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There are 2.9 million registered semi-trucks in the United States, which means it’s very likely that you’ll share the road with one of them almost every time you get behind the wheel of your car.
These trucks are essential for commerce, but their size makes them potentially dangerous road mates. It can be much easier for these vehicles to get out of control, leading to serious accidents.
If you’ve suffered injuries in a truck accident, you may be entitled to file a claim and receive compensation. At Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of Seattle jackknife accident lawyers provides the guidance you need. Contact us today at (206) 727 4000 for a free consultation with a Seattle jackknife accident attorney and learn more about your options.
When a passenger vehicle collides with a commercial truck, the consequences can be disastrous. You can suffer catastrophic injuries like head trauma and spinal cord injuries that can leave you battling chronic pain as well as rising medical bills you don’t know how to pay. If the collision was another party’s fault, you may be able to file a claim against them.
At Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of Seattle truck accident attorneys provides a number of services to make this process a bit easier. We can:
Our Seattle personal injury lawyers have been helping people throughout Seattle, Washington, for 31 years. Because we understand how difficult going through a claims process can be while also dealing with serious injuries, we are dedicated to providing the compassionate and tenacious representation our clients need. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our Seattle personal injury attorneys.
Jackknife accidents involve a truck’s trailer skidding forward toward the cabin and causing the entire vehicle to fold into a “V” shape. These accidents get their name from pocket knives.
Once the trailer gets out of control, it can be very difficult to bring the truck to a stop, which can result in accidents that involve multiple parties. But why do these collisions occur?
Jackknife accidents occur for various reasons, including the following:
Truckers spend a lot of hours behind the wheel of their vehicles, which can result in boredom. The road’s monotony can lead them to seek out distractions, such as their phone. Cell phone use is by far the biggest cause of distracted driving accidents, but anything that takes the trucker’s attention away from the road can be deadly.
If a trucker is distracted and doesn’t spot a hazard in time, they can hit the brakes too hard to avoid an accident. Although the cabin may come to a halt, the trailer could continue moving under the momentum the vehicle had, causing a jackknife accident.
Federal regulations dictate a trucker’s service hours. The intention of these limits is to prevent drivers from working when they’re tired, which can increase the risk of accidents. Fatigued drivers can have much slower reaction times and could fall asleep behind the wheel — both of which might result in losing control of the truck.
Truckers who drive faster than the road conditions or speed limit put themselves and others at risk. This is especially true if there’s ice or snow on the road. The trailer can skid, folding the truck in half and making crashes much more likely.
A commercial truck must be assessed before being allowed on the road. If the teams in charge of maintenance or the truckers themselves don’t perform these checks, mechanical issues can lead to accidents.
A commercial truck’s center of gravity changes when it is fully loaded. If the cargo isn’t secured correctly and moves during transport, the center of gravity can shift. Not only will it be harder for the trucker to successfully manage turns and curves, but it can also increase the chances of skidding which leads to jackknife accidents.
After experiencing injuries in a Washington jackknife collision, you may be entitled to receive compensation via a claim or lawsuit.
At Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help you navigate this process so that you have a better chance of getting the financial assistance you deserve. Contact our Seattle jackknife accident lawyers for a free consultation.
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