Rockford Jackknifing Accidents

Trustworthy Attorneys for Rockford Jackknifing Accident

The largest city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropolitan area is Rockford, which covers 61.949 square miles. As the seat of Winnebago County, it is home to approximately 148,655 residents and numerous large employers including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mercy Health, OSF Healthcare, Collins Aerospace, SwedishAmerican Health System, and Walmart Stores. Consequently, the city is a hub for numerous delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles. Commercial trucks are substantially larger and heavier than ordinary cars. Additionally, when a truck is articulated, or towing a trailer, and folds in the roadway, the result may be a multi-vehicle collision or other accident. This type of accident is known as “jackknifing” because of the folded vehicle bears a resemblance to a pocketknife. If you were injured or a loved one died in a jackknifing accident, you should call the seasoned Rockford jackknifing accident lawyers of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca.

What is a Jackknifing Accident?

Truck jackknife accidents can be the result of:

• truck driver negligence,
• poor weather conditions,
• a malfunctioning braking system within the truck,
• equipment failure,
• a trucking company’s negligence in supervising or training its driver,
• or dangerous road conditions.

Often jackknifing occurs because the wheels of a big rig have automatically locked due to wet or slippery road conditions. When a large tractor-trailer is being driven at high speeds, it can roll over causing multiple catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Most smaller vehicles and SUVs cannot withstand getting struck by a heavy commercial truck. There is bound to be significant damage, and in some cases, there are also several secondary accidents.

Holding a Trucking Company Accountable for Jackknifing

All drivers are required to drive reasonably and safely given road conditions. If they fail to do so, whether by speeding or driving while fatigued or distracted, and cause a truck jackknifing accident, they may be held accountable. Moreover, when the truck driver is employed by a trucking company and the accident was in the course and scope of employment, our lawyers may be able to hold the trucking company liable under a theory of vicarious liability. However, it may be appropriate to sue the trucking company for its own negligence if it hired, supervised, or trained a truck driver whose negligence resulted in injuries.

Sometimes other parties are to blame for a jackknifing accident. When, for instance, a braking system is defective such that it caused an accident, a truck accident victim could claim against the parts manufacturer or a distributor of the part using a theory of strict product liability or negligence. Likewise, if a mechanic conducted fault repairs that contributed to the jackknifing, our attorneys may be able to sue the repair shop for damages arising out of the accident.

Damages

The nature of your injuries will determine the amount and type of damages our lawyers are able to recover on your behalf. Serious or catastrophic injuries can include spinal cord injuries, paralysis, broken bones, internal bleeding, complex fractures, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries. Jackknifing accidents can result in death. When our lawyers are able to establish that another party was to blame for the injuries you suffered as a result of a truck jackknifing, we may be able to recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of earning ability, and pain and suffering. In addition to any losses you’ve already incurred, you may also be entitled to future losses, such as the costs of any future surgeries or ongoing care you need as a result of the accident.

Consult a Rockford Truck Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a jackknifing accident and believe that a truck driver or other party was at fault, you should call the seasoned Champaign truck accident lawyers of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca without delay. Strict time limits apply to filing a personal injury lawsuit, and moreover, evidence vanishes and memories fade as time passes between the accident and the lawsuit. With more than 60 years of experience advocating for accident victims, we are well-positioned to represent you in your lawsuit. Additionally, we handle SSDI and workers’ compensation claims, and understand how these may intersect a truck accident lawsuit.