If you’ve been hurt in a jackknife accident in the Chicago, IL, area, chances are you have significant injuries. You may be entitled to payment for your medical bills, lost wages, other expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
An experienced Chicago jackknife accident lawyer can help you file insurance claims and recover the money that you need to pay your bills and get back to normal. Since 2009, Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys has helped people injured in all types of accidents, including jackknife accidents. We’ve secured tens of millions of dollars for our clients to date.
Call our law office at (312) 726-1616 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
How Can Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Help After a Jackknife Accident in Chicago, Illinois?
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys can provide you with full-service legal representation throughout the life of your case. We can file an insurance claim on your behalf and negotiate with difficult insurance companies. In jackknife cases, there might be multiple insurance policies at play. Our lawyers will help to take the burden and pressure of negotiating with insurance off of your shoulders.
If our Chicago truck accident attorneys can’t negotiate a fair settlement, we will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. Our legal team will collect evidence, calculate your damages, request records, and do whatever it takes to get you the outcome you deserve.
We have a proven track record of winning significant settlements for our clients, and our lawyers have decades of combined experience. Call our personal injury law firm to learn more about our past success and how we can help you going forward.
Overview of Jackknife Truck Accidents in Chicago, IL
A jackknife accident is a specific type of truck accident. It usually happens when the front cab and rear trailer of a semi-truck move in opposite directions or are out of sync. The result is that the trailer and or the cab lose balance, sway, and can flip over.
Unfortunately, jackknife accidents are fairly common and can be fatal. In 2020, jackknife crashes accounted for 3.5% of large truck fatalities and caused approximately 1,000 injuries.
Jackknife accidents are very dangerous for the truck driver, passengers, and other cars on the road. It is important to be vigilant when driving near trucks, or if you are a truck driver, to avoid this type of collision.
What Causes Jackknife Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?
Jackknife accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Naturally, the size of the semi-truck and the weight in the trailer can impact how an accident happens and the severity of the crash.
In our experience, some of the most common causes of jackknife accidents are:
- Inclement weather (causing the truck to lose traction)
- Improper braking or slamming on the brakes
- Speeding and losing control
- Distracted driving
- Obstructions in the road that cause the driver to swerve (like potholes)
- Sharp or sudden turns
- An empty trailer or overloaded trailer
- Improper trailer-cab alignment
Ultimately, since trucks are so large, they cannot respond as quickly as cars to issues on the road. This makes them more susceptible to jackknife accidents. Proper training, truck maintenance, and safe driving can help to prevent these crashes.
Jackknife Accidents in Chicago Can Cause Serious Injuries
When a jackknife accident does happen, it can result in serious and catastrophic injuries or even death. While some lucky drivers walk away without injuries, that’s fairly uncommon.
We represent people who have suffered from many different types of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Facial injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Eye injuries
- Severe burns
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Amputation
- Broken bones
Many of our clients have multiple complex injuries. Our lawyers take the time to understand the impact of the injury and the need for ongoing medical treatment. This can help us negotiate with insurance companies or when filing a lawsuit. It also is helpful when calculating your damages.
Damages in Chicago, IL Jackknife Accident Claims
Victims of jackknife accidents in Chicago are entitled to economic damages, non-economic damages, and, in certain cases, punitive damages.
Economic damages are financial losses that happen because of an accident or an injury. These financial losses may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity in the future
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Cost of rehabilitation or physical therapy
Non-economic damages are usually called pain and suffering. Non-economic damages are non-financial losses that happen after a jackknife crash. They can be more difficult to calculate because they aren’t directly tied to a dollar figure. However, they are equally as important.
Non-economic damages may include payment for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are less common than the other two types of damages. They are available only through a special pleading and if the plaintiff can prove that the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly. In a jackknife case, for example, punitive damages may be available if the person who caused the crash was severely drunk.
Set Up a Free Consultation With a Chicago Truck Accident Law Firm Today
If you have questions or need legal help after a crash, call our Chicago jackknife accident lawyers today to set up a free consultation.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is available to analyze your case and explain your rights and legal options. There are no hidden fees or pressure. Our goal is to make sure you have access to the best legal resources and advice as you recover and focus on your well-being.
