Kentucky Jackknife Truck Wreck Lawyer

Semi-trucks are large, heavy commercial vehicles that usually consist of a tractor connected to a trailer that is typically 53 feet long. When these trucks turn too sharply or the truck driver loses control, the truck cab and trailer can fold in on themselves like a folding pocket knife. These “jackknife” accidents can result in major damages, and victims often suffer serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Survivors may be left dealing with tremendous pain and suffering as well as costs of surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, ongoing care, property damage, and loss of income from being unable to work.

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a jackknife truck accident due to another party’s negligence or fault, you may be entitled to compensation through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. However, insurance companies will try to pay out as little as possible, and truck accident claims are complicated due to the multiple parties involved and the many Kentucky and federal rules and regulations for the trucking industry. Fortunately, an experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to fight for the compensation you deserve.

At the Johnson Law firm, our skilled personal injury attorneys understand the causes of truck crashes, the different parties who might be liable, fleet maintenance procedures, and the federal laws for safety regulations. We offer a free consultation to show you how we can help.

Why Choose Our Trucking Injury Lawyer

Trucking companies and their insurers do not want to pay claims.  They have high-powered lawyers working to investigate the accident, find ways to limit liability, and even get you to make statements that can be used against you. This is why, it is important to find a personal injury attorney with the knowledge, experience, and resources to fight for the settlement you deserve. Here are some reasons why we feel you should choose the Johnson Law Firm:

• We are experienced. Attorney Billy Johnson is skilled and aggressive when going after negligent parties, and has been helping victims of truck and car crashes since 1998.
• We take a personal interest in each client. Billy Johnson gets to know your case inside out and works tirelessly for you. We have helped many satisfied clients, and you can read their testimonials here.
• We are local, and we get results, such as a $24 million settlement in a truck wreck case on the first day of trial.
• We are certified and respected for the work we do. Billy Johnson has been recognized by the following organizations:
  • Super Lawyer
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Instrument Rated Pilot
• We offer free consultations, and there are no fees to you unless and until we win your case.

Our Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney in Kentucky Works for You

After an accident, trucking companies quickly send investigators to find ways to limit their financial losses and may even hide or destroy evidence. That is why it is so important retain a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. When you retain the Johnson Law Firm, we will start working for you immediately. We will:

• Meet with you to discuss the individual circumstances of your case, determine who the at-fault parties may be, and estimate what a reasonable settlement would be.
• Ensure you get proper medical treatment and that everything is documented.
• Investigate the accident and gather evidence. We hire accident reconstruction experts, examine the accident scene; view videos and photos of road conditions, skid marks and vehicle damage; interview eyewitnesses and first responders; examine the truck’s black box information and the truck driver’s cellphone records; and look into past safety and hiring records of the trucking company. We also hire experts to testify as to the extent of your injuries and the effects on your life into the future.
• Deal with insurance companies and aggressively negotiate for a fair settlement.
• Take your case to court and advocate on your behalf if necessary.

Our Kentucky truck accident lawyer will be there at every stage of the legal process, from handling discovery, filing pretrial motions, presenting evidence and making closing arguments, to filing an appeal if appropriate.

How Jackknife Accidents Happen

“Jackknifing” occurs when a truck’s trailer becomes locked in a forward position, creating a 90-degree angle with the truck’s tractor and looking like a pocket knife folding in. Motorists caught in the sliding trailer’s path may strike the truck or be crushed in the arc of the moving trailer. When the truck skids, locks or loses directional control, the driver loses control over the vehicle, and this can result in rollovers, head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, and multi-car pileups.

Jackknife accidents are often caused by driver error or mechanical failure. A truck driver who is operating negligently may trigger a jackknife by:

• Braking quickly on slick roads or while driving at high speeds
• Failing to slow down in emergency conditions
• Having bald or insufficient tires on the trailer
• Downshifting improperly
• Entering a turn too quickly or too sharply
• Having improperly adjusted brakes.

Jackknife Truck Wreck Lawyer Must Prove Negligence

To win your jackknife truck accident case, our attorneys would have to show that another party was negligent, at fault, and therefore liable for your damages. Proving negligence legally means showing the existence of the following elements:

• Duty: The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
• Breach: The defendant breached that duty through actions or failure to act.
• Cause: This breach caused the accident that injured you.
• Damages: You suffered damages as a result.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires truck drivers to obtain special licenses and training and places strict limits on work hours and the amount of on-duty driving allowed. Violations are grounds for negligence and can lead to liability.

Potential liable parties who can be found negligent include:

• Truck drivers who make errors, drive longer hours than allowed, speed, or drive while fatigued, distracted, or impaired
• The trucking company or truck owner that may not have investigated or trained drivers properly, or pressured them to drive extra hours
• The manufacturer of the truck or its parts, if there was mechanical malfunction, such uncontrollable acceleration, brake flaws, or tire defects
• Maintenance crews that failed to make repairs properly
• Cargo companies that loaded the truck improperly and caused it to be off balance
• Third-party contractors or other drivers that may have been involved in the crash
• Local government entities responsible for repairing a damaged road.

Your truck accident lawyer will investigate to identify all parties who may have contributed to the accident, as they all may have assets and insurance that can go toward a settlement.

Damage Awards You May Recover in a Jackknife Crash

In a successful truck accident case, Kentucky allows recovery of both your monetary losses and your non-economic damages, for losses that do not have a monetary value but negatively impact your life. These may include:

• Past and future medical and rehabilitation expenses
• Loss of current and future income
• Property damaged in the accident
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Disability
• Wrongful death.

The amount of damages you may be awarded in a successful lawsuit can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the individual circumstances of the case. In general, the greater your costs and the more severe and permanent your injuries, the higher the settlement. Billy Johnson will fight to make sure you get payment that truly reflects the costs you are facing.

Get Help from a Kentucky Jackknife Truck Wreck Lawyer

Trucking wreck lawsuits are complex and require the legal services of a skilled personal injury attorney who understands the causes of truck crashes, the different parties who might be liable, fleet maintenance procedures, and the federal laws that dictate safety regulations. At the Johnson Law Firm, we handle all types of truck wreck claims, and are dedicated to helping trucking accident victims get the settlement they deserve.

We work on a contingency basis, which means we get paid only when you get paid. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Get Help Now—Call at 606-437-4488