When a vehicle as large as a tractor-trailer or big rig is involved in a highway collision, the potential for serious and life-altering injuries – even death – is high. This is especially true in a jackknife truck accident.
If you or a family member was involved in a jackknifing accident in the Houston area, one of your first moved is to call a Houston truck accident lawyer that specializes in jackknife accidents to discuss the legal ramifications of your case, such as the truck accident lawyer at de Lachica Law Firm, PLLC.
What is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Jackknifing occurs when the backend or trailer portion of a truck swings around and creates a fold in the truck. It creates an acute angle between the trailer and the front of the truck or “cab.” This will result in the cab and the trailer facing entirely different directions.
Why Are Jackknife Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
When jackknifing occurs in a vehicle as substantial in weight and size as a commercial truck, this has an enormous potential to cause serious damage to anyone involved in the accident. For instance, the swinging trailer of the truck can very easily carry other cars in its wake. This causes those vehicles to be smashed between the cab and the trailer of the truck, or else by other cars in oncoming lanes of traffic. Jackknife truck accidents are known to cause serious injuries and fatalities because of the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of these collisions.
Possible Causes of Jackknife Accidents
These types of accident can result for a number of different causes, so which include:
- Improper braking
- Brake failure (Some truckers have been known to deliberately jackknife their vehicles as a reaction to brake failure)
- Equipment failure
- Adverse weather conditions such as ice or water on the road
- Unsecured or improperly secured cargo
Whatever the reason for the jackknife accident may be, there can be little doubt as to the seriousness of the results. These accidents rarely leave the other drivers and passengers involved unscathed. Many are seriously injured or even wrongfully killed.
Why You Need Houston Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer
Injured motorists and truck drivers involved in jackknifing accident will likely seek more than just medical attention after this type of trucking collision. Many will wish to pursue legal action since these collisions can almost always be avoided. But it’s important to know your options and your rights after an accident.
In order to make sure accident victims receive proper compensation, an investigation into the jackknifing incident and its causes will need to be conducted by a jackknife truck accident lawyer, such as the one from de Lachica Law Firm, who is familiar with all applicable state and federal trucking regulations. Our attorney will need to determine why the accident occurred and whether it could have been prevented in order to present the court with substantial evidence concerning the case.
Since 2004, our firm has played an integral role in many practice areas of the personal injury field, including all types of truck-related accidents and injuries. De Lachica Law Firm has represented victims from some of the nation’s largest truck accident catastrophes. Know that when you hire our Houston jackknife truck accident lawyer, you have selected an attorney with the experience and winning track record to handle your case properly.
At de Lachica Law Firm, our attorneys are fully aware of what to expect in court cases concerning these types of accidents. From day one, we are ready to stand by your side to investigate the accident, collect statistics about other accidents of this nature, and vehemently represent you both in and out of the courtroom.
We are here to help you understand your truck accident and how you can take back your life after such an accident. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact our office today or call (713) 292-2980.