Atlanta Jackknife Accident Lawyer
Jackknife truck accidents are terrifying events. As a victim of such a horrific collision, you deserve to be fully compensated by the trucking company for your medical expenses, lost income, property damage, loss of joy of life, and other damages. To hold the driver and trucking company responsible, our Atlanta truck jackknife accident lawyer at Sawyer Injury Law is here to help.
What is a Jackknife?
The term jackknife refers to a truck and trailer “folding” together in the shape of a pocket knife (which are also called jackknifes). Jackknifing happens when the truck, or other vehicle towing a trailer, begins skidding to a stop, and the tires lose traction with the pavement, according to How Stuff Works. As the truck tires fail to grip the pavement, the weight of the trailer begins pushing the truck forward. In most cases, the truck and trailer may swerve somewhat before coming to a stop. In a jackknife scenario, the trailer continues pushing the truck forward, as the driver is braking, until it spins the vehicle around, causing it to face backward, forming an acute angle between itself and the trailer.
Why Jackknife Collisions Are So Dangerous
Any large truck crash poses a serious threat to other road users. In fatal truck collisions, 67 percent of fatalities are car occupants, and 15 percent are pedestrians and cyclists—only 16 percent of fatalities are those of truck drivers, according to the IIHS. But in the case of a jackknife accident, the potential threat is magnified due to the sheer lack of control that the truck driver has. While the truck is spun around backward, the driver and other road users are at the complete mercy of the path that the truck and trailer are already on. In a jackknife crash, the truck can easily roll over and crush passenger vehicles, push them off the road, slam into them, cause a rollover, or fall on top of a passenger vehicle as the truck eventually rolls over itself. The wide, swinging motion of the truck and trailer can wrap up multiple vehicles in a high-speed crash or force others to make emergency maneuvers that end up causing additional vehicles to become involved in the crash that never even contacted the jackknifing truck or trailer.
Damages You Can Seek in a Jackknife Collision
- Medical expenses;
- Ongoing medical care;
- Pain and suffering;
- Lost income and future earnings;
- Emotional distress;
- Loss of joy in life;
- Property damage; and
- More.
Contact an Atlanta Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney Today
No personal injury claim is easy or a sure thing. Even when the other party is clearly at fault, such as in a jackknife truck accident, the other party can still deny liability or attempt to devalue your claim. There is only one way to ensure your chances of fair compensation, and that is to work with a qualified Atlanta jackknife attorney. Contact us today at our Sawyer Injury Law Atlanta law office to schedule a free consultation with an experienced truck jackknife attorney.
