Key Takeaways: What Every Jackknife Accident Victim Should Know
- A jackknife happens when the trailer swings out from the cab, often at a 90-degree angle, creating a “V” shape across the road and leaving the driver unable to regain control.
- Sudden braking, equipment failure, and slick roads are the leading causes, and these accidents can often be traced back to a trucking company’s or driver’s failure to properly maintain or operate the vehicle.
- Jackknife wrecks carry a higher risk of multi-vehicle pileups, cargo spills, and rollovers, which can lead to catastrophic or fatal injuries for everyone nearby.
- Hiring Simmons & Fletcher gets you an experienced legal team that can move quickly to secure black box data, inspection records, and other evidence before it disappears.
A jackknife truck accident occurs when a tractor-trailer’s cab and the trailer it is attached to swing out at a 90-degree angle, making the shape of a “V” across traffic. When the driver loses control as the tractor-trailer splits, it becomes impossible to prevent multi-vehicle collisions. Jackknife truck accidents usually occur when the driver is forced to brake suddenly or when there is a malfunction of the brakes or axles. If you have been injured due to a truck jackknifing, talk to a Houston jackknife truck accident lawyer to learn your rights today. Simmons and Fletcher have fought for truck accident victims since 1979.
Why Choose Simmons & Fletcher After an 18-wheeler Accident in Houston?
Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., is a Houston, Texas, law firm with a national reach when fighting for victims of serious truck accidents.
Our Houston truck accident lawyers have the financial resources, expert witness connections, and experience to go the distance in a major truck accident. When you hire our legal team, you get:
- A Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer (Paul H. Cannon) leading the charge.
- Three partner-level attorneys on your case (no associates) with over 90 years of combined attorney experience.
- Attorneys with the ability to instantly mobilize the right experts, including accident investigators, accident reconstructionists, vocational rehabilitation experts, and medical experts.
- Compassionate, serious representation by lawyers who believe in serving with honor and integrity.
- Contingency fee representation.
Contact us today to get a free consultation: 713-932-0777.
What Our Clients Say
Veda J.
“After the accident I was really shaken to my core. Being a senior citizen, I wasn’t sure just what to do. I saw your tv ad and I decided to call. So glad I did…
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I had a great experience at Simmons and Fletcher. They fought continuously in my case and always hand my best interest in me. Ruth was kind and attentive to my needs. She was always available…
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Dangers of a Jackknife Truck Accident
For many reasons, jackknifed trucks are much more dangerous in an accident than regular vehicles. These types of truck wrecks may involve:
- A higher risk of a multi-vehicle collision or pileup across several lanes of traffic
- A higher risk of severe or fatal injuries because of the size and weight of the tractor-trailer
- The possibility of goods inside the trailer spilling across the road, creating extra hazards
- An increased chance of truck rollover.
Common Injuries Caused by Jackknife Truck Accidents
Some of the most common injuries we see in jackknife truck accidents include:
- Spinal injuries. Vertebral and disc injuries to the back and neck.
- Whiplash. Neck extension injury due to the forces of the wreck.
- Traumatic brain injury. Learn about head injuries to be aware of.
- Paralysis. Inability to move all or part of the body due to injury.
- Amputation injury. Loss of a limb or digit from an accident.
- Mental Anguish. Emotional distress from the trauma of a serious wreck.
- Scarring and disfigurement. Lasting reminders of deep cuts and wounds received in a wreck.
Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents
A jackknife truck accident can happen with just a moment’s lapse in attention. The most common causes include:
- Slick road conditions from ice or water
- Sudden braking by the driver
- Equipment failure
- Failure to maintain the tires
Often, several of the above factors combine to cause a jackknife accident.
Driving in Unsafe Road Conditions
18-wheelers are large vehicles that require a longer stopping distance than most other vehicles—even when they are not loaded. When the road is wet, it becomes very difficult to stop if the driver has not left plenty of space between his vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Empty trailers are even more likely to slide than loaded trailers on wet or icy roads. However, when a truck driver chooses to operate in slick or wet conditions, knowing his vehicle will be harder to stop and that jackknifing is more likely, he has the same obligation as every other driver to maintain a safe stopping distance. Thus, he must account for the loss of traction and plan accordingly. Failing to do so can lead to an accident he could have prevented.
Sudden or Improper Braking
Slamming on the brakes is sometimes necessary. However, if it is not done properly or at a safe time, it can result in a serious accident. Sudden braking and directional changes can cause a load to shift, throwing the truck off balance. This is especially true when operating with oversized loads or poorly secured cargo. When a driver stops quickly and starts to slide, he has three braking options:
- Lock the steering axle brakes- which causes the semi to continue moving forward until it stops,
- lock the trailer axles- which results in the driver losing control of the direction of the skid altogether; or
- lock up the drive axles—which commonly results in a jackknife situation.
Every driver must recognize when it is and is not safe to apply any of the brakes. Furthermore, the driver needs to maintain a safe following distance so he has time to brake.
Equipment Failure
Equipment may fail due to a manufacturing defect, but it more commonly fails because it is not maintained. Every trucking company and every truck driver shares a duty to ensure the trucks they operate on the roads are maintained in good, safe working order. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require pre-trip and post-trip inspections before and after every trip. Any deficiencies must be repaired promptly. Brake failure on any steering axle, trailer axle, or drive axle can cause an imbalance in brake application and lead to a jackknifing incident. Additionally, defective or worn tires can cause the loss of traction that results in a jackknifing trailer. Thus, drivers must perform proper inspections and maintenance promptly.
Photo of a jackknife truck accident scene in West Texas taken by attorney Paul H. Cannon.
Preventing Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents are horrific for the people involved and can be very costly for the trucking company. Most Jackknife accidents are avoidable. The best way to avoid these frightening accidents is to make sure that all of the company’s drivers:
- Conduct all required inspections thoroughly
- Keep timely and accurate inspection and maintenance records
- Maintain tires with sufficient tread
- Avoid driving on slick roadways and under conditions involving rain, high wind, ice or snow
- Maintain an assured clear distance behind the next vehicle
- Drive under the speed limit when they must drive in dangerous conditions
- Monitor drivers’ speeds via speed governing devices and/or the truck’s black box
- Provide regular refresher training on emergency braking.
When a company fails to do these things, a jury may hold it liable for negligence.
Investigating Jackknife Accidents
When you hire Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., we put our accident reconstruction and forensic download experts to work obtaining electronically recorded data from the 18-wheeler’s event data recorder. Generally, you must file a lawsuit to force the trucking company to cooperate in providing driving logs, inspection records, and depositions. With this information, we can get a clearer picture of the driver’s failures and how they contributed to the jackknife accident.
Talk to a Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or your loved ones have been injured or killed due to a jackknife accident, call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. for a free case evaluation today. The consultation is free, and we do not charge any fees or expenses unless we recover on your behalf. Call (713) 932-0777 now.
