Houston Jackknife & Rollover Accidents

jackknife rollover accident

Explore Your Legal Options with Our Board-Certified Houston Truck Accident Attorneys

It’s normal for a driver to feel a little shiver of anxiety any time an 18-wheeler comes barreling down the highway. After all, due to their massive size, general instability, and limited stopping power, commercial motor vehicles represent a significant threat to any travelers who happen to be sharing the same roadway. While any collision involving a tractor-trailer can be devastating, jackknife and rollover accidents tend to result in multi-vehicle crashes and countless fatalities.

When a jackknife accident occurs, survivors tend to sustain life-threatening injuries that necessitate extensive medical treatments and costly surgical procedures. Many victims and surviving family members file personal injury or wrongful death claims just to afford the medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, and other fees that tend to accompany a tragic truck accident. However, trucking companies and their insurers are not in the business of losing money, and plaintiffs may struggle to maximize their claims without experienced legal representation advocating on their behalf.

If you require legal guidance after a jackknife accident, contact the Houston truck accident lawyers at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs. Our board-certified litigators have over 100 years of collective experience and a track record for recovering million-dollar settlements and verdicts for truck accident victims. You can rely on our team to meticulously investigate your case, calculate your claim’s potential value, negotiate with shrewd claims adjusters, and, if necessary, represent your interests in court to secure a beneficial verdict.

What Is Jackknife & Rollover Accident?

Jackknifing refers to an event where a truck’s trailer pivots to the side in a 90° angle. The term “jackknife” refers to the shape the truck makes, which is similar to a folding pocket knife or an L-shape. An overloaded or improperly loaded vehicle can also overturn as it swings out, leading to additional road risks, such as fire hazards and spilled cargo. Because a jackknifing trailer can swipe across several lanes, multiple vehicles may be involved in the collision, and any oncoming cars could hit the overturned trailer dead on.

A survivor can suffer the following injuries and more during a jackknife accident:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Burn injuries
  • Nerve damage and paralysis
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Contusions and concussions
  • Penetration injuries
  • Loss of limb
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Multiple bone fractures

Most jackknife accidents occur when a trucker speeds, brakes too quickly, or is simply too inexperienced to control an 80,000-pound vehicle. Of course, certain factors can influence the likelihood of an accident, including curvy roads, bad weather, and poor road conditions.

Pursuing Restitution After a Jackknife Collision

Unfortunately, pursuing benefits is rarely a straightforward process when a truck driver is involved. This is because multiple parties can be considered liable for a single accident. Although trucking companies are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), they habitually disregard the looming threat of legal penalties just to make a profit. For example, truck drivers are often pressured to engage in dangerous driving behaviors – such as speeding – to meet unreasonable deadlines. It’s also not unusual for a maintenance crew or cargo company to cut corners to make sure a trucker gets back on the road faster.

Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you may be able to hold the following parties liable for your injuries:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • The cargo company
  • The maintenance crew
  • The leasing company
  • The truck’s manufacturer

At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, we have the skills, resources, and experience to thoroughly investigate the circumstances and factors that culminated in a devastating truck accident. By exploring every option and avenue, we can collect critical evidence to determine which parties are liable for the collision, and then use that information to develop a litigation strategy that aims to maximize your claim. For instance, perhaps the trucking company failed to maintain its fleet and documented repairs that were never performed. It’s also possible that the trucker wasn’t abiding by the FMCSR’s Hours of Service Regulations. No matter the complexity of your case, you can trust our team to piece together a full picture of the accident.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you’ve been injured by a negligent truck driver, contact the Houston truck accident lawyers at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs. We can meticulously investigate the accident and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you’re awarded compensation that safeguards your standard of living. Our Houston personal injury lawyers provide our services on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to pay any fees until we win your case!

Why Choose Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs?

  •  We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients
  • We have more than a century of combined legal experience
  • We offer free and confidential case evaluations
  • Three of our attorneys are board-certified specialists