Jackknife Accident Attorney in Buffalo
We fight for victims’ rights after serious truck accidents
A jackknifing truck careening across a highway like I-190 in Buffalo is a nightmare for any motorist. It only takes one distracted or impaired truck driver to cause a serious accident that can change lives forever. Serious and even fatal injuries are far too common in jackknife accidents. If you were hurt, you may be looking at an uncertain future.
Trust a truck jackknife accident attorney at the Law Offices of James Morris in Buffalo to help you move forward. We have the experience, resources, and dedication needed to hold the trucking companies accountable when they put motorists at risk. Schedule your free consultation with our law firm today. You can come to our Buffalo office, or we can come to you.
What causes trucks to jackknife?
A jackknife accident occurs when the cab of a tractor-trailer folds in against the trailer, forming a distinctive “v” shape like a pocketknife. There are several scenarios in which a tractor-trailer can jackknife:
- Improper braking: if the driver hits the brakes suddenly while traveling at a high speed, the brakes may stop the cab but not the trailer, causing the wheels to lock and the trailer to swing out. This is more likely to occur with poorly maintained or defective brakes.
- Driving too fast for the conditions: when the road is slippery or the truck is traveling on a steep incline, there is an elevated risk of skidding and jackknifing.
- A collision: if the truck hits debris or another vehicle, the trailer may jackknife and potentially cause a secondary collision.
Perhaps the single biggest factor in this type of truck accident is driver inexperience. Experienced truck drivers with good safety records should understand the risks of jackknifing and know how to maneuver to avoid losing control. However, when trucking companies hire inexperienced drivers and fail to give them sufficient training, the risk of a jackknife accident is much higher.
Other factors in jackknife cases include driver impairment, inattention (distracted driving), and fatigue. A trucker who is falling asleep at the wheel may slam on the brakes at the last second (perhaps when they hear another vehicle’s horn) instead of braking gradually and safely as an attentive driver would. Still other accidents are caused by vehicle-related factors, like poorly maintained brakes.
We hold the trucking companies accountable for jackknife accidents
Whether your jackknife accident was caused by the truck driver, the trucking company, or even a third party, the result is the same: a serious and potentially life-altering injury. You deserve accountability, and you deserve full compensation for everything you’ve lost as a result of the accident. That’s where we come in.
As your jackknife accident attorney, we will investigate to get to the bottom of what happened. That may include gathering physical evidence from the scene and reviewing important documents such as the truck’s maintenance records and the truck driver’s hiring, training, and supervision records. It may also include hiring an expert witness to help us reconstruct and explain what happened to you. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice.
Just as importantly, we will determine the full amount of damages (financial compensation) you deserve as a result of your jackknife accident. That’s not just your medical bills and lost income, but also the value of your pain and suffering and lost quality of life. It’s also future costs related to the accident, such as future surgery or lost future earnings.
Our job is to negotiate with the trucking company and their insurance companies for full compensation. Often, we are able to reach a fair settlement. But if they won’t pay, we are always ready to file a lawsuit and take them to court.
Talk to an experienced jackknife accident attorney in Buffalo today
It’s important to act quickly after a jackknife accident. While you theoretically have up to three years to file a lawsuit, there are other, more practical deadlines that come up much sooner. We need to secure evidence before the trucking company can legally destroy it and start building your case while witnesses’ memories are still fresh.
The trucking companies often have investigators on the scene within 24 hours of a jackknife accident. You should level the playing field as soon as possible. The sooner you contact us, the better.
Put the experience and resources of an established Buffalo truck accident law firm on your side. We would be happy to explain your legal rights and options free of charge, and there is never a fee for our services unless and until we win your case. Schedule your free consultation with a truck accident lawyer today.