Did you or a loved one suffer injuries in a jackknife collision in Macon or elsewhere in Bibb County? You may be entitled to compensation. The experienced Macon truck jackknife accident lawyers with Rafi Law Firm are available to provide you with a free consultation.

We can review your case to make sure that you do not settle for anything less than you deserve. Do not settle or sign your rights away; contact Rafi Law Firm today. Call us or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation with a skilled Macon truck accident lawyer.

Why are jackknife accidents so dangerous?

In a jackknife accident, there is a potential to cause a tremendous amount of damage. Due to the difficulty in regaining control, once the cab and trailer start to sway, the entire semi-truck is a loose cannon and can crash into its own lane, into lanes traveling in the same direction, or into oncoming traffic.

Risk of colliding into nearby structures

When a semi-truck begins to jackknife, there is no telling how far it will slide down the roadway or off the roadway until it comes to a complete stop. Any structures, including other vehicles or buildings, can be in the path of destruction. The rate of speed and other factors help to determine how long it takes for a truck to come to a complete stop after an accident.

Potential to cause massive pile-ups

A jackknifed truck can result in a pile-up collision (a multi-vehicle crash involving three or more vehicles). This is caused by a chain reaction in which vehicles do not have the distance or the time to safely stop. Some pile-ups can include fifty or one hundred vehicles.

Catastrophic injuries

Jackknife truck accidents are so dangerous because they can cause catastrophic injuries. This is an injury that is considered an extreme injury that has a significant impact on the victim. These can be permanent or may even take months or years to heal.

Where in Macon do most jackknife accidents occur?

Jackknife accidents can happen anywhere, but most of these accidents happen on major highways or major roads. In Georgia, they are most likely to be on Interstate 75, traveling north to south, and Interstate 16, traveling east to west. If you were involved in a jackknife accident on either of these highways, please contact a Macon jackknife accident lawyer at Rafi Law Firm.

How do jackknife accidents happen?

Most tractor-trailer jackknife collisions occur due to a loss of traction. Slick roads or improper braking can cause the truck’s wheels to lose their grip on the road, causing tires to skid along the pavement instead of rolling. Whether it’s due to panic, inexperience, or some other reason, many truck drivers will then slam on their brakes in an effort to stop the truck from skidding.

However, slamming on the brakes causes the brakes to lock, leaving the skidding wheel without sufficient traction to stop. If the cab or trailer wheels lock, the rig can swing sideways out of control.

This may sound like an unfortunate, unavoidable situation, but the reality is that most of the time, truck drivers are to blame. Let’s explore some of the driver errors that can cause these types of jackknife accidents to happen.

Driver distraction

Distracted driving is not limited to texting. Taking hands off the wheel to retrieve something from the floor, talking to other passengers, or being under the influence of a mind-altering substance are all forms of distracted driving.

Driver fatigue

Driver fatigue can be the result of a vehicle operator not getting enough sleep or enough quality sleep. This is so serious that it can be compared to alcohol impairment. Semi-truck drivers are required by law to adhere to a strict sleep schedule in order to maintain peak performance during their driving hours.

Faulty equipment

Another reason that a jackknife accident may occur is that the semi-truck itself is defective in some way. The truck may have had some electrical or mechanical failure that resulted in a breakdown which caused a jackknife accident. There are many components to a semi-truck that should be maintained properly on a year-round schedule. Ignoring routine maintenance can cause the vehicle to be unsafe to operate.

Speeding

Speeding semi-trucks are extremely dangerous for many reasons. Because the size of the vehicle is so large, it requires a much longer stopping distance. It is also more difficult to make turning maneuvers in a large semi-truck when it is traveling at a high rate of speed.
The damage caused by a speeding semi-truck can be far more destructive because of its large size. If you believe that you were hurt or injured by a speeding semi-truck that jackknifed, contact a Macon truck jackknife attorney to help.

Poor weather conditions

The last cause for a jackknife semi-truck accident is poor weather. In poor weather conditions such as rain or snow, the stopping time and distance greatly increases for large trucks. There are other not-so-obvious weather conditions like crosswinds or wind-driven debris that may cause a truck to jackknife.

Who’s liable in a jackknife collision?

If you or your loved one has been hurt or injured in a jackknife accident, you may have a claim against one or more parties involved. The liability can be with the driver, their employer, the shipping company, or even the manufacturer of the truck.

This can be a tricky web to navigate without professional guidance. The best option may be to contact a professional Macon jackknife lawyer to guide you through the process so that you can get the compensation that you deserve.

Preventing jackknife accidents

The best scenario would be to not be involved in a jackknife accident at all. One of the easiest ways to prevent a jackknife accident is to eliminate the things that are uncontrollable. Distracted driving, driving fatigue, faulty equipment, and speeding are almost 100% controllable.
Proper training and licensing are also a must to help prevent jackknife accidents. Expert training in braking safety and proper turning are vital to remaining safe on the roadways.

Common jackknife accident injuries

The injuries suffered from a jackknife accident can be in different forms. Not only are there physical injuries that occur, but there can also be emotional damage. Both are compensable due to a negligent driver or trucking company.

Physical injuries

Numerous physical injuries can occur in an accident caused by a jackknifed truck. These include:

• Neck injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Head trauma
• Spinal cord injury
• Pelvic fractures
• Brain damage
• Broken bones
• Whiplash
• Loss of limbs
• Death

The safest and easiest way to begin reimbursement and compensation for any of these is to contact a Macon truck accident attorney.

Emotional trauma

There are many psychological effects of being involved in a serious car crash. Crash victims can experience feelings of denial, sadness, grief, anger, and fear associated with the accident. These symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years. They can even permanently alter your life. The emotional damage can cause flashbacks, nightmares, fatigue, and depression.

Our Macon jackknife accident lawyer is here to help

Rafi Law Firm is the leading truck accident firm in Macon, Bibb County, and throughout Georgia. Do not hesitate to call our office to receive your free consultation. No one should feel overwhelmed when it comes to standing up for their rights.

We will professionally guide you using our highly trained associates to pursue the maximum amount of money for your pain and suffering. Call us at (478) 216-1664 or complete our quick contact form to begin your consultation with a skilled Macon jackknife accident lawyer.