The Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents

Even though semi-trucks are typically the only vehicles that jackknife, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and other road users can become directly caught in these accidents, leading to catastrophic and devastating injuries.

These accidents are extremely dangerous because as the truck driver loses control of the truck, the wheels lock up, and a tractor-trailer weighing up to 80,000 pounds begins to slide or skid across the roadway. The cab and the trailer fold in, and it crashes into other vehicles directly in its pathway. If you suffered injuries because of one of these terrifying crashes, a truck accident lawyer can assist in your fight for fair compensation.

What is a jackknife truck accident?

In a jackknife truck accident, the trailer attached to a semi-truck suddenly swings out, causing the cab (the area where the truck driver sits) and the trailer to create a 90-degree angle. When the semi-truck folds in on itself, it takes on the appearance of a pocket knife, which is where the term jackknife comes from. Truck accidents, including jackknife crashes contribute to the high number of fatal crashes on the road every year. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 100,000 truck accidents resulted in bodily injuries, and close to 5,000 resulted in fatalities across the United States in 2020.

What causes a truck to jackknife?

The minute a truck driver makes a mistake, or something goes wrong, the cab and trailer can quickly get out of sync and start moving in completely different directions, leading to a jackknife truck accident. There are many causes of jackknife truck accidents, including:

• Poor weather conditions: One of the most common causes of jackknife accidents is poor weather conditions. When a big rig’s tires lose traction due to rain, snow, or ice on the roadways, the truck driver may lose control, causing it to slide across the road. The cab and trailer may quickly become misaligned when this happens, leading to a jackknife truck accident.
• Distracted driving: By taking their eyes off the roadway for a few seconds to check their emails, change the radio station, or make a quick phone call, truck drivers may not be aware that the traffic in front of them is suddenly slowing down, braking, or moving into a road work zone. This error can result in the truck driver panicking, slamming on brakes, causing their truck to jackknife.
• Speeding: Due to the weight and size of large trucks, it can be very difficult to maneuver and maintain control even at normal speeds. Therefore, when a truck driver decides to travel over the speed limit, they heavily increase the risk of the trailer swinging out of control and resulting in a jackknife accident.
• Load issues: When loading crews do not ensure that items are properly loaded onto the trailer, the truck may experience various loading issues that can lead to a jackknife accident. For example, if the truck is transporting an overly heavy or imbalanced load, the cargo can shift and the trailer may become out of sync with the cab when turning or going around a curve. Light or empty trailers are another common issue that leads to jackknife accidents. This is because empty or light trailers do not weigh much, which reduces traction.
• Mechanical problems: Just like passenger vehicles, 18-wheelers must be regularly maintained, kept up to date, and repaired. Mechanical problems such as tire blowouts, brake failure, steering problems, and suspension issues can cause a loss of control, causing the trailer to sway back and forth or completely swing out.
• Fatigue or drowsy driving: Truck drivers are required to work long shifts and many feel pressured to keep working, even when they are exhausted. This fatigue can cause truck drivers to make mistakes, react to certain situations more slowly, and even fall asleep behind the wheel. As a result, they may hit the brakes too hard, make unsafe lane changes, turn too quickly, or overcorrect themselves. All of these errors can cause them to lose control and find themselves in a jackknife position.
• Lack of experience or training: Drivers allowed to drive semi-trucks without the proper experience or training are more likely to make serious errors and cause chaos on the roadways. For example, if an emergency suddenly arises, an inexperienced and untrained truck driver may not know how to respond correctly, increasing the chances of a jackknife accident occurring and hurting everyone involved.

What are the dangers of Chicago jackknife truck accidents?

Due to their weight and size, semi-trucks can cause serious damage to passenger vehicles in any crash. However, in jackknife truck accidents, a truck’s cab and trailer may swing, slide, and spin for several minutes, causing it to slam into any other vehicles in its path. To make matters worse, jackknife truck accidents usually block several lanes of traffic, increasing the possibility of oncoming traffic hitting the truck and other vehicles involved.

Jackknife truck accidents, like other crashes involving these massive vehicles, can lead to serious injuries. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, crushing injuries, multiple bone fractures, paralysis, amputations, internal bleeding, organ damage, and death are all potential consequences of these collisions.

Is there a way to prevent jackknife truck accidents?

The responsibility for preventing these accidents lies with the truck driver. However, there are a few tips that drivers sharing the roads with semi-trucks can remember to lessen their chances of being involved in or contributing to these types of crashes, including:

• Give trucks a lot of space. Never follow too closely.
• Do not cut off a tractor-trailer. This can cause them to slam on the brakes.
• Stay out of the truck’s blind spots so the driver can see you.
• Stay alert around trucks to look for any signs of a potential jackknife accident, such as swaying, sliding, or trouble slowing down or stopping.

If you have recently suffered injuries due to a truck jackknifing accident, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a Chicago truck accident attorney at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers right away. Our team has advocated repeatedly for the legal rights of those who have been injured or killed by 18-wheelers, and we are committed to doing the same for you. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation at our Chicago office today.