Seattle Jackknife Accident Attorneys

A jackknife accident is one of the most common – and deadly – types of truck accidents. Jackknifing occurs when the trailer part of a tractor-trailer begins to move independently of the tractor that is pulling it and swings out to the left or right – like the folded blade of a jackknife. Jackknife situations on Seattle highways can cause huge vehicle pile-ups since the tractor-trailer will typically block multiple lanes. If a semi-truck jackknifes at high speed, the truck may roll over, causing serious danger to anyone in its path.

Jackknife accidents are often caused by a trucker driver speeding or taking a turn too fast. They can also be caused by improper braking technique, slippery road conditions, or defective equipment. Jackknife accidents are very specialized cases. Not many personal injury attorneys take them because they are so complex. Special laws and regulations apply to truck accident cases. An inexperienced attorney may not know the laws and regulations involved with a jackknifing accident. This is why you need the experienced Seattle truck accident lawyers at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers to handle your case.

Have you been injured in a jackknife accident in Seattle? If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a jackknife accident, speak with the Seattle truck accident attorneys at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers about your legal options. Contact us now by calling (206) 312-0954 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Do I Need a Jackknife Accident Lawyer?

Jackknife truck accidents can leave a wake of devastating effects for victims and their families. If your life has been affected by one of these traumatic accidents, a skilled and compassionate jackknife accident attorney can help you make your way through the recovery process. The truck accident lawyers at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers in Seattle are committed to providing jackknifing victims with aggressive legal representation. We work with a team of experts to build a solid case to maximize your compensation and get you the justice you deserve.

Truck accidents, including jackknifing accidents, are typically much more complicated than a typical car accident, in part, because many parties can potentially be held liable. Parties who may be responsible for a jackknife accident include:

The truck driver
The trucking company employing the driver
The truck owner
A service that loaded the cargo
Individuals responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance
Manufacturers of defective truck parts
Other parties who may have caused a disruption leading to the accident

Keep in mind that the trucking company, the insurance adjusters, and their legal teams will do all they can to avoid paying you the fair amount of compensation you’re owed. They’ll likely look to pass the blame onto others, or even insinuate that the crash is your fault. Turn to an experienced truck accident attorney to make sure that you are protected and that your case is handled correctly.

Why Choose Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers to Handle My Case?

Attorney Jeffrey R. Caffee, founder of Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, has been honored as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers each year since 2013. A member of the Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, and Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Mr. Caffee has extensive experience in successfully handling personal injury cases, including jackknife truck accidents.

Mr. Caffee earned his B.S. from Saint Leo University before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Mr. Caffee has been admitted to state courts in Washington since 2009 when he was honored by The International Academy of Trial Lawyers with an Award for Advocacy for distinguished achievement in the art and science of advocacy.

Don’t worry about whether or not you can afford a truck accident attorney, we at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay when you obtain compensation for you. Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers can negotiate for a full and fair settlement to your truck accident case that provides for all of your needs. If the settlement offered by the insurance company doesn’t cover every last one of your expenses, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court, where we’ll fight for the compensation you deserve.

Types of Jackknife Accident Cases We Handle

We handle jackknife accidents caused by a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

Speeding
Driver fatigue
Driver distraction
Stopping suddenly
Inexperienced truck driver
Inadequate training
Overloaded or improperly loaded trailers
Equipment failure
Improperly adjusted brakes

When a truck is traveling at a high speed, it can take out anything in its path. Jackknife accidents can cause multi-vehicle accidents, and the sheer size and weight of semi-trucks can lead to severe injuries for all involved. Jackknife accidents can lead to a wide array of injuries, including but not limited to:

Traumatic brain injuries
Back and neck injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Burns
Internal injuries
Whiplash
Cuts and bruises

If you have been seriously injured in a jackknife accident in Seattle, the lawyers at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers are ready to hold the at-fault parties accountable and seek full and fair compensation for you. We help clients recover many types of economic and noneconomic damages, including:

Medical expenses (past and future)
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Disability and disfigurement
Property damage
Wrongful death

Our Seattle jackknife accident lawyers will examine all of the facts of your truck accident to determine whether the truck driver, truck company, or another party were negligent or reckless in any way. If we discover that their negligence caused your jackknife accident, we will fight tirelessly to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Jackknife Accidents

At Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, we get many questions from clients regarding their jackknife accidents. Listed below are several the most frequently asked questions. If you have any questions about your specific jackknife accident case, please contact our experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers at any time at (206) 312-0954.

What should I do if I have been involved in a jackknife accident?

Your priority following an accident should be your health and safety. If there are witnesses and you are physically able, collect their contact information. Take plenty of pictures of the scene of the accident with your smartphone. Be sure to get photos of the truck, your vehicle, and any skid marks or road hazards that may have contributed to the crash.

Never provide a recorded statement to an insurance claims adjuster. Make sure you speak with a qualified truck accident attorney before talking to anyone from an insurance company.

Who can be held liable for jackknife accidents?

No two truck accidents are exactly alike. Determining liability in these cases is complicated, often more so than in a typical car accident. This is why you need an experienced truck accident attorney to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and assign fault. Parties who are commonly named in jackknife accident claims include:

Truck driver: Truck drivers can prevent jackknifing by following other vehicles at a safe distance, avoiding speeding and taking turns at high speeds, and braking slowly over the longest distance possible.
The trucking company: While truck drivers are ultimately in control of the vehicle, they are usually trained and supervised by a trucking company. If the truck driver’s employer failed to do everything possible to prevent an accident, they may be held liable for accidents. Examples of negligence on the part of a trucking company includes failing to properly maintain the truck’s equipment or hiring unsafe or incompetent drivers.
Mechanics and those responsible for truck maintenance: Trucking companies often outsource vehicle maintenance to mechanics and other companies that specialize in truck maintenance. When faulty maintenance results in a jackknife accident, victims may be able to hold the party liable for their injuries.
Truck part manufacturers: If a faulty part caused the truck accident, a truck part manufacturer may face responsibility for the resulting accident.
Government entities: In some cases, jackknife accidents are caused by road defects, in which case the government agency responsible for maintaining the road may be held liable.

What types of evidence can a lawyer gather while investigating my accident?

An experienced jackknife accident lawyer knows how to collect all the relevant evidence, determine all the liable parties, and hold them accountable for the accident. The attorneys at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers will immediately conduct an investigation of your accident. In addition to investigating the accident scene and gathering testimonies from eyewitnesses, we’ll be able to compile important evidence, such as:

Truck driver’s qualifications, employment history, drug tests
Insurance information
Driver logbooks
Truck maintenance records
Truck’s electronic control module (ECM)
Truck driver or truck company violations
Vehicular damage
Medical records
Police reports

Allow the skilled and knowledgeable lawyers of Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers to handle your jackknife accident investigation. A thorough investigation can tell us what caused the accident and who the liable parties are. If applicable, we can also determine which laws and regulations were broken by the truck driver. The evidence gathered from our investigation will exponentially increase your chances of winning your case.

Contact a Jackknife Accident Lawyer in Seattle

At Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, our lawyers understand the complexities involved in jackknife accidents and how difficult an accident can be for you and your family. Our compassionate Seattle truck accident attorneys will work to ensure you receive the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.

Contact the Seattle jackknife accident lawyers at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers by calling (206) 312-0954 today. We offer free and confidential consultations, during which we will discuss your legal options. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us a dime until we secure a monetary reward for you.