Jackknife accidents occur when a semi-truck’s trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle to the cab, creating a massive obstruction that can span multiple lanes. These incidents often happen with little warning.
The causes of jackknife accidents are varied and often preventable, ranging from driver error and inadequate training to mechanical failures and poor road conditions that trucking companies and drivers should have anticipated and prepared for.
When these accidents lead to devastating injuries, a skilled Milwaukee truck accident lawyer can investigate the underlying causes, determine liability, and fight for the compensation victims need to recover.
Driver Error and Inexperience Behind the Wheel
Many jackknife accidents simply happen because the driver operating the vehicle made a mistake. When you’re sharing the road with an 80,000-pound truck, the driver’s actions become critical to everyone’s safety.
Inexperienced drivers often struggle with understanding how their vehicle responds under different conditions. They may take turns too quickly, brake too hard when approaching traffic, or fail to adjust their driving for the truck’s size and weight.
When drivers lack proper experience operating in emergency situations or haven’t mastered techniques for controlling their vehicles, jackknife accidents become far more likely.
Poor Weather Conditions and Slippery Road Surfaces
Weather conditions can increase the risk of a jackknife accident. Rain creates slippery surfaces that reduce tire traction, making it harder for drivers to maintain control when steering or braking. Ice and snow compound these dangers.
Professional truck drivers should adjust their speed and following distance according to the weather, but many fail to do so adequately. When you encounter a truck traveling too fast for the road conditions, the driver may unknowingly be setting up a dangerous situation.
Trucking companies also bear responsibility for training drivers to handle adverse weather conditions and for establishing policies that prioritize safety during storms.
Mechanical Failures and Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance
Issues with the vehicle itself can also lead to jackknife accidents. For example, when a truck’s braking system malfunctions, drivers often overcorrect or apply emergency braking techniques that can trigger a jackknife.
Anti-lock braking systems help prevent these situations, but only when properly maintained and functioning correctly. Tires can also play a role; worn tires, improper inflation, or mismatched tires between the cab and trailer can make a truck unstable.
Trucking companies have legal obligations to maintain their fleets according to federal safety standards, including regular inspections and timely repairs. When they cut corners on maintenance to save money, they put everyone on the road at risk.
Improper Weight Distribution and Cargo Loading
How cargo gets loaded and distributed throughout a trailer directly affects the truck’s stability and handling.
When freight shifts during transport or gets loaded incorrectly from the start, it can cause the trailer to behave unpredictably. Heavy loads concentrated at the rear of the trailer are particularly dangerous and may lead to jackknifing.
Were You Injured in a Jackknife Truck Accident?
If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, you have the legal right to pursue financial compensation. These accidents often result from truck driver error, mechanical failures, or improper cargo loading—all factors that may establish liability against the trucking company, driver, or maintenance provider.
A Wisconsin car accident lawyer can investigate these complex accidents, working with accident reconstruction specialists and reviewing trucking logs, maintenance records, and driver qualifications to uncover evidence of liability.
Contact an attorney at Cannon & Dunphy S.C. today to explore your options and begin building your case.