Who Is Liable for My Injuries in a Jackknife Truck Accident?

 Posted on January 24, 2023 in Truck Accidents

One mistake behind the wheel of a truck can cause jackknife truck accidents on our nation’s highways. Some 107,000 of those accidents in 2020 involved injuries.

You may be a safe and cautious driver, but you share the road with semi-trailer trucks and accidents involving these large trucks can be devastating. If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, you may have legal recourse.

What May Cause a Jackknife accident?

Semi-trailer trucks are massive in size and weight and can therefore result in very serious injuries. Smaller vehicles with trailers attached can also trigger jackknife accidents but the bigger the truck, the more dangerous the accident. Static friction plays a big role in these types of accidents. When the tires lose static friction, they begin to slide. The inadequate friction can lead the trailer to move to the side of the truck, causing a truck to jackknife for some of the following reasons:

• Brakes Not Applied Correctly – When you slam on the brakes of a car it will come to a stop. But with a truck, slamming on the brakes may cause the front tires to lock up while the rear tires move forward, leading to a jackknife accident.

• Slippery Roads – When small openings on a road are filled with water and transform the road into a smooth surface, it is harder for the tires of a truck to maintain a solid grip.

• Speeding Truck – Stopping a truck that is traveling at high speed can be challenging and the trailer is likely to fly out and jackknife.

• Fast Turns – Turning too quickly can cause a jackknife accident when the trailer whips around as the truck turns in one direction.

Who is Liable for Damages?

In a jackknife truck accident, multiple people may be held liable for the injuries you suffered. Determining liability can be complex, but an experienced truck accident attorney can help. The following are potential reasons someone may be held liable for your injuries in a jackknife accident:

• Reckless Truck Driver – driving under the influence, driving longer hours than allowed, reckless driving

• Truck Safety Issues – the truck company failed to screen the truck driver, lack of truck maintenance, overloaded truck, improperly secured cargo

• Manufacturer Problems – the manufacturer may be to blame for defective vehicle parts

• Road Maintenance – government agencies may be responsible if they did not properly maintain a road

Contact a Decatur Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, Kanoski Bresney will investigate the accident. A skilled Springfield, IL jackknife truck accident attorney will work to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to address the harm you and your family have suffered. Call 888-826-8682 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/vehicles-table-17-large-trucks-crashes-jackknife-occurrence-and-crash-6

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-driving-safely-around-large-trucks-or-buses