Hurt in a Jackknife Accident in North Carolina?
What causes a truck to jackknife? And how can you seek justice if you, or a loved one, were injured by a negligent trucker? Our experienced truck accident attorneys are on your side.
This page refers to Jackknife Truck Accidents in North Carolina.
Since laws differ between states, if you are located in South Carolina, please click here.
What Are the Causes of Jackknife Accidents?
If you’ve driven on I-85, I-40, I-77, or any of North Carolina’s many interstate highways, you may have seen the aftermath of a jackknifed tractor-trailer wreck. Unfortunately, when an 18-wheeler sprawls across multiple lanes of traffic, many people in their cars may get sideswiped by 15,000 to 50,000 pounds of trailer.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in this type of accident, you may have many questions, like what to do next and what you may be owed to help you pay mounting bills. To get help and clarity on your case with no obligation, contact a North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney today at 1-866-900-7078 for a free case evaluation.
What Conditions Can Lead to Jackknifed Trucks?
A truck jackknifes when it loses traction, or its grip, with the road surface. Because of the configuration of a semi-trailer – its overall length, heavy weight, and two-part structure – a loss of traction with the road can cause both the cab and the trailer to slide with the trailer swinging around 90 degrees towards the cab. The resulting layout earned this type of gruesome accident the jackknife name.
The following conditions can lessen a big rig’s traction with the road and result in a jackknife accident:
- Road surface – if the road is icy, snow-packed, or wet, especially if the driver is unprepared or speeding
- Speed – if the truck driver is going too fast and has to slam on and/or lock the brakes
- Light trailer loads – if the trailer load doesn’t weigh enough and the driver fails to account for the reduction in traction
- Improperly secured cargo – if the cargo is not secured correctly and shifts, affecting weight distribution
- Other driver error – if the trucker follows too closely, weaves violently in traffic, speeds around corners, or makes other mistakes
- Mechanical error – if the truck’s brakes are not working properly and lock up, or an overly worn tire blows out
Most of these causes are avoidable. For example, proper maintenance, loading, and operation of the truck can significantly reduce a driver’s chances of causing a jackknife accident. When the driver or the trucking company neglects to act in a safe and responsible manner, they may be negligent in the jackknife truck accident.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been Involved in a Jackknife Tractor Trailer Accident in North Carolina?
If a jackknifed semi-trailer has sideswiped you, you should get immediate medical care. Do not assume that you are fine if you do not feel immediate pain. A traumatic accident can trigger adrenaline and endorphins in the body, which may temporarily mask pain right after the accident. Your doctor should also assess you for less visible damage to prevent the onset of a serious later-appearing injury.
While there are plenty of things you should do immediately after an accident – such as calling the police, taking pictures, and exchanging contact information with the truck driver – sometimes that opportunity has passed. You are trying to determine the best course of action forward. If that is the case, we advise you to consult with a jackknife truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your rights.
How Can a Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
Of the many reasons why you should hire a truck accident attorney, one of the most important is that a lawyer can help you seek compensation for the harms and injuries you have suffered from the accident. We know the specifics of North Carolina law and the laws and regulations that govern commercial carriers and trucking in general.
Our truck accident lawyers have helped clients who have been involved in these and other types of truck crashes.
Following are just a few of the many important actions our attorneys can perform for clients who have been injured in jackknife truck accidents:
- Help determine who may be liable in the accident
Was it the trucker’s fault for speeding? Did the owner of the truck fail to maintain the truck? Did the truck maintenance company improperly fix the brakes?
- Collect evidence
Should an accident investigator go back to the scene of the accident and reconstruct what happened? Have important records, such as the trucker’s driver log, truck’s maintenance record, and owner’s safety records, been collected?
- Interview any witnesses and police
Were there people who saw exactly what happened and can corroborate your account? Do you have a copy of the police report? Did the police, or anyone, take photos?
- Identify potential compensation
How many insurance carriers are involved for the truck, trailer, driver, and company? Have you considered what future medical care you may need? Have you lost wages because you can’t return to work yet?
- Deal with the insurance company
Has the insurance adjuster offered you a quick low-ball settlement offer in an attempt to close out this case? Has the insurance company tried to get you to make a recorded statement?
The experienced lawyers at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin can help you answer many questions. You need answers to try to build a strong case. Contact us online today for a free case evaluation, and let us help you with these tasks so you can concentrate on your health.
When Should I Contact a Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney?
We strongly urge you to contact a jackknife truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the wreck. It’s important to know your rights as a victim and to be warned of the tactics that some insurance claims adjusters may use to try to get you to accept blame for the accident.
In North Carolina, due to the doctrine of contributory negligence, if you are deemed to be even 1% at fault for an accident, you may be barred from receiving any compensation. And some insurance adjusters may try very hard to get you to admit fault – letting them off the hook.
If you are worried that contacting an attorney may be cost-prohibitive, you can relax. At our firm, we operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no upfront costs or hourly fees. Instead, we get paid a percentage of any total amount we collect for you, and we don’t get paid an attorney’s fee unless we recover for you. Guaranteed.2
How Much Compensation Could I Receive?
The amount of compensation you could receive from a semi-truck jackknife accident depends on the specific circumstances surrounding your wreck. You could be entitled to the following types of damages:
- Medical expenses (including rehabilitation and anticipated future medical needs)
- Lost wages and future earning opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional suffering
- Loss of consortium (harm to your marriage)
- And more
If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, call the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Our attorneys have been helping truck accident victims for more than 25 years. We have recovered more than $1.8 billion in total compensation for more than 65,000 clients since 1997…and counting.1 We have the knowledge, experience, and resources to fight for your rights.
Text Us