Cape Coral Jackknife Accident Attorneys

Jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous to other motorists on the road. This type of truck crash is known to cause serious injuries and sometimes deaths.

If you or someone in your family has been involved in a jackknife accident, it is important to consult a truck accident lawyer who can investigate your case and determine whether you should take legal action.

We know that these truck accidents have serious emotional, physical, and financial consequences, and we will treat you with the compassion that you deserve.

What is a Jackknife Accident?

A jackknife accident takes place when the two separate parts of a truck (the cab and trailer) fold in on themselves at the point of separation to create a 90-degree angle. The name comes from the motion of the truck trailer in swinging out to one side, which looks like a partially opened blade of a jackknife. The swinging trailer of the truck poses a great risk because it can easily strike other motor vehicles on the road.

Causes of Jackknife Accidents

Truck drivers have a duty to maintain their trucks in a reasonably safe condition and operate them carefully in order not to risk harming others around them. Jackknife accidents can have a number of causes, including high speeds, curvy roads, hazardous weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or driver error.

Proving Liability

Determining liability in a truck accident case can be complex because there may be more than one party at fault. Typically, an injured victim will be able to take legal action against a negligent truck driver. Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. Reasonable care refers to the duty of each person on the road to act as a prudent driver would in the same situation.

In order to prevail on a negligence claim, the plaintiff must establish a handful of elements by a preponderance of the evidence. The truck driver must have owed the victim a duty of care, the truck driver must have breached the duty of care owed to the victim, and the truck driver's breach must have been a direct cause of the victim's harm.

Moreover, if you have been injured in a commercial truck accident, the at-fault driver's employer may also be liable for your harm. Holding it vicariously liable would require showing that the accident took place while the driver was on the job. There also may be situations in which the driver's employer may be held directly liable. For example, it may have failed to properly maintain its trucks, or it may have negligently hired an unqualified driver.

Damages for Jackknife Accidents

Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to many forms of damages, such as medical bills and future medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, physical rehabilitation, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.

Our Legal Team

You should not delay in hiring an injury lawyer if you have been struck by a careless truck driver. The experienced truck accident attorneys at Lusk, Drasites, & Tolisano can guide you through each step of your case, fighting for the compensation that you need.

We represent victims near Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Naples. To request your free legal consultation with one of our Florida truck accident attorneys, call us toll-free at (239) 908-4930.