If you have been seriously injured in a jackknife truck accident for which someone else was responsible, you need the services of a sharp truck accident attorney. If you are in Philadelphia or the surrounding area, contacting Cooper Schall & Levy is a smart move. Your initial consultation with us is free and we will charge you no attorney fees until we recover damages.
Our truck accident attorneys know that in the aftermath of the accident, you are overwhelmed by physical and emotional trauma as well as significant financial stress due to medical costs and lost income. We are here to help you handle all legal and logistical matters related to your accident. The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we can begin fighting aggressively to obtain the compensation you need and deserve.
Why A Jackknife Truck Accident Is So Dangerous in Philadelphia
Jackknife truck accidents too often result in severe, catastrophic injuries to those involved. Drivers or passengers of cars are especially vulnerable because of the enormous difference in weight between the vehicles (trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier than cars). Jackknife truck accidents frequently involve more than two vehicles since when a tractor-trailer truck skids and folds into itself at a 90-degree, it is a large and terrible obstacle for nearby drivers.
How A Jackknife Truck Accident Occurs
Jackknife accidents typically happen when the truck driver brakes suddenly. The tractor portion of the vehicle slows, but the trailer continues to move rapidly forward. As a result, the trailer skids and pivots sideways, putting the two parts of the truck at a 90-degree angle, like a partially opened pocket knife.
Causes of Jackknife Accidents
Driving a tractor-trailer requires special training and expertise refined by experience. Though bad weather and poorly maintained roadways may contribute to jackknife accidents, many are the result of:
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Improper passing
- Sudden stops
- Failure to navigate a curve
- Overloaded or improperly loaded trailers
In addition, most tractor-trailer truck drivers work for large trucking companies whose careless or reckless behavior may make them liable for your injuries.
When a Trucking Company Can Be Held Accountable for a Jackknife Truck Accident
Some trucking companies pay close attention to their profit margin at the cost of safety. It is therefore possible that they put truck drivers on the road who are not sufficiently experienced, improperly vetted or too exhausted to concentrate properly. It is also possible that the trucking company has cut corners in maintaining its vehicles or that those who loaded the truck did so improperly. If any of these things are true, our truck accident attorneys may be able to sue both the trucking company as well as the driver.
Other Third Parties May Also Be Legally Liable for Your Injuries in Philadelphia
Depending on the specific circumstances of your accident, the following third parties may also be held liable:
- Loaders and shippers under contract to the trucking company
- County, state or federal municipalities for poorly maintained roads
- Truck and vehicle parts manufacturers for defective products
- Maintenance and repair companies for faulty repairs
- Third-party motorists for traffic violations
Common Injuries Caused by Jackknife Accidents
In many cases, jackknife accidents involve collisions with multiple cars at high speeds. Such crashes can result in fires or even explosions in addition to lacerations and crush injuries. Victims may suffer:
- Back and neck injuries
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries (e.g paralysis)
- Amputations/loss of organs
- Neurological damage
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Internal organ damage and failure
- Traumatic brain injuries
A significant number of jackknife accident victims require one or more surgeries and long-term rehabilitation and therapy. Too many suffer permanent disability or disfigurement. Tragically, many die of their injuries. Whether you are the injured party or have lost a loved one to wrongful death in a jackknife truck accident, our personal injury lawyers will stand by you and advocate for your cause.
Damages Cooper Schall & Levy Will Fight Hard to Recover for Philadelphia Clients
After all you have been through and still have to endure, you can depend on us to use our formidable negotiation and litigation skills to fight for compensation to cover:
- Your medical and rehabilitative costs
- Your lost income, present and future
- Your lost earning capacity
- Your permanent disability or disfigurement
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Your pain and suffering
- Your diminished quality of life
Wrongful Death
If you and your family are dealing with the tragic death of a loved one in a jackknife truck accident, we will fight tooth and nail to bring you the compensation you deserve for final medical costs, funeral/burial/cremation costs, and loss of financial and emotional support. Though we know we can do nothing to alleviate your grief, we will do all we can to provide you with a sense of justice and the funds to help secure your future.
Contact Our Experienced Philadelphia Jackknife Truck Accident Attorneys Today
We will listen carefully to the details of your accident, and investigate every aspect of what transpired by examining police reports, medical records, witness accounts, surveillance videos, and forensic evidence in order to create a winning courtroom strategy. We will also handle all communications with opposing attorneys and insurance companies. Contact us now so we can help to give you the peace and quiet you need to heal.
Cooper Schall & Levy have been fighting for the rights of jackknife truck accident victims throughout Philadelphia, in neighborhoods such as Norristown and Drexel Hill, and in counties such as Montgomery County and Delaware County for over 60 years.
