Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers in Oklahoma City
Jackknife truck accidents devastate lives. Our skilled Oklahoma team will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Jackknife truck accidents in Oklahoma City can cause catastrophic injuries and involve multiple vehicles. Our experienced attorneys investigate these complex crashes to determine liabilityLegal responsibility for one's acts or omissions. In negligence cases, liability includes proving negligence, proving causation, and resulting damages. and pursue compensation for victims.
Tractor-trailers are essential to transport goods across the country, but jackknifing is a serious risk. Jackknife truck accidents in Oklahoma City can destroy nearby vehicles and cause severe injuries to their occupants. These wrecks can also lead to multi-vehicle pileups, resulting in further injury and even death.
The Law Firm for Truck Safety is a personal injuryLegal term for an injury to the body, mind, or psyche, as opposed to an injury to property. law firm with offices nationwide, exclusively dedicated to representing individuals injured in truck accidents. Contact an attorney immediately if you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a jackknife crash.
Causes of Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the trailer of a semi-truck moves at an angle to the cab. The trailer can sideswipe or collide with vehicles in adjacent lanes. A swinging trailer might cause the truck to overturn, potentially crushing other vehicles.
When a truck driver is at fault for their jackknifing cab, the consequences can be serious long after the crash occurs. A tractor-trailer may jackknife when its driver:
- Takes a turn or curve too quickly
- Drives too fast considering the road and weather conditions
- Brakes suddenly
Drivers often make these types of mistakes when they are drowsy, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Overweight or unbalanced cargo may also cause a jackknife. Although the company that loaded the trailer may share responsibility, the truck driver is ultimately responsible for ensuring their load is an appropriate weight and properly balanced. Our Oklahoma City truck accident attorney will investigate the jackknife crash to identify the responsible parties.
What Happens When You Bring a Claim
When you get hurt in a truck accident, you file a claim for your losses with the trucking company’s insurer and any other potentially responsible parties. The insurer may approach you first with a settlement offer, but you should not discuss the matter with them without contacting a legal professional.
Our Oklahoma City attorney can contact all parties that may be responsible for the jackknife accident, including the truck driver, the truck’s owner, and the company shipping the goods. Depending on the circumstances, the truck’s manufacturer, the garage with the contract to maintain the truck, and the local government responsible for maintaining the road could also be liable.
Most truck accident claims are resolved through negotiations. The responsible parties will negotiate between themselves to determine what percentage of your losses each should pay. If negotiations do not produce a reasonable settlement offer, we can bring your case to court and let a jury decide.
Fair Compensation for Your Injuries
When someone else’s conduct causes you harm, they must compensate you for your losses. You should be paid for both your expenses and the injury’s subjective impact on your life.
You are entitled to reimbursement for your medical care, lost wages, property damage, and incidental expenses. If your injuries require ongoing care or prevent you from returning to work, the responsible parties must cover these future losses. They must also pay for the physical pain and emotional anguish you experienced due to the incident.
Oklahoma Statute § 23-9.1 allows a jury to award punitive damagesDamages designed to punish a defendant or set an example (in some states, called exemplary damages). in some cases. Punitive damagesIn a civil lawsuit, money designed to compensate an injured person. This includes economic damages (measurable financial loss like medical expenses) and non-economic damages (categories like pain and suffering or loss of love.) are extra money the defendantA defendant is the individual, company, or institution against whom a lawsuit is filed in a court of law. In the context of a legal dispute, the defendant is accused of causing harm or loss to the plaintiff, either through direct action, negligence, or failure to perform a duty. The defendant must respond to the plaintiff's complaint, offering defenses or counterarguments to the allegations made against them. In criminal cases, the defendant is the person charged with a crime, and the prosecution acts to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. must pay you as a punishment for their outrageous behavior. We may ask for punitive damages in an Oklahoma City jackknife crash case if the driver was drunk, the transportation company intentionally overloaded the truck, or another form of misconduct was involved.
Consult an Oklahoma City Truck Accident Attorney About a Jackknife Crash
Jackknife truck accidents in Oklahoma City are often the result of someone’s irresponsibility or wrongdoing. When their poor conduct causes you harm, you can hold them accountable and help protect others from similar behavior by filing a legal claim.
The Law Firm for Truck Safety is dedicated to helping the victims of truck accidents and making the roads safer for everyone. If you suffered injury in a jackknife accident, contact us today to explore your legal options.
