New Mexico Jacknife Accidents Lawyer
If you get injured in a jackknife truck accident in New Mexico, you may not know how to achieve the justice and financial compensation that you deserve from a trucking company. Truck accident cases are notoriously complex and involve issues that typical car accident cases do not. The most effective way to protect your rights is by hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer to represent you.
What Is a Jackknife Accident?
A jackknife accident describes a crash where an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer becomes impossible for the truck driver to control after the trailer swings out at an angle away from the cab of the truck. The trailer and cab form an acute angle that is similar to the shape of a jackknife or folding pocket knife. In this position, the driver cannot control the movement of the truck. This can result in collisions with other vehicles on the road or a truck rollover accident.
Common Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents
Jackknife trucking accidents can occur for a variety of reasons – most of which stem from driver or human error. A truck driver is responsible for operating a big rig safely, prudently and in accordance with all relevant safety laws. When a truck driver behaves negligently or recklessly, this can create hazards that lead to jackknife accidents.
Examples include:
- Speeding downhill or around a curve
- Failing to reduce speed in dangerous weather, such as ice or rain that reduces traction
- Trying to come to a sudden or abrupt stop
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Using incorrect braking techniques
In addition, poor truck maintenance can lead to conditions that increase the odds of a jackknife accident, such as:
- Bad brakes or brake failure
- Tire blowouts
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo
- Imbalanced load and trailer destabilization
Any action by a truck driver that causes the tires to lose traction on the road or the brakes to lock can push the trailer of the truck outward at an angle, leading to a jackknife truck position and a dangerous loss of vehicle control. The consequences of these collisions can include multi-vehicle pileups, serious injuries and deaths.
Who Is Liable for a Jackknife Accident in New Mexico?
Jackknife accidents can typically be prevented. If all the parties involved in the safe operation of a truck fulfilled their legal duties and obligations, jackknife crashes would not occur. Identifying the primary cause of your wreck is necessary to determine the liable (legally and financially responsible) party, as New Mexico is a fault state.
If a trucking company is guilty of improper truck maintenance, for example, and this resulted in brake failure and a jackknife accident, the company can be held directly liable. If a truck driver fails to practice safe driving, he or she can be held liable. Cargo loaders, truck manufacturers and third-party drivers can also be responsible, depending on the circumstances.
Why You Need to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in New Mexico
Trucking accidents in New Mexico are unique. They have elements that do not apply to typical car accident cases, such as more powerful defendants, unique types of evidence (e.g., the truck’s black box and trucking company compliance records), and federal safety regulations. You may need an attorney to help you with your jackknife accident claim in Albuquerque.
If you were recently involved in a jackknife accident in Albuquerque, contact The Fine Law Firm for a free consultation.