Asheville Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney

Asheville Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer

A jackknife truck accident is one of the most potentially dangerous commercial vehicle accidents a person can experience. This type of crash can occur from many possible causes, and a victim may be entitled to more of a recovery than they initially expected. If you or a loved one has been hurt in this type of accident, an Asheville jackknife truck accident attorney can help you recover your damages.

Legal Counsel You Can Trust in Asheville, NC

The Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd, P.A., has extensive professional experience handling a wide range of complex civil claims on behalf of our clients in Asheville and surrounding communities. A jackknife truck accident can easily result in many catastrophic injuries to those involved, and an experienced attorney can be essential for success in your recovery efforts.

Your Asheville jackknife truck accident attorney can help prove liability for your recent accident and hold the liable party or parties accountable for the harm they have caused. In any truck accident case, it is possible for more than one party to bear fault, and it is also possible for many complex legal issues to arise that the average person will not know how to resolve on their own.

Our team can help gather the evidence needed to build the foundation of your recovery efforts. Once we have proven fault and identified those responsible for your damages, we can help file an auto insurance claim and recover as much compensation as possible from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. When insurance cannot fully compensate you for your damages, our firm can help you build a personal injury suit that aims for maximum recovery.

Proving Liability for a Jackknife Truck Accident in Asheville

Jackknife accidents are most likely to occur with tractor-trailers, large commercial trucks that pull long trailers full of cargo behind them. In some situations, the trailer can swing out to one side, and the weight and momentum of the trailer carry it forward alongside the tractor, forming a “V” shape that can cross several lanes of traffic. It is very difficult for even experienced truck drivers to recover safely from jackknifing.

These incidents can happen when trucking companies do not follow industry regulations, when drivers are negligent in various ways, due to road conditions, or because of failure to pack a trailer correctly. Your Asheville jackknife truck accident attorney can assist you in gathering whatever evidence you will need to firmly prove fault for the accident and hold the appropriate parties accountable for the harm they have done.

It’s possible for more than one factor to contribute to a jackknife accident. For example, if the driver was speeding and there was some mechanical defect with the connection between their truck and their trailer, these factors combined could easily result in the truck jackknifing. It is also possible for a truck driver to lose control over their vehicle and jackknife due to illegal misconduct, such as operating their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Your Asheville Jackknife truck accident attorney may seek vehicle computer data, cell phone records, traffic camera footage, witness testimony, and even consult with various expert witnesses to assist you in proving liability for a jackknife truck accident. It’s important to remember that if you bear any partial liability for the accident, it will prohibit you from claiming compensation under the state’s contributory negligence rule.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim After a Truck Accident in Asheville

North Carolina law requires every driver in the state to have auto insurance. This insurance must include liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury the policyholder causes to another party in an accident. Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging if you do not have legal counsel on your side. Your Asheville jackknife truck accident attorney can help file your claim and resolve any issues the insurance company may raise against your claim.

Once the insurance company completes its review and investigation of your claim, it will send you a settlement offer. Your attorney can review the offer compared to the at-fault driver’s policy and determine whether it is fair. If so, and if you have remaining damages that insurance can’t cover, your attorney can then assist you with filing a personal injury suit against whoever caused your accident.

Claiming Compensation With a Personal Injury Case

The main goal of any personal injury case is to secure compensation for the losses another party inflicted with their negligence or illegal misconduct. After proving the cause of your recent jackknife truck accident in Asheville, North Carolina, you can proceed with filing your auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. When their insurance cannot fully cover your losses, or if they do not have insurance, you need to file a personal injury suit to recover your damages.

The state’s personal injury statutes enable a plaintiff to seek full repayment of all economic losses they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. These are likely to include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. Property damage is relatively straightforward and will likely include any vehicle repair costs the victim cannot reclaim through insurance. Medical expenses and lost income can be more challenging to calculate.

You must remember that you have the right to claim compensation for both immediate and future economic damages resulting from your accident. When it comes to your medical expenses, the defendant is liable for both immediate medical treatment costs and the cost of any future medical care you may need to fully rehabilitate from your injuries. The same applies to lost income; you can claim compensation both for lost wages and lost future earning power.

If your jackknife truck accident resulted in severe injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or anything else causing long-term or permanent disability, the defendant is liable for the full economic impact of their actions. Additionally, you also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation, and state law does not limit this aspect of your case. You can claim whatever you deem appropriate to reflect the severity of your experience.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Most Common Cause of Jackknife Accidents?

A: The most commonly cited causes of truck jackknife accidents include improper braking, equipment failure, speeding, and improperly loaded cargo. If two or more of these factors are present, there is a high probability of a truck jackknifing unexpectedly, especially around sharp turns. Your Asheville truck accident attorney can help you determine the exact cause of your accident and hold the appropriate parties accountable for your losses.

Q: What Happens if a Jackknife Accident Is Fatal?

A: When the victim of any personal injury does not survive, their family likely has grounds to file a wrongful death suit in place of the personal injury claim the victim would have been able to file if they had survived. Any accident case involving catastrophic injuries or fatalities requires the attention of an attorney experienced in handling these types of claims. A wrongful death suit is similar to a personal injury claim in some ways but seeks compensation for the family’s loss.

Q: How Much Is My Jackknife Truck Accident Claim Worth?

A: The total potential value of any civil claim for damages depends on the extent and severity of the victim’s losses. As long as the plaintiff can firmly establish fault for their personal injury, the defendant who caused the injury is fully responsible for all resulting damages. Your final case award is likely to include compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property losses, and your pain and suffering.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire an Asheville Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney?

A: You are not strictly required to hire an attorney for your case in the Asheville area, but doing so provides several tangible benefits you must understand. You will not have to manage your case and your recovery all at once on your own. You will be prepared to address any unexpected variables that arise and complicate your case, and you will be more likely to uncover every channel of compensation available to you, enhancing your total recovery.

Q: What Are Attorney Fees for an Asheville Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney?

A: If you choose the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd, P.A., to represent you in your truck accident case, you will pay our firm a legal fee only after we have won your case. Your fee will be a percentage of the total compensation we secure for you, and you will pay nothing if our team cannot obtain a recovery for you. This billing policy ensures you have access to the legal counsel you need when you need it most.

Compassionate Legal Representation

The Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd, P.A., provides compassionate and responsive legal representation for all manner of vehicle accident claims in Asheville and surrounding communities. If you need help recovering from a recent jackknife truck accident, we are ready to assist you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Asheville jackknife truck accident attorney you can trust with your recovery.