truck driving on highway

When the cab of a big rig truck brakes or swerves too suddenly, sometimes the truck’s trailer swivels around its pivot point so violently that its momentum forces it to swing wide to one side of the truck. The resulting V-shape formed by the unnatural angle of the cab and the trailer often resembles a pocketknife, or jackknife, being folded into its handle. Hence, the term “jackknife accident.”

Jackknife truck accidents pose a huge risk on the road. A jackknifed trailer may force the cab of a truck to spin around backward and continue down the road in reverse. It might cause the truck to roll over entirely. The truck might burst open and scatter its cargo all over the highway. In the worst accidents, the truck strikes other vehicles in its path and carries them along through its wake of destruction. Jackknife accidents often occur without warning and result in serious consequences.

If you or someone close to you was involved in a truck accident in El Paso, Texas, the jackknife crash lawyers from the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC can help. Call us to schedule your free, confidential case review today.

Causes of Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident can occur anytime a tractor-trailer’s cab slows down or turns too quickly for the trailer to keep up. The end of the trailer passes the cab through its own momentum. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Excessive speeding or lane weaving
  • Driver fatigue, intoxication, or distraction
  • Inexperienced or untrained driver
  • Failure of the brakes or other equipment
  • Icy, wet, or slippery roads
  • Improperly secured or unsecured cargo
  • Improper following distance
  • Braking too hard or too suddenly
  • Accelerating or braking improperly around a curve
  • Improper brake adjustment or balance
  • Improper or negligent truck maintenance
  • Defective truck components

How an El Paso Jackknife Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Jackknife truck accidents often cause catastrophic damage and devastating injuries. Any resulting insurance claims tend to be extremely expensive. Furthermore, several parties may be responsible for a jackknife accident. For example, the truck driver’s employer, mechanic, or cargo loader may bear responsibility for the accident. Because of these factors, truck accident claims can be difficult. Injured victims are fighting for larger amounts of compensation from multiple entities, all of whom want to deny responsibility.

This is where an experienced jackknife accident attorney in El Paso comes in. The El Paso jackknife accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC are eager to assist you by:

  • Helping you understand your legal options and the laws that apply to your case
  • Investigating your accident independently to uncover evidence to support your claim
  • Accessing hard-to-obtain evidence like black box data or driver cell phone records
  • Consulting expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists
  • Communicating with others on your behalf to protect your claim
  • Helping you handle the paperwork for insurance claims and other important filings
  • Ensuring you get the medical care you need to fully recover
  • Negotiating with insurance companies or defense attorneys for your settlement
  • Filing lawsuits on your behalf, if necessary

Compensation After Being in a Jackknife Truck Accident

If you were injured in a jackknife truck accident through no fault of your own, you should not be on the hook for all your resulting repair bills and medical expenses. A jackknife truck accident lawyer can help you pursue a claim for compensation to cover the following damages resulting from your accident:

  • Hospital and ambulance bills from your initial treatment
  • Subsequent medical expenses and related future treatment or therapy costs
  • Expenses related to medical treatment, such as transportation to appointments
  • Lost wages if you miss work because of your injuries
  • Lost future earning potential if you are unable to return to the same job after the accident
  • Pain and suffering, disfigurement, emotional distress, and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of companionship
  • Punitive damages, if the defendant was impaired or egregiously reckless