddenly slowing down or having to swerve can see the trailer swing out from behind to the slide, creating the sharp angle between the cab and the trailer.
A truck driver might have been speeding and needed to brake hard to avoid running into stopped traffic, for example, or might have taken a curve too fast and ended up jackknifed. Similarly, a driver might be operating a truck in difficult weather conditions, such as rain, sleet, snow, or ice, that leave the roadway slippery and the truck more susceptible to a loss of control.
The choices of a driver outside of the operation of an 18-wheeler can also cause an accident, as the mental state of a driver when they get behind the wheel will affect their control of the truck. A driver who drives while distracted or while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue, could mishandle their truck and lead to a jackknife and even a partial rollover.
The end results of an accident can be severe injuries from the impact of a jackknifed truck hitting other cars. If your car gets hit by a truck, you might experience a traumatic brain injury or an injury to the spinal cord with serious consequences (like decreased cognitive function and paralysis) as well as more superficial cuts and bruises. Pain, both physical and emotional, can follow on top of the damage done to your body.
Discovering how an accident happened and what the effects of injuries will be—medical bills, long-term treatment, and even disability—is where an attorney can help. By investigating a jackknife truck collision, your Spartanburg lawyer can start the process of getting compensation for you.
Your claim for compensation will require specific evidence showing that you were injured and that the driver or their trucking company is at fault. If your claim is based in negligence, you will also need to show that there was an unreasonable breach of a duty of care that caused your damages.
Damages express injuries in legal categories—such as medical costs, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering—in order to obtain compensation. Medical documentation of injuries and their severity can help demonstrate those damages as well as police reports from the accident and other information displaying how your injuries will affect you moving forward.
An attorney can coordinate your claim, from gathering evidence to bringing it together into a strong legal claim to be sent to an insurance company or filed in court. You should rely on the skills of a lawyer familiar with jackknife truck accidents in the Spartanburg area to evaluate what happened and develop your claim, whether leading to a settlement or a damages award.
Suffering injuries because a truck jackknifed and hit your vehicle should not leave you unable to care for yourself and your family. Instead, an attorney from Holland & Usry can help you hold the responsible party accountable and get you the compensation you deserve.
Our firm can see if damages typical for jackknife truck accidents in Spartanburg are recoverable in your claim during a free* case review. Contact us to set up a meeting as soon as possible.
