When a tractor-trailer loses its grip on the road and goes into an uncontrolled skid, the truck’s trailer can kick out to the side or even swing all the way out in front of the cab. This is often referred to as a jackknife accident because of the jackknife shape the truck bends into, and it often leads to the truck colliding with multiple cars and causing catastrophic damage before it comes to a stop.
Just like other types of truck wrecks, jackknife truck accidents in Bensalem generally happen because of a specific person’s reckless or careless conduct, and sometimes even because of misconduct by multiple people at once. Either way, you deserve to be paid fairly for the harm you suffered by no fault of your own through a crash like this, and assistance from a well-known truck accident lawyer can be vital to obtaining the money you need.
Holding the Right People Accountable for a Jackknife Truck Wreck
Civil claims built around jackknife truck crashes in Bensalem are more specifically built around the legal theory of negligence, under which someone can be held financially liable for another person’s injuries if all the following conditions are met:
- The trucker being sued owed the injured person filing the lawsuit a legal duty to act responsibly or lawfully under specific circumstances
- The trucker breached their duty through some specific reckless, careless, or illegal act
- That breach of duty was the main and direct cause of an accident which likely wouldn’t have happened otherwise
- That accident caused at least one injury to the plaintiff bad enough for them to need professional medical care
- That injury caused all of the compensable losses that they’re demanding compensation for through their lawsuit
Every truck driver has the same duty of care requiring them to obey traffic laws and generally act rationally behind the wheel, so a trucker who ends up jackknifing because they were speeding, took a turn too sharply, or were drunk or distracted while driving is likely negligent. It’s often also possible to hold other people, companies, and even government bodies liable for a crash like this—for example, a trucking company that had negligent hiring practices, or a highway maintenance crew that didn’t fix a pothole which led to a truck driver losing control of their truck.
Getting Around Obstacles to Fair Financial Recovery
It may also be important after a jackknife truck crash in Bensalem to establish that you were not partially to blame for your own injuries because of your negligence. When you, too, violated a traffic law or drove recklessly close to a semi-truck before your wreck, you might miss out on some or all of the civil compensation you otherwise could’ve gotten through a successful claim.
Likewise, you’ll need to be prepared to act quickly after initially getting hurt, since Pennsylvania law usually limits an injured person to just two years after their accidents to file suit over them. An experienced lawyer can give you irreplaceable help navigating past these and other common roadblocks to case success.
Talk to a Bensalem Attorney About a Jackknife Truck Accident Lawsuit
When a truck jackknifes, it has the potential to cause life-altering injuries to several people at once. With that in mind, anyone who irresponsibly causes a jackknife truck accident in Bensalem should be held accountable for the consequences of their actions—something that is often easier said than done.
Having help from knowledgeable legal counsel can make a world of difference in how effectively you can pursue your unique claim. Call today to discuss your options in a free, no-obligation consultation.
