Jackknife accidents are an unfortunate risk of driving near large trucks. When a truck jackknifes, the cab of the truck folds forward onto the trailer, forming a ‘V’ or ‘L’ shape. This often causes the truck to spin out of control, smash into other vehicles, and block traffic. Jackknife accidents can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. If you or a loved one has been injured in a jackknife crash, you may be entitled to compensation. But first, it’s important to understand jackknife accidents: causes & liability.
Common Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents
There are several common causes of jackknife truck crashes:
Driver Error
The most frequent cause of jackknifing is driver error. Truck drivers may drive too fast for conditions, improperly maintain their equipment, fail to slow down for curves, misjudge their stopping distance, or make sudden steering movements. Fatigue is another common factor, as drowsy drivers are more likely to make mistakes.
Drowsy driving is a major concern, as truck drivers often face pressures to meet tight delivery schedules, leading them to forgo breaks and adequate rest. Driver distraction is another form of error that increases accident risk. Eating, texting, talking on a phone, adjusting music or GPS, and daydreaming all take the driver’s attention away from the road. Even a few seconds of distraction can lead to a jackknife situation.
Equipment Failure
Faulty equipment can also lead to a jackknife accident. Problems like defective brakes, broken hitches, blown tires, or imbalanced trailer loads can cause a driver to lose control. Trucking companies are responsible for properly inspecting and maintaining their trucks.
Brake problems are one of the most common equipment issues. As brake linings wear down, they become less effective. Unadjusted brakes that are out of alignment or imbalanced between the tractor and trailer can lead to jackknifing. Unfortunately, some companies put profits over safety and fail to replace worn parts before they cause a crash.
Hitches and coupling devices are another frequent source of problems if they are incompatible, defective, or improperly installed. Weak or broken hitches are a major jackknife hazard.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Slick roads, steep declines, sharp curves, and poor visibility due to weather can make jackknifing more likely. Drivers must slow down and take extra precautions in hazardous conditions.
Rain, snow, and ice reduce traction and can lead to skidding and loss of control. Even small amounts of water or snow on the road create an outsized risk for multi-ton trucks. Fog, smoke, glare, and darkness also impair visibility and response time.
Mountainous areas or steep grades require extra caution by truckers. Descending at high speeds can cause brake overheating and failure. Rounding a curve too fast raises rollover risk. Rural two-lane highways with tight curves and drop-offs pose extra challenges.
Speeding & Aggressive Driving
Excessive speed reduces a truck driver’s control and increases stopping distance. It also magnifies the effects of driver error and road hazards. Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating and frequent lane changes add risk.
With their massive weight and height, trucks require much more time and distance to slow down than other vehicles. The faster a truck is traveling, the more likely its momentum will lead to jackknifing in an emergency.
Improper Load Securement
If a truck’s cargo is imbalanced or not properly secured, it can shift during driving. This sudden weight change can cause loss of control and jackknifing.
Federal regulations require truckers to secure cargo against movement by using adequate tie-downs, wedges, friction mats, and other equipment. Loads must be balanced and distributed evenly. Companies face fines and lawsuits if their negligence in loading or securing cargo contributes to an accident.
Shifting loads are especially dangerous for tankers, livestock trailers, car carriers, and other specialty trucks. Liquid sloshing, stampeding animals, or loose vehicles on racks create serious rollover and jackknife risks.
Liability for Jackknife Truck Accidents
When a jackknife truck accident occurs, multiple parties may share liability:
The Truck Driver
The truck driver is most often deemed primarily responsible. Their employer may also be considered liable through vicarious responsibility.
To hold a driver liable, a semi truck accident lawyer Oakland CA must prove their negligence. Truckers have a legal duty to operate safely and avoid causing foreseeable risks to others. If evidence shows they failed to adhere to reasonable standards and training, liability can be established.
The Trucking Company
The trucking company can be held liable if they failed to properly train the driver, allowed them to violate hour-of-service regulations, did not maintain the truck, or improperly loaded cargo.
Trucking companies must ensure drivers are qualified, licensed, drug-free, and properly trained. Negligent hiring and retention practices indicate liability. Dispatchers pressuring drivers to exceed driving limits or falsify logbooks may share fault.
Cargo Loaders
If improper cargo loading caused an imbalance or shift, the cargo loaders may share liability. This includes the shipping company, warehouse, or anyone else handling securing the truck’s contents.
Proving negligence requires showing they did not take reasonable care to distribute, balance, and fasten the cargo as required by law. Their portion of liability depends on the facts of the case.
Manufacturers & Mechanics
If defective equipment such as brakes, tires, hitches, or other parts caused the crash, the manufacturer of that part or the mechanic who serviced the truck may be liable.
Product liability laws state that manufacturers must ensure truck components are designed safely and free of defects. If a defective product contributes to injury or death, the victims can seek damages. Mechanics can also be sued for faulty installation, inspections, or repairs.
Other Drivers
Another driver on the road may have contributed to the accident in other cases through negligent or reckless driving. Common examples include speeding, improper passing, failure to yield, or cutting off the trucker.
Comparative negligence rules allow multiple parties to share liability according to their contributions. So, another driver’s actions could reduce, but likely not eliminate, the trucker’s fault.
Government Agencies
If hazardous road conditions existed and the responsible government agency failed to address them reasonably, they could share fault.
For example, a pothole that went unrepaired for months and contributed to a crash may lead to some liability for the transportation department. Or a low-clearance bridge without adequate warnings to truckers could implicate the agency in charge.
Speak with a Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a jackknife truck crash in Oakland, California, contact an experienced Oakland semi truck accident lawyer at Karns & Karns Personal Truck Accident Attorneys for a free consultation at 833-545-1644. We understand the complex legal and insurance issues involved in commercial trucking cases. Let us handle your claim while you focus on recovery. We are dedicated to getting truck accident victims the maximum compensation they deserve.
