What Causes a Truck Jackknife Accident?

A commercial truck has a cab and a trailer. When a jackknife accident happens, the truck’s cab and trailer turn into each other in a similar way that a jackknife folds into its sheath. Sometimes, as the large trailer starts to slide into the cab, it takes other smaller passenger vehicles with it. As a result, these cars can be crushed immediately by the force and impact between the cab and the trailer. Passengers in these smaller vehicles can suffer severe injuries and death.

Truck Accidents in Oregon 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that there are just under 2,000 fatal and non-fatal truck accidents in Oregon annually. Hundreds of people involved in Oregon truck accidents are injured, and many die. Nationally, more than 170,000 truck accidents produce thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.

Types of Truck Accidents 

There are several types of truck accidents, and all of them have the potential to cause substantial injuries, property loss, and death. Some of the most common include:

• Rollovers
• Jackknife
• Rear-end collisions
• Head-on collisions
• T-bone accidents
• Wide Turn accidents

 Causes of Truck Jackknife Accidents 

Of the thousands of truck accidents that are reported every year, jackknife accidents happen frequently. Typically, when a jackknife accident happens, it is because of some type of human error. To jackknife, the truck’s wheels lose their traction on the road, and this causes the cab and the trailer to spin out of control. This can happen due to any of the following:

• Speeding
• Improper braking
• Cargo that is not loaded correctly makes a trailer unbalanced
• Inclement Weather
• Turning too quickly
• Not securing cargo properly
• Equipment failure
• Hazardous road conditions like debris and uneven surfaces
• Not maintaining a truck

A truck driver who does not have the training or experience to operate a big rig can put everyone on the road at risk of harm, especially if they do not know what to do in a situation where a jackknife accident could happen. Understanding how to act in a situation to attempt to prevent a jackknife accident is critical. Likewise, even a veteran truck driver can be dangerous if they are driving while drowsy, under the influence, or distracted.

Liability After a Jackknife Accident 

When a jackknife accident happens, more than one party could be liable to pay for the damages victims suffered. Any one of the following may be responsible for a jackknife accident: a truck driver, the company they work for, the company that loaded the cargo, the truck manufacturer, or another driver on the road. A Portland truck accident attorney at the Rosenbaum Law Group can help you determine liability.

Speak to an Oregon Truck Accident Attorney Today 

Victims of jackknife accidents can suffer considerable physical bodily harm and even lose their lives. If you were injured in an Oregon truck accident, you must protect yourself and your right to compensation. For assistance with a truck accident injury claim, you can call a Portland personal injury attorney at the Rosenbaum Law Group today at (503) 288-8000.

Source:

ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/CrashStatistics?tab=Summary&type=&report_id=1&crash_type_id=4&datasource_id=1&time_period_id=2&report_date=0&vehicle_type=2&state=OR&domicile=US&measure_id=1&operation_id=null