Winchester Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer
Semi-trucks are dangerous for a number of reasons: their size, their difficult handling, and the long hours their drivers spend behind the wheel. Perhaps the most unique hazard of these articulated vehicles is their potential to jackknife.
Jackknifing occurs when the trailer loses its grip on the road surface, slides, and pushes the tractor laterally, causing both units to fold toward each other, resembling a pocketknife closing. This leads to a devastating loss-of-control accident that turns the entire unit into a proverbial loose cannon that could harm anyone on the roadway around it.
Have you been injured in an accident caused by a truck jackknifing in the Winchester, VA area? If so, contact Kendall Law Firm for a free case review with a Winchester truck accident lawyer. We can discuss how our law firm can help you fight for the financial compensation you need to recover from the catastrophic injuries you sustained in a crash caused by a truck jackknife. Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully resolve your matter.
How Kendall Law Firm Helps Victims of Jackknife Truck Accidents in Winchester
Trucking companies and insurance companies may fight vigorously to avoid liability for jackknife truck accidents in Winchester. When you’ve sustained injuries in a jackknife crash, Kendall Law Firm can provide the knowledgeable counsel and dedicated advocacy you need to hold truck drivers and motor carriers responsible for the harm you’ve suffered.
Our personal injury law firm can help you pursue an effective legal claim that seeks the compensation you need by doing the following:
- Investigating the crash to secure important evidence like police reports, witness statements, vehicle data logs, cargo manifests, inspection reports, and maintenance/repair records
- Reviewing the evidence and working with experts as needed to identify who may bear fault for the accident
- Documenting your expenses and assessing your anticipated future losses
- Filing your claims and negotiating with motor carriers and insurers on your behalf
- Pursuing maximum compensation for you in a settlement, or taking your case to trial if necessary, to demand financial recovery and justice for you
Understanding the Mechanics: Why Trucks Jackknife on Winchester Interstates
A truck jackknife occurs when a semi-truck’s trailer swings outward from the line of travel and swings forward toward the tractor/cab, causing the trailer and tractor to fold toward each other at a sharp angle that resembles the folding of a blade into the housing of a pocketknife. Commercial trucks jackknife when their tires lose traction.
A loss of traction can occur for various reasons, such as improper braking techniques, braking on a slick road or downhill stretch, or brake failure. As the truck’s cab slows, the trailer (which may have extra weight from cargo) will continue moving forward due to its momentum. This force may cause the rear of the trailer to swing outward and forward, making the trailer and cab fold together at the hitch.
Common Causes of Jackknife Collisions: From Driver Error to Brake Failure
Various conditions can lead to an accident caused by a truck jackknifing, including the following:
- Improper braking, such as applying the brakes suddenly
- Careless braking, including not adjusting braking techniques in response to potentially hazardous conditions like slick roads or traveling down an incline
- Speeding
- Braking during sharp turns or lane changes
- Brake failures due to manufacturing defects or lack of maintenance/repairs
- Tire blowouts
- Worn-out tires
- Improper tire pressure
- Overloaded trailers or unbalanced cargo loads
- Unsecured cargo that shifts during braking
- Inadequate driver training
FMCSA Regulations and Proving Liability in a Jackknife Case
Commercial truck jackknife laws in Virginia can play a significant role in establishing a truck driver’s or motor carrier’s liability for a truck jackknifing accident. Many jackknife accidents occur due to improper braking by a truck driver. In some cases, careless braking by a truck driver may violate the FMCSA braking regulations.
As an example, Federal regulations establish required brake system standards as follows:
- Trucks with hydraulic brake systems must have systems that meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 105 on the date of manufacture, or other applicable FMCSA regulations.
- Air brake systems must meet FMVSS No. 121 on the date of manufacture.
- Vacuum, electric, and surge brake systems must comply with the regulations in Part 393 of the FMCSA.
- Most trucks manufactured after July 1, 1973 also must have an emergency brake system separate from the service brake system.
- Brake system designs must also allow a truck to remain operable in the event of any part of the system failing.
- Federal regulations also require brakes on all wheels of a commercial truck.
Furthermore, federal trucking regulations require truck drivers to exercise extreme caution in hazardous conditions that can affect road traction (such as snow, ice, sleet, mist, or rain) and to discontinue driving if conditions become sufficiently dangerous.
Violations of these regulations during a truck jackknife accident may result in a truck driver or trucking company being held liable for the accident. For example, inspection and maintenance records may show that a truck had a non-compliant braking system or that the truck’s braking system had faults that rendered it non-compliant with federal regulations.
Truck accident reconstruction experts can also explain how a truck driver used improper braking techniques in hazardous conditions, such as rain, snow, ice, banked curves, or downhill stretches. As a result, establishing a violation of FMCSA regulations can help you hold a truck driver or motor carrier liable for a truck accident.
Contact a Dedicated Winchester Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Have you been hurt in a road accident caused by a jackknifing truck? If someone else was to blame, you deserve financial recovery for your harm and loss and to have a legal advocate who can help you stand up to trucking companies to demand every cent you’re owed.
Contact Kendall Law Firm today for a free consultation with an experienced Winchester truck accident lawyer. We can review the details of the accident and the injuries you have suffered and let you know how we may pursue justice on your behalf.