Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents
Automobile accidents are a routine occurrence that often has devastating effects on those parties that are involved. The seriousness of injuries and consequences are likely to be even more severe when a truck is involved in the collision. Due to the sheer size of trucking vehicles (typically around 40 tons as compared to the average 2-ton vehicle), even slow speed trucking collisions can result in traumatic injury or even death. Our personal injury attorneys fight for our client’s rights when trucking accidents have occurred due to the neglectful acts of a driver or trucking company. One of the most common forms of trucking accidents is a jackknife collision. For our Provo clients involved in a jackknife accident, our attorneys are trained to determine the cause of the collision so that any due compensation can be claimed for our clients.
What Causes a Jackknife Accident?
A jackknife accident occurs when a truck’s drive wheels lock. While the front vehicle stops, the trailer continues to roll forward. This then causes the driver to lose control and the trailer of the truck will swing out in a 90-degree angle, colliding with other vehicles or objects on the road. At high speeds, a jackknife almost always results in a rollover accident. Possible causes of jackknife truck accidents include the following:
- Poor road conditions
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Operating the truck at unsafe speeds
- Driver fatigue or driver error
The most common cause of these collisions is negligence and poor judgment by the truck driver. Although not always the case, many jackknife collisions could have been avoided had the driver used the proper braking technique for these situations. By locking the steering axle, drivers could likely prevent a jackknife accident. Although this prevents the driver from being able to steer the tractor, it does ensure that the truck and trailer continue in a straight and predictable path. Instead, many drivers make the negligent decision to lock the drive axel, a decision that is highly likely to result in a jackknife accident.
Victim Compensation
By working with experts in the field, we can reconstruct accident scenes and determine the cause and fault of a jackknife accident. Victims of a jackknife truck accident are due fair and just compensation if they have suffered from an accident that was the fault of a truck driver or the poor operating and/or maintenance practices of the trucking company. Our truck accident lawyers are aggressive in seeking compensation for our clients and in sending the message that negligence on behalf of truckers and trucking companies will not be tolerated. Possible compensation that is available in these situations includes medical and/or surgical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future wages or inhibited earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
Timing is very important in seeking compensation in the case of trucking or automobile accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case. We look forward to hearing from you.