When a tractor-trailer jackknifes, it wreaks havoc on traffic and can cause multi-vehicle pileups that cause death and permanent injuries. Even when yours is the only other involved vehicle, your injuries could be severe. The truck driver, their employer, and others may be liable for your losses.
Speak with an experienced truck accident attorney at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, about pursuing compensation from the negligent parties. Our lawyers have been representing people injured in jackknife truck accidents in Connecticut for decades with excellent results.
A jackknife happens when a truck’s trailer moves at an angle to the cab instead of following directly behind. Jackknives often cause the vehicle to overturn.
A wind gust or icy patch can cause a trailer to jackknife, but most of these accidents are due to negligence. Trucks that are speeding or going too fast for conditions are more likely to jackknife. Suddenly applying hard pressure to the brakes can cause a trailer to jackknife.
An attorney investigating a Connecticut jackknife truck crash would review whether other parties were negligent in addition to the trucker and transportation company. Improper loading can cause a jackknife, and the company that loaded the cargo would be liable. Mechanical problems like frozen steering, faulty brakes, and tire blowouts can also cause jackknife accidents.
Anyone whose negligence causes someone else harm is legally responsible for the losses the injured person suffered. The injured person must prove the party was negligent and show that the negligence was the direct cause of their injuries.
Transportation companies and their employees are negligent if they fail to use the utmost care to protect others from injury. Others, such as the drivers of passenger vehicles, are negligent if they fail to use reasonable care. Manufacturers are strictly liable when a product they sell is defective and causes an injury—there is no need to prove negligence in a defective product case.
A lawyer representing someone injured in a jackknife truck collision in Connecticut would assert claims against all the involved parties who were negligent. Bringing claims against multiple parties enhances the likelihood the victim will receive just compensation.
Once a claim has been asserted against the defendants, they often counterclaim that the injured person’s conduct played a role in the accident. It is common for a claimant’s actions to have a role in their injury. In most cases, a negligent claimant can still collect compensation for their losses.
When the person seeking damages for a jackknife truck wreck was negligent, Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h(b) allows them to collect partial damages from negligent defendants, if the plaintiff’s actions were not the primary cause of the crash. However, the amount the plaintiff can collect is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, a plaintiff who was 20 percent at fault and suffered losses of $100,000 could collect $80,000 from the other negligent parties.
Fault is usually allocated by negotiations with the defendants’ insurance companies, and the discussions can be intense. Our attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, are savvy negotiators who can help ensure that the allocation of blame is fair and based on factual evidence.
Jackknife truck accidents in Connecticut can cause severe injuries. You likely will need significant time to recover and adapt to any permanent disabilities they cause.
While you are regaining your health, the dedicated legal professionals at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, can pursue compensation for your injuries. We offer free, remote or in-person consultations. Call now to get started on your case.
