My Parents Were Injured In An Accident Involving A Tractor-Trailer Truck. Should We Hire An Attorney For Personal Injury Damage?

Question:  My parents were headed to the Sierra Mountains for a ski weekend when they were involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck that jackknifed on the interstate.  We are still awaiting the cause of the accident, but preliminary facts suggest that icy roads were a factor in the accident.  Should we hire an attorney to obtain compensation for their injuries?

Response:  Interstate trucking accidents have become a deadly plague on American roads as huge trucks dominate the open road.  These trucks are often involved in devastating accidents which include rear-end, head-on, under ride and jackknife accidents.  A jackknife occurs when the semi-tractor trailer loses traction and the towed cargo continues to move forward pushing the vehicle, which rotates at the hitch point, causing the truck to spin or rotate out of control where it ends up facing backwards. When a commercial vehicle is traveling at a high-rate of speed, a minor error can result in serious injury such as brain trauma, loss of limbs, broken bones and even death.  Some of the causes of truck jackknife include:

• Truck mechanical failure
• Truck equipment failure
• Improper braking
• Negligence
• Overload of cargo trailer
• Wet road surfaces
• Excessive rate of speed
• Icy roads
• Sharp Turns

Although government agencies and the trucking companies have attempted to reduce the frequency of truck accidents, these deadly crashes still claim too many casualties each year.  You should speak with an experienced interstate trucking accident attorney who will help you maneuver through the complex legal system to ensure that you get the help you need.

Answered by Linda Adams

Additional Resources: Truck Accident Lawyers

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