Jacknife Accidents

Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers

We Fight for Victims of Serious Truck Accidents

When the back portion of a tractor-trailer (the trailer) swings up toward the front (the tractor), resembling a folded jackknife, this is known as a jackknife accident. Jackknife truck accidents are a relatively common type of truck accident—and they can have devastating results.

If you were injured or if your loved one was killed in a jackknife truck accident, it is important that you protect your rights, including your right to a fair recovery. At Dunk Law Firm, we represent victims of serious truck accidents, including jackknifes, in Wisconsin, Texas, and throughout the U.S. We can help you file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the at-fault party, whether that’s the truck driver, the trucking company, or some other third party. We understand that no amount of financial compensation can ever truly make up for what you have been through, but a fair settlement or verdict can allow you the ability to obtain critical medical treatment and continue managing your day-to-day expenses while you are out of work. Perhaps most importantly, a successful claim can provide you and your family with a much-needed sense of justice.

Our jackknife truck accident attorneys have recovered millions for our clients. Give us a call at (800) 674-9339 to find out how we can help you during a free, confidential consultation.

How Do Jackknife Truck Accidents Happen?

Jackknife truck accidents commonly occur when the truck driver loses control of the vehicle. This can cause the trailer to begin swerving from side to side (“fishtailing”) which can, in turn, cause the driver to overcorrect. When this happens, the trailer can swing all the way forward toward the front tractor portion of the truck, resulting in a jackknife accident.

A truck driver may lose control of the vehicle due to a number of factors, including but not limited to:

• Speeding, especially when turning
• Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
• Unsafe weather conditions (rain, snow, etc.)
• Truck tire blowouts caused by defective tires
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Sudden reactions to changing road conditions
• Locked brakes (often due to improper braking or defective braking systems)
• Debris on the roadway
• Improper truck maintenance and/or repairs
• A collision or impact with an object on or alongside the roadway
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving

Although truck drivers cannot be held accountable for certain things, like bad weather, they still have a responsibility to drive safely at all times. This includes times when roads are wet or icy or when there is poor visibility. When truck drivers speed in order to meet strict deadlines or violate hours-of-service regulations in order to avoid missing deliveries, even in bad weather, they can be held liable for such negligence when it results in an accident.

Why You Need an Experienced Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accident cases are always complex—determining what happened and who is liable is rarely a straightforward matter and nearly always requires the expertise of skilled accident reconstruction experts and other specialists. Jackknife accidents tend to be particularly complex, as it can be difficult to pinpoint which specific factor(s) led to the crash.

Another thing that makes these cases so complicated is the serious nature of victims’ injuries. Many jackknife accidents are fatal; even when they aren’t, victims tend to sustain severe, life-altering injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputation. These types of injuries require extensive, ongoing medical treatment and often leave victims unable to return to work and earn a living for themselves or their families. This, in turn, leads to serious financial hardships—not just for injured victims but for their family members and loved ones, as well.

At Dunk Law Firm, we have over 16 years of experience representing clients in all types of truck accident claims, including those involving jackknife accidents. We work with numerous industry experts and exhaustively investigate these claims in order to determine what happened, whether negligence played a role, and who is liable. We also evaluate the full extent of your injuries, as well as the projected cost of future care, by examining your medical records and other relevant documents. This allows us to build a comprehensive picture of your damages and fight to maximize your recovery.

Millions Won for Truck Accident Victims Across the U.S.

Our jackknife truck accident lawyers have successfully fought for victims of serious accidents throughout the United States. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, both in settlements and verdicts. We are proud of our record of success, as it demonstrates the tangible ways that we have helped real people right here in our community. We believe in giving back, and that is something we do by fighting tirelessly for those who have had their lives irrevocably changed due to someone else’s careless or negligent actions.