18-Wheeler Truck Jackknife Accidents in Texas
Texas leads the nation in large truck crashes, with many of those involving jackknife accidents. An 18-wheeler jackknife accident happens when a semi-truck loses control for any reason, and the truck’s trailer swings out. The truck then folds like a jackknife, causing serious danger to others on the road. If you or a loved one were injured in an 18-wheeler truck jackknife accident in Texas, you could be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced Texas truck accident lawyer can help.
Jackknife accidents can be caused by driver errors, defective equipment, overworked drivers, or other causes. When accidents happen, injured motorists can face medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs of a serious accident. The Texas 18-wheeler truck jackknife accident lawyers at Zehl & Associates will help get to the bottom of what happened, who was responsible, and how you can collect financial recovery for your losses. Contact our law office at (888) 603-3636 to schedule a free consultation today.
Table of Contents
- How Zehl & Associates Help You After an 18-Wheeler Jackknife Accident in Texas
- How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas?
- What is a Jackknife Accident?
- What Causes Jackknife Accidents in Texas?
- Proving Negligence in a Texas Jackknife Accident Case
- Contact a Texas Jackknife Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
How Zehl & Associates Help You After an 18-Wheeler Jackknife Accident in Texas
Jackknife accidents are far deadlier in Texas than anywhere else in the nation, resulting in three times as many fatalities than the next closest state (Missouri). And yet, in the wake of these devastating truck accidents, trucking companies will stop at nothing to protect their bottom line. They’ll do everything in their power to pay you as little as possible, hoping the complexity of a jackknife crash—far more intricate than a typical truck accident—will discourage you from fighting back.
At Zehl & Associates, we know better—and so do our clients.
Our Texas truck accident lawyers have won Billions for accident victims and their families by going head-to-head with the largest trucking companies in the world. As our track record shows: We not only win. We set records.
From day one, we push back against the trucking company’s tactics, uncover the evidence they hope stays hidden, and do whatever it takes to maximize your recovery.
Here’s how we go above and beyond:
- Connect you with leading medical experts across the country to ensure you receive the specialized care and treatment your injuries require
- Make sure your reasonable living expenses are covered while your case is pending
- Bring in nationally recognized experts—from accident reconstructionists to biomechanical engineers—to determine how the crash occurred and why it never should have happened
- Secure vital evidence before it disappears, including onboard camera footage, black box data, driver logs, maintenance reports, and more to hold the trucking company and their driver fully accountable for the harm they’ve caused
- NEVER settle for less than the maximum compensation you deserve — we will always refuse any offer that doesn’t fully compensate you for all of your injuries and losses
- Prepare every case for trial, so if the trucking company won’t pay what you deserve, they’ll see us in the courtroom—where we’ve never lost a case
After a serious jackknife crash, you have the right to hold the at-fault party fully accountable—but you need to act fast. Our undefeated truck accident lawyers don’t waste time. We move quickly to protect your rights and your future.
Contact our office today to learn how we can help: 888-603-3636.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas?
Our truck accident attorneys do not get paid unless you win your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means attorney fees come out of your financial award at the end of a case. You pay nothing if your case does not succeed. You have nothing to lose financially by getting your truck accident claim started today.
What is a Jackknife Accident?
18-wheeler semi-trucks are made up of two sections—the tractor and trailer. Both connect by a single pivot joint which is there to help the truck move and turn efficiently. Jackknife accidents happen when the tractor stops too quickly, leading the trailer section to fold at an opposing angle. The movement mimics that of a folding knife – hence the “jackknife” nickname.
Tragically, over 4,000 fatal jackknife accidents happen nationwide every year. Many more accidents lead to vehicle damage and devastating injuries for those who survive the crash. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, with catastrophic consequences when 18-wheelers are involved in a crash.
What Causes Jackknife Accidents in Texas?
Factors involved in causing jackknife accidents can include:
- Excessive speeding
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
- Distracted driving
- Poor training
- Inexperienced drivers
- Poorly loaded cargo
- Malfunctioning equipment, steering, or brakes
- Aggressive driving
- Poor weather conditions
- Defective road conditions
Negligence by a truck driver can cause an accident. Negligence can also be caused by an employer, parts manufacturer, or other third party involved in the truck’s operation. When trucks cause accidents, attorneys must prove liability to earn monetary damages for accident victims.
Proving Negligence in a Texas Jackknife Accident Case
Plaintiffs in a personal injury claim must normally prove negligence – by the truck driver, their employer, the trucking company, or another party involved in causing the accident.
Proving negligence in a Texas truck accident case involves four elements:
- Duty: Truck drivers have duties to drive safely and obey traffic laws. Trucking companies also have duties to properly train and schedule their drivers according to regulations. Truck parts manufacturers have duties to sell parts without any known defects that are safe for use.
- Breach of duty: When any party fails to follow their duty as a reasonable person would, they’ve breached their duty.
- Causation: Plaintiffs must prove the breach of duty caused the accident victim’s damages.
- Damages: Economic and non-economic damages are types of damages that can be sought, and some actual damage must exist to prove negligence.
Your jackknife accident lawyer will use all available evidence to prove negligence in your claim. This can include physical evidence, video footage, police reports, black box recordings from a truck itself, maintenance logs, and anything else that can help prove your claim.
Contact a Texas Jackknife Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
At Zehl & Associates, we have won Billions for accident victims in Texas and across the U.S., including the #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas history. Our dedicated Texas 18-wheeler truck jackknife accident lawyers will work tirelessly to secure the full compensation you deserve. call our law office to schedule your free consultation.
If you or a loved one were injured in an 18-wheeler jackknife accident anywhere in Texas, call our law office to schedule your free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us page.
We’ll answer all your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide you with all the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case.
Call us at 888-603-3636 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our record-setting Texas personal injury attorneys are ready to begin fighting for you as soon as you are.