If a commercial truck driver loses control of a tractor-trailer, the trailer may swing out to the side, causing a jackknife accident. These truck crashes often cause severe injuries or fatal injuries, especially to occupants of other vehicles.
An experienced truck accident attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you seek justice. Our law firm has recovered over $400 million for our clients. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have the resources and commitment to investigate complex commercial truck accidents. We’re prepared to investigate the cause of the crash, document your injuries, and handle the legal process and communications with insurance companies while you focus on healing.
Contact us now for a free consultation with a Kentucky jackknife truck accident lawyer.
What Is Jackknifing, and Why Is It Dangerous?
Jackknife accidents happen when a semi truck’s trailer swings out to the side of the cab at an acute angle that resembles a folding pocketknife. This usually occurs when a truck loses traction, such as during sudden braking or when traveling on icy roads.
When a truck jackknifes, the driver generally loses control. The trailer may sweep across multiple lanes of traffic, colliding with nearby vehicles. These accidents often lead to multi-vehicle collisions and road blockages. Other drivers caught in the trailer’s path have little time to react, and the crash can cause life-threatening injuries.
What Can Cause a Truck to Jackknife?
Many conditions can cause commercial vehicles towing trailers to jackknife, including:
- Improper braking – Improper braking is a primary cause of jackknife accidents. If a truck driver misapplies the brakes, the cab may slow down while the trailer maintains speed. The difference in speed between the cab and trailer can cause a jackknife accident.
- Speeding – Driving too fast makes it harder for truck drivers to slow down safely, especially on curves or slick roads.
- Adverse weather – Rain, ice, or snow reduce tire traction, which can lead to truck accidents. Truck drivers must slow down in adverse weather and drive at speeds appropriate for the weather and road conditions. Any skidding or loss of control can lead to a crash.
- Equipment failure – Malfunctions like brake failures, faulty axles, or problems with the fifth-wheel coupling can prevent a driver from maintaining control of a truck.
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo – When a semi truck is overloaded or the cargo is not secured correctly, the cargo can shift in transit, especially during braking or turning.
- Drowsy driving – An exhausted truck driver may be slow to recognize hazardous conditions or make poor decisions in an emergency, such as braking too hard or too late.
- Distracted driving – A driver who fails to keep his eyes on the road may not notice slowing traffic ahead or road hazards in time to brake safely.
Who Could Be Held Liable for a Jackknifing Truck Accident?
The truck driver operating a large commercial truck is often at fault for a jackknife crash due to driver error. For example, the trucker may have been speeding, driving too fast for conditions, distracted, fatigued, or impaired. The driver could be liable for violating safety rules, such as disregarding hours of service requirements or failing to perform a mandatory pre-trip vehicle inspection.
The trucking company may also be liable, particularly if the company hired unsafe or unqualified drivers, failed to maintain the vehicle, or pressured drivers to meet unsafe delivery deadlines. If faulty brakes or a mechanical defect contributed to the crash, the vehicle manufacturer or a maintenance contractor could be liable. A third-party loading company or shipper might share responsibility if the trailer was overloaded or the cargo was not properly balanced and secured.
Sometimes, multiple parties share fault for a commercial truck accident, and a thorough investigation is necessary to identify everyone responsible. An experienced truck accident lawyer can examine driver logs, maintenance records, and crash reports to identify everyone who contributed to the crash.
What Is Necessary to Prove Negligence Caused a Jackknife Wreck?
To pursue compensation in a truck accident case, you will need evidence to show the cause of the accident and who was at fault. Our Kentucky jackknife truck accident lawyers seek the following types of evidence to develop strong cases:
- Driver logs: A driver’s handwritten or electronic logs (required in most modern trucks) show how long the driver was on duty. This data can reveal Hours of Service violations that might suggest a dangerously fatigued truck driver was responsible for the crash.
- Black box data: Electronic control modules in many modern trucks record the vehicle’s speed, braking patterns, and steering input before the crash. Trained investigators can download this data and use it to reconstruct how the crash happened.
- Dashcam or traffic camera footage: Video footage can capture the moment of the accident.
- Maintenance records: These documents can reveal whether the truck had mechanical issues, such as brake problems, that the trucking company or maintenance providers failed to address.
- Cargo loading documents: If the trailer was improperly loaded and secured, the truck’s cargo manifest may shed light on the party responsible for loading the truck.
- Witness statements: Testimony from people who saw the crash can offer details about the truck’s behavior before jackknifing.
Types of Compensation Available in a Kentucky Truck Accident Claim
The amount of compensation that truck accident victims may seek in a truck accident claim will depend on the facts of the accident, the severity of injuries, the determination of fault, and the insurance coverage available. The following types of losses are generally sought in a personal injury lawsuit after an accident involving a large truck:
- Current medical bills and future medical costs
- Lost wages and reduced future earnings
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Reasons Why You Need Our Lawyers After a Jackknife Crash
Determining the cause of a truck jackknife crash requires an investigation by seasoned truck accident attorneys. The insurer representing the truck driver and trucking company may have a team of lawyers working to minimize your personal injury claim. Don’t make the mistake of going up against these powerful interests on your own. Turn to truck accident attorneys known for their Kentucky Courage.
Our attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer understand the challenges commercial truck accident cases present and will attack them head-on. We’ll develop your legal case and seek a fair settlement, allowing you to focus on healing. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, our law firm will be ready to take your case to trial if necessary. We are known for having the Kentucky Courage to stand up to big insurance companies and demand justice for the injured people we represent.
Call or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation with a Kentucky jackknife truck accident attorney.
