A tractor-trailer can become dangerously unpredictable when its trailer swings sideways toward the cab. This is known as a jackknife accident. It can leave a commercial truck stretched across several lanes of traffic with almost no warning for nearby drivers.
If you were injured in a jackknife truck accident in El Segundo, California, don’t hesitate to get legal help. Contact J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an El Segundo jackknife accident lawyer at (323) 284-2834.
Why Choose J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Jackknife Accident Case in El Segundo, CA?
A jackknife crash should be investigated as more than an ordinary traffic accident. The truck itself can contain valuable evidence. Electronic information, brake conditions, tire conditions, cargo records, and maintenance records can help explain why the tractor-trailer went out of control.
J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate these issues while you focus on recovering.
Clients choose our El Segundo personal injury lawyers because we offer:
- 20+ Years of Personal Injury Experience. We understand how serious accident claims develop and what evidence can be important when dealing with insurance companies.
- Tens of Millions Recovered. Our firm has helped injury victims pursue substantial compensation for the harm caused by negligence.
- Detailed Truck Accident Investigations. We can examine driver records, electronic data, maintenance information, photographs, witness accounts, and other available evidence.
- Experience Identifying Multiple Defendants. A trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo-loading company, or another business could share responsibility with the driver.
- Personal Attention. We evaluate how the crash has affected your health, employment, finances, family, and future rather than treating you as another claim number.
Contact our El Segundo truck accident lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case review.
What Is My Jackknife Accident Case Worth in California?
There is no standard settlement amount for a jackknife accident. The value of your claim may depend primarily on the injuries and losses caused by the crash.
Someone who suffers a broken arm and fully recovers may have a very different case from a victim who sustains a traumatic brain injury and cannot return to work.
Factors that can influence case value include:
- Severity of your injuries
- Past medical expenses
- Expected future treatment
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and emotional suffering
- Property damage
- Strength of liability evidence
- Your percentage of responsibility, if any
- Available insurance coverage
Commercial truck accidents can also involve multiple defendants and insurance policies. Our law firm can investigate every potentially responsible party. We will evaluate your losses before entering serious settlement negotiations.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Jackknife Accident Victims in El Segundo?
A serious truck crash can create losses that continue long after the damaged vehicles have been removed from the road. California personal injury law may allow qualifying victims to pursue economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for financial losses caused by your injuries.
Depending on the case, they may include:
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Diagnostic testing
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Prescription medication
- Future healthcare
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Vehicle damage
- Other qualifying out-of-pocket expenses
Future losses can become particularly important after catastrophic injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
A serious accident also affects parts of life that cannot be measured with receipts.
Depending on the circumstances, non-economic damages may compensate for losses such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
The value of these damages depends on how the injury actually affects the individual victim.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are reserved for qualifying cases involving especially wrongful conduct.
These damages are not awarded merely because a truck driver caused an accident or because the resulting injuries were severe. Punitive damages may be available where the defendant’s conduct and the available evidence satisfy California’s heightened legal requirements.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an El Segundo Jackknife Accident Lawyer?
J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.
That generally means:
- No attorney’s fee is required upfront
- You do not pay hourly attorney bills while the claim is pending
- Attorney’s fees are collected as an agreed percentage of a recovery when compensation is obtained
Your representation agreement will explain the applicable fees, case expenses, and other items. This arrangement allows injured people to pursue a potentially complicated trucking claim without having added financial pressure.
How Long Do I Have to File My Jackknife Accident Case?
California generally provides two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Certain exceptions and different deadlines can apply depending on the circumstances.
It is important to act quickly. Evidence in a commercial trucking case can disappear long before the statute of limitations expires. Electronic information can be overwritten. Trucks can be repaired and returned to service. Damaged parts can be replaced. Video may be deleted. Witnesses can become difficult to locate.
An attorney can help you preserve evidence by sending preservation demands and gathering evidence while it is still available.
Contact an El Segundo Jackknife Accident Lawyer Today
A jackknife accident can unfold in seconds. The injuries stemming from these accidents can leave victims with consequences that last for years.
If you were injured in a jackknife truck accident in El Segundo, California, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with an experienced El Segundo jackknife accident attorney.