McKinney Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer

A jackknifing collision is a common type of wreck among 18-wheelers. When this occurs, the outcome could be catastrophic. If you were involved in such an accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Reach out to a McKinney jackknife truck accident lawyer today. An experienced truck accident attorney could help you hold the responsible party accountable in court.

What is a Jackknife Truck Accident?

A jackknife truck accident is when the tractor, the actual truck itself, and the trailer either decouple from one another or tip over. This type of collision is called a jackknife because very often it is not straight and acts like a folding knife while on the road. These jackknife-type wrecks could be very dangerous, not only for the driver in the jackknifed truck but for anyone else on the road. This is because when these trailers jackknife, when they turn sideways or fall over, many of the safety systems that are meant to warn oncoming traffic such as lights and placement of reflectors are invisible. If it happens at night or when it is raining, it could cover the entire roadway and create a danger for oncoming traffic which will not be able to see and or avoid.

Common Causes of Jackknife Crashes

Jackknife accidents happen commonly when trucks are:

Overweight
Not loaded appropriately
Carrying a very light load
Poor weather conditions

In bad weather with high winds and rain or snow, the potential for jackknifing a truck goes way up. Drivers know this and they are trained to slow down in the rain and high winds, or not drive at all in certain situations when the conditions are simply too dangerous to drive. Due to the size of these vehicles and because of the damage they could cause, a truck driver is trained to simply not drive and to wait until the weather is more favorable.

Mechanical Checks to Prevent Collisions

Mechanical checks are supposed to be done every time a driver gets ready to go on the road in the big trucks. They have a post-trip inspection and a pre-trip inspection they must do to make sure that their trucks are mechanically sound and must make sure that their brakes, for instance, are within tolerance range. When brakes are out of tolerance in combination with bad weather to that scenario, the likelihood that the brakes are going to lock up on the driver increases, causing these jackknife accidents to occur.

Drivers are supposed to mechanical checks every day, at the beginning and at the end of every trip. Anytime that they stop for the night or for the rest period, they are supposed to get out and check their vehicle before they get going again to make sure that it is as safe as it can be for the conditions.

Determining Liability in McKinney

In Texas, as in almost all states, the fact that someone is involved in a wreck with an 18-wheeler does not automatically make anybody liable or legally responsible for the damages caused by that wreck. The law says that the type of incident must have been foreseeable and that the person must have been acting as a reasonably careful and prudent person would in the same or similar circumstances.

In most of these situations, the fact finder, usually a jury, has to make these determinations:

Was the driver acting in a manner that a careful and prudent driver would act
Would a careful and prudent driver have reacted in the same manner

Foreseeability of Accident

Foreseeability is the legal way of saying something that could reasonably be expected from the incident or from the driving in question. If it cannot be proven that the injury, or something similar to it, was foreseeable, then the plaintiff may lose the case. There needs to be a negligent act and a foreseeable injury in order to obtain a recovery. For help with determining liability, reach out to a dedicated McKinney jackknife truck accident lawyer.

Speak to a McKinney Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney

Accidents could have a tremendous impact on everyone involved including serious injury and pain. The financial burden a truck accident could cause could make the situation even worse. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to the negligence of another, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

A knowledgeable McKinney jackknife truck accident lawyer could help you seek justice for your injuries. You do not have to suffer alone. Call a skilled attorney to learn about how you could hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries. Call today to schedule an appointment with our skilled attorneys and staff.