Fort Myers Tractor Trailer Jackknife Accident Lawyer
The term “jackknifing” refers to a common type of accident involving large commercial semi-trucks. Basically, jackknifing occurs when the trailer portion of a tractor-trailer swings to one side of the tractor (or “cab” portion) and forms an angle that resembles a pocket knife with the blade extended. Due to the sudden nature of this jackknifing, other vehicles on the road are at high risk of colliding with the tractor-trailer, potentially killing their occupants.
Jackknife accidents can occur for a number of reasons, many of which are tied to negligence of the semi-truck driver or the company that employs them. A qualified Fort Myers tractor trailer jackknife accident lawyer can help you investigate the specific circumstances of your accident and represent you in taking appropriate legal action against the responsible parties. At Cardinal Law, P.A., we have helped many clients obtain compensation for their injuries and losses arising from these horrific crashes.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Jackknife Accident?
The physics of a jackknife accident are fairly simple to understand. The drive wheels of the tractor-trailer lock as the vehicle encounters a slippery spot on the road. As the trailer continues to move forward, the truck driver loses control and the trailer starts to “swing out” to one side. At this point, many truck drivers make the mistake of locking their drive axles, which leads to a jackknifing.
There are often other factors at play in a jackknife accident as well, such as excessive speeding or even brake failure. Because of the complex nature of tractor trailer accidents, it is often critical to conduct a thorough investigation into what happened before taking any formal legal action. Indeed, we often find that there may be other parties at-fault for a jackknife accident besides the tractor-trailer driver, including but not limited to:
- The trucking company. The company that owns the truck and hired the driver must ensure that both are fit to be on the road. So if a jackknife accident was the result of something like a brake failure or a lack of proper driver training, the company can be held legally liable for an accident.
- Other motorists. There are scenarios where a tractor-trailer driver was effectively forced into a jackknifing due to a sudden hazard created by a third driver’s reckless or negligent conduct.
- State and local governments. Jackknife accidents can also be the result of poor road conditions brought about by a lack of maintenance by the government agencies responsible for their maintenance. In some cases a jackknife accident victim may be able to sue the government and collect damages.
Contact Cardinal Law Today
Jackknife accidents often lead to multi-car pile ups and a large number of victims with potential legal claims. Truck companies understand this and will start building their defense almost from the moment the accident occurs. That is why if you are the victim, it is equally important that you work with a Fort Myers tractor trailer jackknife accident lawyer who can help you level the legal playing field. If you need to speak with a lawyer right away, contact Cardinal Law, P.A., today to schedule a free initial consultation.
