All the power that propels tractor-trailers forward comes from the cab in front, with the trailer being pulled behind without propelling or steering itself. Because of this, the trailer has its own separate momentum from the tractor in front of it. If the truck’s driver loses control of the vehicle at high speeds, this can lead to the trailer swinging out to the side, potentially into adjacent lanes of traffic.
In trucker parlance, this is called jackknifing, and it is one of the most dangerous situations you can encounter on a public highway while driving near a semi-truck. Unfortunately, jackknife truck accidents in Houston often result in serious injury to those involved. If you were hurt in such a wreck caused by a truck driver’s misconduct, a truck injury lawyer from Fleming Law Accident & Injury Attorneys can provide guidance throughout your pursuit of financial restitution.
Commercial trucks handle very differently from passenger cars and are much harder to control while in motion, making it crucial for truck drivers to be properly trained and experienced with operating their vehicle before they go out on routes. This is part of the legal duty of care truck drivers—and all other drivers on public roads—owe to people around them. This obligation requires them to obey traffic laws, pay attention to their surroundings, and generally act rationally at all times.
If a truck driver causes their truck to jackknife through a lack of skill, an unlawful act such as speeding or drunk driving, or simple carelessness such as losing focus on the road ahead of them, they have breached their duty of care and can be held civilly liable for injuries they directly cause through that breach of duty. Proving someone else negligent in this way is the goal of virtually every truck accident lawsuit, and it is what our attorneys can help you work toward accomplishing after a jackknife truck wreck in Houston.
We may also be able to help you demand civil restitution from the company that employed the truck driver at fault for your recent crash. Sometimes, this is as straightforward as holding an employer vicariously liable for the misconduct of their employee on the job, which is often possible under a legal theory called respondeat superior.
Alternatively, trucking companies are sometimes directly at fault for Houston jackknife truck crashes—for example, because they failed to ensure they were hiring only qualified and responsible drivers, or because they knowingly overloaded a truck with more cargo than it could safely and legally carry. Support from skilled legal counsel can be especially important to succeeding with civil litigation under circumstances like this.
Jackknifing trucks are completely out of their operators’ control, and they can swing across multiple traffic lanes and collide with multiple other vehicles before sliding to a stop. Because of how uniquely dangerous this kind of incident is for everyone involved, it is incumbent on every truck driver and trucking company to take all possible precautions to prevent jackknife truck accidents in Houston from happening.
If you were hurt because someone in the trucking industry failed to fulfill this duty, we can help you demand comprehensive compensation for the harm you have unjustly sustained. Call Fleming Law Accident & Injury Attorneys today for a consultation.
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