Omaha Jackknife Accident Lawyers

What Can You Do After a Jackknife Accident in Omaha

The enormous size and weight of commercial trucks make them particularly dangerous to other vehicles on the road. One of the worst accidents involving trucks can occur when the vehicle "jackknifes." This happens when the truck’s trailer spins out of control and comes up to form a 90-degree angle with its cab. The name is derived from the image of a pocket knife folded in half.

If you or a loved one has experienced a collision with a semi-truck and suffered severe injuries, don’t hesitate to contact Bottlinger Law L.L.C. right away. Our team knows these cases aren’t the same as car crashes, and there are many other factors that must be considered when asking for compensation from the trucking insurance company. Please call (402) 505-8234 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Omaha truck accident attorney.

What Are the Dangers of Jackknifes?

Jackknifing trucks can cross multiple lanes of traffic, causing several collisions in the span of a few second. They often lead to highway closures as well. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), jackknife accidents contribute approximately 10% of fatal truck accidents in the United States yearly.

Research has found that jackknifes are more likely occur when:

• Roads are slippery, icy, or wet;
• The truck’s load shifts or is otherwise unstable;
• The roads are curved or poorly lit;
• The road’s speed limit is above 55 miles per hour; or
• The truck driver is traveling at an excessive rate of speed.

Jackknife accidents frequently trigger chain-reaction collisions involving many vehicles, leaving widespread damage and numerous victims in their wake. Consequently, insurance companies and inexperienced attorneys often have difficulty investigating and litigating these kinds of crashes.

If you are involved in a wreck caused by a jackknifed truck, it is vital that you contact a lawyer with trucking company experience immediately.

What Are the Ways to Avoid a Truck Jackknife Crash?

Commercial truck drivers are specially trained in techniques to control the big rigs they drive. Truck drivers can help prevent jackknifing by:

• Maintaining a safe distance from vehicles ahead
• Proceeding with extra caution in poor weather
• Braking as gradually as possible
• Braking in a straight line before a turn
• Never increasing speed before a turn
• Releasing the brakes and driving into a skid

Passenger vehicle drivers can also take steps to avoid being involved in a jackknife or other truck collision. These precautions include:

• Staying out of a truck’s blind spots
• Leaving plenty of room between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler ahead
• Passing trucks and switching lanes carefully
• Allowing more space when merging with large trucks on the road
• Using extra caution in inclement weather conditions

What Types of Injuries Can Truck Jackknife Collisions Cause?

The size and weight of a semi tractor-trailer can make a collision with a passenger vehicle deadly. Drivers and passengers of much smaller vehicles are likely to sustain serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries. Injuries caused truck jackknife wrecks include:

• Head trauma and brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage leading to paralysis
• Internal organ damage
• Crush injuries
• Severe back and neck injuries
• Fractured bones
• Amputation
• Decapitation
• Death

What Are the Complexities of Investigating a Truck Jackknife Collision?

Truck jackknife crashes can be complex cases to investigate. These wrecks are not always the driver’s fault. It may be difficult to determine if the truck driver was negligent in causing the crash, or whether a reasonable truck driver would have acted the same under the same or similar circumstances.

Truck drivers can make mistakes that can cause the rig to jackknife. For example, this type of crash could occur if the driver took a turn too quickly, downshifted improperly, or braked incorrectly. Our legal team has the knowledge, skills, and resources to thoroughly investigate your truck jackknife crash, determine fault and liability, and aggressively pursue all forms of compensation.

What Compensation Can You Receive?

After our legal team starts investigating your case, we can find out if you are entitled to compensation such as:

• Loss of present and future wages;
• Mental and physical pain and suffering;
• Medical treatment and hospitalization costs;
• Loss of enjoyment of life;
• Cost of repairs/replacement of your vehicle;
• Cost of a lifelong disability or loss of ability to work;
• And more.

Truck driver negligence is never acceptable, so if the trucker or shipping company did something to cause or contribute to the jackknife, they should be held responsible for all associated expenses. We have helped people who suffered horrific injuries in Omaha truck crashes, such as spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, shattered bones, amputation, burns, and loss of vision or hearing. We have also helped the families of wrongful death victims get the justice they deserve.

If you or a loved one needs experienced legal representation after a jackknife truck accident in Omaha, contact Bottlinger Law L.L.C. by calling (402) 505-8234. Not only do we offer a no-cost case evaluation; we do not charge any upfront fees, and will not take payment until after we’ve recovered compensation for you.