Causes of Jackknife Semi Accidents According to Truck Wreck Attorneys

When a commercial vehicle operator jackknifes a trailer, the resulting accident can have devastating consequences for innocent motorists involved. Tractor-trailers can scare drivers because of their size and because driver or mechanical errors can easily result in a serious collision. If you’ve been hit by a driver who lost control in poor weather or due to poor driving, a truck wreck lawyer can help. They evaluate the collision and what caused the driver to jackknife the trailer.

Here’s some information on how a jackknife occurs, so you can understand the cause of your wreck and use that knowledge to strengthen your case.

A jackknife occurs when the trailer behind a tractor slides out of position into a “V” formation. This can happen for many reasons.

Locking wheels can be caused by a defective part or improper maintenance and can lead to substantial crashes. When the rear wheels of the tractor lock, the tractor will fishtail in the rear. Because of how the truck is designed, the trailer will actually slide out of position first, entering into the dangerous “V” position characteristic of a jackknife.

A jackknife semi can also happen if the trailer’s wheels lock. Because the trailer is long, heavy, and slower than the tractor pulling it, locked wheels cause a swinging motion that starts to move it into a jackknife position. Most of the time, if a driver notices this, it is possible to regain control of the trailer. This is unlike when the wheels lock on the tractor; when that happens, the trailer will collide with or quickly turn on the tractor, making it hard to correct.

Other drivers on the road should watch for high winds or tight curving lanes, because these can act as aggravating factors leading to a jackknifed trailer. If a trailer is starting to move to the side and the driver can’t correct it before it reaches around 15 degrees, then it is highly unlikely that the driver can recover. These losses of control often lead to crashes and collisions with other vehicles on the road and can cause significant personal injuries.

Inexperience, truck driver fatigue, speeding, and reckless driving can cause a commercial vehicle operator to lose control and jackknife a trailer. Improper operation is all that’s needed to compromise roadway safety, and when combined with contributing factors, such as inclement weather or equipment failure, serious injuries and deaths can occur. A truck wreck lawyer can help discover whether negligence or an operational violation caused a semi-truck accident.

It is important to know what circumstances cause a driver to jackknife a trailer to prove whether errors, road conditions, or other factors contributed to the crash and pinpoint which entities are responsible for your injuries. The operator will deny any wrongdoing, and the trucking company will try many tactics to avoid liability, leaving you without the compensation necessary to recover. That’s where a truck wreck lawyer can help. An experienced truck accident litigation law firm understands how to investigate freight company logbooks and driving regulations and reconstruct accidents to strengthen your claim.

When a jackknifed trailer causes a serious accident and injuries, those harmed deserve compensation. If you or a loved one has been in a truck wreck and needs legal expertise, contact Miller Law Group for a consultation.