St. Louis Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyers

What Can Cause a Truck to Jackknife in St. Louis?

As with most accidents, the common causes of jackknife truck accidents are almost always avoidable. Whether it's driver fatigue, texting and driving, the truck is in poor condition, speeding or another reason, these causes are avoidable. Listed below are some of the most common causes of jackknife truck accidents:

• Truck Driver Fatigue - Drivers, by law, are only supposed to operate a set number of hours per day. This law was created to keep tired drivers from getting behind the wheel of their truck and causing accidents. When a truck driver operates their truck while tired, they are maneuvering an 80,000lb vehicle, not a small passenger car that maybe weighs 3,000lb. There is a massive difference between the two, and if a jackknife truck causes an accident, the injuries are more likely to be horrific, and possibly fatal.
• Alcohol or Drug Impairment - It is federal law that no one can operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. Because large trucks pose a much higher risk to those on the St. Louis and Missouri roads, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and its Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 places even higher restrictions on truck drivers:
• No truck driver may drive with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or higher
• Having a blood alcohol content over .02 may make a truck driver subject to disciplinary action, and they will not be allowed to drive for 24 hours
• Overloaded Truck - This is yet another law that is designed to make trucking safer in the U.S., and yet not all truckers follow the law. When a truck is overweight, it can fishtail and jackknife easily, or the driver can lose control of the truck when driving through tight corners. Overweight trucks are also more prone to flipping and other accidents that arise from overweight trucks. To prevent this, weigh stations are implemented on interstates to make sure truck drivers are following the law.
• Texting and Driving - Texting and driving is dangerous regardless of the circumstances. Whether you are behind the wheel of a truck or car doesn't matter, it's dangerous and is just as deadly if not more so than drinking and driving or smoking and driving.
• Truck Equipment Failure - Tractor trailers are massive vehicles with large parts that need to be inspected routinely. They carry thousands of pounds of cargo, and when one of their parts fails it can lead to the failure of the vehicle and even a jackknife situation. Brake and tire failure in trucks is especially common. Truck drivers must routinely inspect their vehicles to make sure all of their parts are in a safe working order, and ensure that any parts that are not up to code are replaced or repaired.
• Speeding - By law, truck drivers are required to go no faster than certain speeds while operating their vehicles. This seems simple enough, as you have to abide by traffic laws when you drive your car, however, your vehicle does not weigh 10,000lbs + and is not carrying extremely heavy cargo that can make it even more dangerous to operate. Truck drivers absolutely have to follow speed laws because when they don't they can lose control of their vehicles and cause catastrophic damage to others as a result.

What Do I Do After a St. Louis Jackknife Truck Accident?

Our St. Louis-based trucking accidents attorney team recommends taking several steps immediately after being injured in a crash to ensure your safety and the best possible outcome in your case:

• Get to safety
  

  Stay at the scene of the accident so it can be properly documented, but do what you can to keep yourself, your passengers, and other roadway users safe.

• Call 911
  

  Get first responders to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. Stay in a safe spot and wait for medical responders to examine you. Even if you do not think you are seriously injured, make sure to get emergency medical attention because you could be in shock or have injuries that are not readily visible, like whiplash or a concussion.

  You also want to give an accident report by speaking to the police right away.

• Collect evidence
  

  If you require serious medical attention right away, disregard these next steps. Allow the ambulance to take you to the hospital to receive the necessary medical care. But if you are physically able to, take pictures of the road and traffic conditions, the damage to your vehicle, and your injuries. This evidence could be vital in your jackknife truck accident claim.

• Exchange information
  

  Get information from the driver of the truck as well as any available witnesses. Do not rely on the police to collect witness accounts and contact information for every witness. When you speak to the truck driver, be polite but be careful what you say. Get their:

  • Name, address, phone number and email address
  • Driver's license number
  • Insurance card information
  • Name and contact information for the trucking company and truck driver's employer
  • License plate number of the truck and any other identifying information
• Contact a jackknife truck accident lawyer
  

  As soon as possible after the accident and once you have left the scene and returned to safety, you need to contact a qualified jackknife truck accident lawyer. With a free initial consultation, a lawyer like Gary Burger of Burger Law can get a sense of your situation to determine whether you have a truck accident case and whether you need a lawyer. In most cases, because of how destructive large trucks are and the parties involved in commercial vehicles, you will need legal representation to successfully settle your case. Once you have hired a lawyer, they will advise you on additional steps to take during your case and will help take care of the intricacies of filing a truck accident case for you.

• Receive medical treatment
  

  Once you have hired a lawyer and filed your accident claim, follow your lawyer's advice. One important thing to do is to continue to get medical treatment for your injuries. The medical files and documentation will help you prove your case. Plus, you want to get the prompt medical treatment that will help you make as full a recovery as possible.

To guarantee that insurance companies and large St. Louis or Missouri corporations treat you fairly, and to secure a full financial recovery for your case, call a jackknife truck accident attorney at Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.