Both semi-trucks and tractor-trailers have cabs that are attached to trailers. These two parts of the vehicle should move in sync, but sometimes things go wrong, and a jackknife accident can result. This occurs when the trailer swings out sideways from the cab, creating the shape of a jackknife.
Sadly, jackknife accidents can be devastating. If you or someone you love was hurt in a jackknife accident, you have legal rights and may be able to hold the trucking company or truck driver accountable for your losses.
Drafahl Law Firm can help prove liability in jackknife accident cases. Our experience handling truck accident claims has given us the knowledge to understand how to prove the trucker was to blame in these complex cases. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with a St. Louis truck accident attorney to learn more.
Common Causes of Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents typically happen in one of two ways:
- The trailer tires lock up, and the trailer keeps going, causing the back of the trailer to swing to the side
- The commercial drive tires lock up, and the back trailer’s momentum keeps pushing it forward.
Some of the most likely reasons for these types of incidents to occur include:
- Speeding: If a large truck is going too fast and a driver needs to turn or make a quick stop, the trailer is more likely to swing out.
- Braking on a curve: If a trucker brakes on a curve, especially when traveling at a high speed, this can increase the risk of a trailer swinging sideways
- Cargo issues: Problems with cargo loading, including but not limited to unbalanced trailer loads or empty trailers, make it more likely that the trailer will swing separately from the cab
- Tire blowouts: When a tire blows out, the driver can lose control, increasing the risk of a jackknife accident.
Drivers can eliminate or minimize most of these risks by simply following the rules of the road and obeying Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Unfortunately, far too many drivers fall short in doing these things, leading to catastrophic crashes.
Who is Responsible for a Jackknife Accident
If a truck driver engaged in unsafe behavior resulting in a jackknife accident, the driver can be held liable for the damage that happens because of it. The victim must show that the driver’s negligence or safety rule violations caused the jack-knifing incident to occur and that this accident was responsible for their losses.
Trucking companies may also be liable for losses in certain circumstances. If a company were negligent in its hiring practices or encouraged drivers to overload their vehicles to maximize profits, these unsafe practices could make the company responsible in its own right.
Vicarious liability rules also make trucking companies responsible for the on-the-job actions of their drivers, so if a trucker was speeding while delivering goods, the company employing the driver may be to blame for losses even if it did not specifically do anything negligent itself.
Getting Help from a St. Louis Jackknife Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. When the cab of one of these trucks suddenly swings to the side, cars around and behind can all be put at serious risk of life-changing or fatal injuries.
You need to pursue legal action and understand your rights in the aftermath of this type of accident, and a St. Louis wrongful death lawyer at Drafahl Law Firm can help to advocate for you to get the justice you deserve.