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Baton Rouge Jackknife Accident Lawyer
Jackknife Accident Attorney in Baton Rouge, LA
Key Takeaways
- Jackknife accidents involve articulated commercial vehicles and often result in multi-vehicle crashes that cause severe injuries across multiple lanes of traffic.
- In 2021, jackknifing accounted for 0.2% of all commercial vehicle injury accidents and 0.6% of commercial property damage accidents nationwide.
- In 2025, Louisiana recorded 11 suspected injury crashes where a jackknife was the first harmful event, though none occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish.
- Louisiana reported 1,922 suspected injury crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in 2025, including 180 crashes in East Baton Rouge Parish.
- Liability in jackknife accidents may extend beyond the truck driver to trucking companies, cargo loaders, vehicle manufacturers, or government agencies responsible for road conditions.
- Victims may recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages, though recovery may be limited by insurance coverage and comparative negligence laws.
Any accident that involves a large articulated commercial vehicle can have serious consequences, and jackknife accidents can be especially complicated. They are more likely to cross lanes of traffic and affect many vehicles, and determining fault can also be more complicated. An experienced Baton Rouge jackknife accident lawyer can help those injured in these accidents. There are ways to financially recover, and a lawyer can help you hold careless parties liable.
Murphy Law Firm: Your Baton Rouge Jackknife Accident Attorney
At Murphy Law Firm, our attorneys have 150 combined years of legal experience in personal injury cases, including complex commercial truck accident cases. We can help you with claims through the 19th Judicial District Court.
We have secured an $18.9 million verdict for an auto accident and a $3.8 million settlement for a commercial truck accident. However, past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits. Our firm has stood for 30 years for the rights of those injured because of the negligence of others.
Jackknife accidents are complex, and a lot of people can be hurt in them. Our attorneys know how significantly these injuries can impact your life, and we bring you compassionate and exceptional legal representation.
What Are Jackknife Accidents?
A vehicle jackknifes when the trailer of a vehicle swings to the side of the vehicle or cab pulling it. In the United States in 2021, 0.2% of all injury accidents and 0.6% of all property damage accidents with commercial vehicles occurred because of jackknifing. In 2025, there were 11 suspected injury accidents where the first harmful event was a jackknife in Louisiana. None of these accidents occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish. t is important to see how federal regulations affect truck accident lawsuits when these specific types of crashes occur.
These accidents usually involve commercial motor vehicles that are articulated. There were a total of 1,922 suspected injury accidents in Louisiana involving commercial motor vehicles, and 180 in East Baton Rouge Parish. When these large vehicles jackknife, it often leads to multi-car accidents and pile-ups.
Who Is Liable for a Jackknife Accident in Baton Rouge?
Liability is important after an accident because the liable party is responsible for damages. If you can hold another party liable, then you can file for financial compensation from their insurer.
There are numerous potential causes of jackknife accidents, such as hazardous road conditions, driver carelessness, driver inexperience, and poor truck design. The likely liable party in the accident depends on the cause of the crash. Some potential liable parties include:
- The truck driver, for improper operation of the vehicle, or other errors, such as distracted driving
- The trucking company, for failing to vet or train drivers, for not enforcing safety standards under federal law, or for being vicariously liable for a negligent driver
- The designer or manufacturer of the truck for an unreasonably dangerous truck design
- The shipping or loading company, if it overloaded or improperly loaded the cargo in the trailer, or failed to secure the cargo
- Government bodies responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the road
These acts of negligence, like failing to train drivers or load cargo properly, only mean a party is liable if it directly led to the accident and your injuries. An experienced Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer can review the cause of your accident and determine the party or parties who are liable as a result.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Jackknife Accident?
The compensation you can recover after a jackknife accident depends on your injuries and who is at fault. If you can hold another party entirely liable, you could recover the following damages you sustained:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Exemplary damages
- Wrongful death damages
However, there are circumstances that can limit how much you can recover. This includes insurance coverage limits and comparative negligence. If you are filing with an individual’s car insurance company, coverage limits are much lower than those of a commercial company, which can make it harder to recover all your damages. You may want to learn how much the average truck accident settlement in Louisiana is to better understand your potential recovery. Because of comparative negligence laws, your compensation could be reduced if you are partially at fault for the crash.
When you have legal representation, they can help you assess all of these factors in your unique case. A dedicated Baton Rouge commercial vehicle accident lawyer can calculate your damages and advocate for the financial recovery you deserve.
Meet Our Attorney
Peyton Murphy
Peyton Murphy, a Louisiana lawyer with 30+ years of experience, specializes in personal injury cases. He founded Murphy Law Firm in Baton Rouge in 1993 and fights for his clients’ compensation.
Contact Peyton
FAQs
How Do You Know Whose Fault It Is in an Accident?
The insurance companies of the involved drivers will conduct an investigation to determine whose fault the accident was. However, it’s important to understand that these companies, including your own, do not hold your interests as their priority. They are focused on protecting their bottom line. In order to get an investigation that protects your interests and financial future, you need to hire a Baton Rouge jackknife accident lawyer. They can help determine and prove fault.
What Happens if You Jackknife a Trailer?
Jackknifing a trailer can cause loss of control, damage to the vehicle, and likely result in an accident. It occurs when the trailer drifts in front of the cab of the vehicle, often due to braking or turning issues. Jackknifing can also occur because of a vehicle accident. Often, jackknifing a trailer results in a multi-vehicle car accident. These collisions can have very serious consequences for everyone involved.
Is Jackknifing Always the Driver’s Fault?
No, jackknifing is not always the driver’s fault. It can be the result of improper driving and insufficient training, but not always. If the driver was not sufficiently trained or vetted by the trucking company, the company can be liable. Additionally, jackknifing could have been caused by unreasonably dangerous construction of a vehicle, making it susceptible to jackknifing. The manufacturer of the truck could be liable in that case. There could be other liable parties, too.
Is It Important to Hire a Jackknife Accident Lawyer in Louisiana?
Yes, it’s important to hire a jackknife accident lawyer in Louisiana, even though it isn’t required. These accidents can have multiple causes and at-fault parties, and investigations can be complicated. You don’t want to handle these issues while you are recovering from serious injuries.
With the help of an attorney, they handle the claim for you, protecting your interests and working for the compensation you deserve. They deal with insurers on your behalf and answer any questions you have.
Contact a Baton Rouge Jackknife Accident Lawyer for Immediate Help
After a commercial truck accident, you need strong legal representation. Contact Murphy Law Firm today.
Baton Rouge, LA Jackknife Accident Resources
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