Driving near and around large trucks in Dallas, Texas comes with significant risks. Unfortunately, you cannot trust that the big rig is being driven with due care. Every day, truck drivers make mistakes that cause traffic accidents. One type of truck accident is known as a jackknife. If you’ve been injured in this type of collision in Dallas, please contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. for a free consultation. Our truck accident attorneys can help you understand your rights.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in Dallas
Hiring a truck accident lawyer is one of the best things that you can do to protect your rights after a jackknife accident. If you believe that a truck driver or trucking company caused your collision, a lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove that what you are claiming is more likely to be true than not true (this is the burden of proof in a personal injury case).
Your lawyer can thoroughly investigate the crash, talk to eyewitnesses, collect evidence and hire experts to testify on your behalf. Then, your lawyer can negotiate with the trucking company’s insurer for fair financial compensation for your losses. You can rest, undergo medical treatments and focus on healing while your truck accident lawyer takes care of complicated legal processes for you.
What Is a Jackknife Accident?
A jackknife accident is a tractor-trailer accident in which the trailer swings outward away from the cab in the shape of an acute angle, similar to a jackknife. In this dangerous position, a truck driver can no longer control or stop the truck. The tractor and trailer will skid or slide out of control across the road, potentially rolling over or striking and crushing surrounding vehicles.
What Causes Truck Jackknife Accidents?
Jackknife accidents are almost always preventable. They occur most often when the truck driver uses the wrong technique behind the wheel, such as overcorrecting and jerking the steering wheel to avoid a hazard. Jackknife accidents can also happen due to problems with the truck, such as a tire blowout. Some of the most common causes of jackknife accidents are:
- The driver slamming on the brakes
- The driver taking a turn too quickly
- The driver speeding downhill
- The driver locking up the steering axle brakes
- The driver locking the drive or trailer axles
- Old or worn-out brakes
- Tire problems and blowouts
- Imbalanced cargo load and shifting
Truck drivers have a responsibility to safely and prudently operate their vehicles at all times. They must pay attention to the road, react appropriately to changing roadway situations and use the correct driving techniques. If a truck driver or another entity fails to live up to its responsibilities, it can lead to a deadly jackknife accident and liability for losses.
Who Is Responsible?
Under federal law, trucking companies have vicarious liability for all accidents involving their trucks and drivers. Vicarious liability means that the financial responsibility for an accident or injury will rest with the employer, not the employee, if a worker was performing job-related tasks at the time of the incident. This rule means that after a jackknife accident in Texas, you may be able to hold a trucking company liable for your medical bills and property repairs if the company or one of its drivers or employees caused the crash.
Speak to a Jackknife Accident Attorney in Dallas Today
If you or someone that you love has been injured in a jackknife accident in Dallas, contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. for a free legal consultation. We understand why these accidents take place and how to collect evidence against the truck driver and/or trucking company to support a client’s case. We will be here for you and your family during this difficult time, providing trustworthy legal advice and representation along the way. Please call (214) 609-1140 or contact us online today for a case analysis.
