Missouri Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers
Jackknife Truck Accidents
Jackknife accidents can be catastrophic. Stretching across multiple lanes of traffic, jackknife accidents are capable of creating multi-car, pileup accidents that can affect a great number of motorists. In the event of a jackknife accident, it is important to have a knowledgeable, Missouri lawyer on your side that can handle all the aspects of your case and ensure that your rights are upheld.
A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer that a large truck is pulling behind it pivots at its hitch, swiveling upwards towards the truck cab, passing into the neighboring lanes of traffic, and forming a "V" shape. Jackknife accidents occur suddenly, usually when a truck driver has to quickly apply the truck's brakes in order to avoid a collision. Accidents such as these are so dangerous because nearby motorists often times don't have time to react against collision, or are incapable of doing so because traffic is so dense.
Semi Truck Jackknife Accidents can occur for a number of reasons. An inattentive driver may have to hit the brakes hard because he or she is distracted while on a cell phone, or simply not paying attention to the road. The driver could also be sleep deprived and/or under the influence of a stimulant to help promote alertness. However, once the effects of the stimulant wear off, the driver can lose good judgment and drive erratically. Finally, a driver may not be at fault as much as the truck itself is. If a large truck's brakes are not properly inspected prior to travel, then that truck is a danger to every motorist and pedestrian that it's around.
Truck equipment failure is a problem that is preventable, but not always acknowledged in regard to large trucks. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, trucks that have defective equipment are more than two times more likely to be involved in accidents. Of those accidents, more than half of them involved brake failure of some kind. Steering malfunctions too can be an issue that leads to traffic accidents involving large trucks.
It is important to have an attorney on your side who will expose negligence and get you the compensation you deserve. The jackknife accident lawyers at Page Law will handle your case with the utmost in professionalism, and will hold all guilty parties accountable for their actions. Call us today for a free consultation.