If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash like this, you need assistance from a highly skilled St. Louis jackknife accident lawyer from Langdon & Emison. We have managed complex cases like this for many clients, working to secure full compensation from those responsible for your suffering. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your options after a jackknife accident.
How jackknife accidents occur
Jackknife truck accidents can result from a single cause or a combination. Some common causes for a trailer may swing around toward the tractor and affect other vehicles include:
Driver distraction
Using cell phones, TVs, and GPS devices while driving means a driver is paying less attention to the road and environment. Seeing a problem too late can lead them to swerve or brake suddenly, leading to a jackknife accident.
Driver fatigue
Driving while sleepy has been shown to be as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) dictates that drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of continuous driving.
Faulty equipment
Components on the truck could fail, or malfunction, or the truck may have been repaired with substandard or defectively manufactured parts. Failure in the braking systems, tires, and other critical areas can cause the trailer to swing.
Speeding
Truck drivers who exceed the posted speed limits or drive too fast for weather and road conditions could lose control of their vehicle or need to brake suddenly.
Poor weather conditions
Rain, snow, hail, and ice decrease traction for all drivers, but trucks are even more difficult to control due to their size and weight.
Possible damages you can claim
Your first thought is likely to have the responsible party pay for your medical bills. However, you can claim numerous other damages, both economic (those with a fixed price) and non-economic (subjective losses). Your attorney can help you determine if these apply to your case.
Economic
Economic damages come with a receipt or record showing the exact cost. Some examples include:
Medical and hospital bills
These are typically the largest costs clients will need relief to cover. Catastrophic injuries could leave you with months of rehabilitation and multiple surgeries.
Lost income
The pay you cannot earn while recovering is usually the second largest item for economic damages.
Reduced earning potential
If you are hurt so badly that it affects your ability to advance in your career or return to your job, your diminished earning capacity must be considered for compensation.
Property damage
Your vehicle could be extensively damaged or totaled, requiring replacement. In the crash, you may also lose other personal property, such as cell phones, luggage, clothing, computers, gifts, or other valuable items.
Legal fees
Although Langdon & Emison work on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid once we win for you, you will still have legal fees that must be factored into your demands.
Non-economic
Your pain and suffering are valid losses that must be considered when you assemble your estimate of damages for a jackknife truck accident. These may include:
Long-term disability
If permanently disabled, you might never work again or require lifelong nursing care. These expenses can be estimated for your compensation demands.
Reduced quality of life
You may no longer enjoy activities and hobbies after your accident, or you may be unable to spend time with your family due to debilitating injuries. You could suffer fear, PTSD, isolation, and other emotional damage that must be repaid.
Common jackknife accident injuries
Because a trailer moving across several lanes of traffic can affect so many vehicles at once, the consequences of a jackknife accident can leave other motorists with injuries that include:
Physical injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations and impalement injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
Emotional trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep disturbances
Parties that may be liable for your injury
A skilled St. Louis truck jackknife accident attorney can review your circumstances to determine all parties who could bear the blame for your accident. Each entity must be held responsible, and we can build a case that obtains financial compensation from them all.
You may have a claim against liable parties such as:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- The owner of the truck
- The truck manufacturer
- Truck parts manufacturers who made and sold faulty components
- Repair shops or maintenance mechanics
- Cargo loaders
- Road maintenance government agencies
- Construction companies
Putting together the full picture of who is at fault and how can be challenging. You need a dedicated team who understands and interprets the law to your advantage. At Langdon & Emison, our truck jackknife accident lawyers in St. Louis can manage all aspects of your case, allowing you to recuperate from your injuries in peace.
How our St. Louis jackknife attorneys prove liability
Your St. Louis truck jackknife accident lawyer will collect and present robust evidence to demonstrate liability on the part of those at fault for your injuries. We will show that they owed you a duty of care on the road and failed in that duty through their careless actions.
We will also prove that you have injuries and losses that are a direct result of their negligence and that you have expenses from these injuries that must be compensated.
We will negotiate with insurance companies to secure the maximum reimbursement from their policies and proceed to court if they do not meet our demands. If your expenses exceed the policy limits, we will ensure you get every penny you are owed by filing a lawsuit to hold them accountable.
Make sure you file a claim on time
You must act quickly to seek damages since the Missouri statute of limitations allows only five years for you to file a lawsuit. If you do not file on time, you could lose your chance to secure financial relief.
Benefits of hiring a jackknife accident lawyer in St. Louis
At Langdon & Emison, we support your claim against the parties responsible for your accident in many ways. Each service we provide is focused on helping you succeed in your case by taking the weight of the legal work off your shoulders. We will:
Investigate
We collect all relevant evidence to demonstrate who is at fault and why you deserve compensation.
Negotiate
We push back when insurance companies make lowball offers or deny their client’s liability, taking them to court when they do not meet our demands.
Litigate
We prepare for the courtroom from the beginning so we are ready to move to trial when there are no other options for achieving justice on your behalf.
We stay focused on our primary goals: supporting you in your physical, emotional, and financial recovery after your accident.
Why work with Langdon & Emison
At Langdon & Emison, we identify the parties responsible for your jackknife accident and tenaciously work to hold them accountable. Our national reputation is for fighting large trucking companies to secure justice and financial relief for our clients. We prioritize developing a strong and trusting attorney-client relationship.
Being ready for trial from Day One gives us a solid foundation to negotiate with insurance companies to your satisfaction. With the experience and knowledge we have gained over 30 years of practicing law, we provide all the information you need to decide how to proceed.
Our St. Louis jackknife accident lawyers are here to help
You do not have to face a legal battle with insurance and trucking companies to get what you are entitled to receive after a devastating truck accident. Our St. Louis truck accident lawyer is ready to listen to your story and pursue your claim for you.
Contact us and schedule a free consultation today at (866) 931-2115 or use our convenient online form.
