Jackknife Truck Accidents In Florida
18-wheelers are far larger than almost every other vehicle on the road, and specialized training is required to operate them correctly. However, sometimes even experienced truckers lose control, and when that occurs, jackknife truck accidents are some of the most common that may result. If you are involved in a jackknife accident, your injuries will almost certainly be severe, and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills.
What Is A Jackknife Accident?
There are multiple different types of truck accidents, but jackknife crashes are some of the most dangerous, because of the sheer volume of weight moving at a rapid pace. 18-wheelers have extremely complex braking systems, and if one part does not engage properly, the trailer and the cab can fall out of sync with each other, causing them to form an ‘L’ or ‘V’ shape as they lose control. Between this loss of control and the probability of the trailer covering a lot of the road, any vehicle in the way can sustain significant damage.
While statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimate that large trucks make up approximately 4 percent of all the vehicles on the road, accidents involving these vehicles account for almost 10 percent of all road fatalities. There are several different possible causes for this type of accident, including speeding, bad weather, and road construction issues like potholes or insufficiently maintained surfaces – almost all of which would impact a large truck more than an automobile, due to 18-wheelers’ multi-part braking systems.
Not Always Driver’s Fault
While many trucking accidents are the fault of the truck driver, this is not always the case. It is not uncommon, for example, for jackknife accidents to happen after an automobile or other truck suddenly swerves, requiring the truck driver to take evasive action. Another frequent scenario is when poor visibility leads a driver to miss a pothole or other road hazard. Accident reconstruction is a more commonly used tool in truck accidents, simply because there are many more variables to evaluate.
Be advised that if your accident can be laid at the truck driver’s door, you may be able to sue the trucking company as well. Florida recognizes a doctrine called vicarious liability, under which an employer can be held liable for their employees’ conduct if the conduct (1) happened within the scope of employment, or, (2) if outside the course of employment, the conduct still served a purpose or interest of the employer’s. This may be a good idea because very often, a driver will be judgment proof, but their employer will not.
Call An Orlando Truck Accident Attorney
Jackknife accidents can kill, and if you are lucky enough to survive, the medical bills can be very high. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contacting an Orlando truck accident lawyer can be a good first step toward getting the compensation you need. The dedicated truck accident attorneys at the Hornsby Law Group are happy to try and work with you. Contact our office today to speak to an attorney.
Resource:
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812663
https://www.hornsbylawgroup.com/accidents-involving-semi-trucks/
