Because of how their cabs connect to their trailers via a rotating hinge, semi-trucks are susceptible to a type of accident called a “jackknife.” This kind of wreck involves the truck’s trailer kicking out to the side or even all the way in front of its cab during an uncontrolled skid, leading to the truck folding into a “jackknife” shape—and often colliding with multiple other vehicles at high speed before it finally comes to a stop.
Jackknife truck accidents in Walterboro are extremely traumatic and often life-altering incidents, and anyone who plays a role in causing one by breaching their duty to act responsibly should be held financially accountable for the consequences of their actions. If you were recently hurt in this sort of incident, assistance from a skilled truck accident attorney from our firm could be vital to holding the right people liable for your injuries and recovering comprehensively for all your compensable losses. Call Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today.
How Negligence Can Cause a Truck to Jackknife
By nature, jackknife truck accidents in Walterboro, across South Carolina, and throughout the entire United States cannot happen unless the truck in question is already skidding at a high rate of speed, which means the vast majority of these wrecks stem from an unexpected loss of traction which leads to the truck driver losing control of their vehicle. With that in mind, speeding is a particularly common cause of this sort of crash, as is failing to account for inclement weather or poor road conditions, turning too sharply, and driving while drunk, distracted, or heavily fatigued.
That said, the important thing when it comes to filing suit over this type of wreck is not whether the truck driver involved acted unlawfully, but instead whether they acted irresponsibly in any way that violated the “duty of care” they had to operate their truck safely. Both overtly illegal acts and simply careless lapses in concentration can serve as equally strong grounds for a civil claim if they directly lead to a jackknife crash which likely would not have otherwise happened.
Getting Paid Fairly for All Available Damages
Through a successful civil claim built around “negligence” as described in brief above, someone injured in a jackknife truck accident in Walterboro can seek compensation for all economic and non-economic consequences that accident will have on them, including both past and future losses—relative to when their claim formally begins—like:
- Physical pain and discomfort from injuries
- Lost consortium and/or overall enjoyment of life
- Lost work income and/or long-term working capacity
- Vehicle repair/replacement costs, plus other personal property damage
- Emotional and psychological trauma from injuries and/or the accident itself
- Medical expenses, including long-term costs of things like physical therapy and assistive equipment
On the subject of formally starting claims, though, it is worth mentioning that South Carolina Code of Laws § 15-3-530 sets a filing deadline of three years for virtually all personal injury claims, including those resulting in permanent and debilitating injuries. In practice, this means contacting and retaining legal counsel sooner rather than later after a serious truck wreck can be vital to preserving an injured person’s right to civil recovery.
Contact Our Walterboro Attorneys After a Jackknife Truck Accident
Jackknifing trucks are one of the most dangerous hazards it is possible to encounter on a major highway, especially one as busy as the stretch of Interstate 95 running past Walterboro. Unfortunately, they can also make for deceptively complex personal injury claims, especially if you try to pursue yours without guidance from a seasoned legal professional.
If you are dealing with injuries stemming from a jackknife truck accident in Walterboro, you may have limited time to take legal action against the people responsible for the harm you have sustained. Call Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today to get started on your possible claim.
