What Is a Jackknife Accident?
Hundreds of thousands of jackknife accidents happen every year, and too many of them become fatal. If you’ve been involved in one of these tragic accidents, you know how sudden and dangerous they can be for drivers in the immediate vicinity.
Even if a driver lives to see the aftermath, they can still suffer catastrophic injuries. With so many jackknife accidents occurring each year, drivers should know what causes them and what to do if they’re ever involved in one.
What Happens in a Jackknife Accident?
Jackknife truck accidents occur when the trailer of a large commercial semi-truck swings out too far to the side. This causes the semi-truck’s cab to form a sharp L or V-shaped angle with the trailer, similar to the shape of a folded pocket knife.
This often happens when the trailer and semi-truck get out of sync. The truck begins to skid, but the trailer doesn’t follow suit. Instead, the trailer’s continued momentum overwhelms the cab’s direction, causing the driver to lose control.
The trailer’s tires eventually lose traction and begin to skid sideways, causing it to swing out and form that odd and dangerous shape.
What Causes Jackknife Accidents?
Jackknife truck accidents often result in serious injuries or even death. Though the outcome is always a significant danger to the truck driver and others on the road, the causes tend to vary.
One common cause is the driver making sudden maneuvers. They may overcorrect, swerve, or slam on the brakes, which can destabilize the truck. This can be especially dangerous in wet or icy conditions, as the wheels may lock up or slide out even farther.
Additionally, the truck may be improperly loaded. If the cargo is distributed unevenly throughout the trailer or if the entire trailer is overloaded, it can shift the center of gravity, making the vehicle unstable.
The truck may also have mechanical issues and failures that increase the chances of jackknife accidents—examples may include:
- Defective or overheated brakes
- Worn, bald, or mismatched tires
- Suspension problems
- Faulty steering systems
- Issues with the hitch or fifth wheel connection
Finally, driver error can certainly cause a truck to jackknife. In some cases, speeding, distracted driving, or inexperience in navigating curved roadways may be the culprit. In other cases, driver fatigue can cause the accident, especially if the driver is being pushed to work more hours than legally allowed.
What Makes Jackknife Truck Accidents Especially Harmful?
What is a jackknife accident if not one of the most harrowing road incidents a driver may experience? Commercial semi-trucks weigh upwards of 15 to 40 tons. Their massive weight, combined with high speed, means that smaller vehicles can easily get crushed when the driver loses control.
The heavy trailer swinging outward creates a wide path of destruction, potentially causing vehicles in multiple lanes to swerve, brake, or make other sudden movements to avoid the crash. This can increase the risk of chain reaction crashes that cause multi-vehicle pileups.
The sheer force of the impact from a heavy semi-truck can cause catastrophic injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
Jackknife accidents can lead to external injuries, such as lacerations and road rash. They can also trigger psychological conditions like PTSD, which one in four drivers develops after an accident.
Contact Our Denver Truck Accident Attorneys at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The aftermath of a jackknife accident can be scary and confusing, especially if you’ve lost wages or are wondering how to pay for expensive and ongoing medical treatment.
If you’ve recently been involved in such an accident, consider contacting our Denver truck accident attorneys at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers for help. We can explain your rights and evaluate your case to help you determine how to go after what you deserve.
We are located in Denver, CO, proudly serving all of Denver County.
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
