Every year, about 2 million truck crashes happen in the United States. Jackknife accidents are some of the most dangerous kinds of truck accidents. This article will talk about what makes these crashes happen and how to keep them from happening. If you or someone you care about has been in a truck accident, consult a skilled attorney immediately.
Understanding jackknife accidents
Both semi-trucks and tractor-trailers have cabs and trailers attached to them. When everything is working as it should, the cab and trailer move together. But if something goes wrong, the cab and trailer could start to move separately, which could be extremely dangerous.
Jackknifing can happen in two different ways:
- When the business trailer tires lock up while the big truck keeps going, the back end of the trailer swings sideways. This is called a trailer jackknife.
- The tractor keeps going forward even though the industrial drive tires do not work. This type of accident is called a truck jackknife.
What makes a jackknife accident happen?
A lot of different things cause jackknife crashes. These are some of the main reasons why:
- Fatigue
One main reason for jackknife crashes is that drivers are not paying enough attention. This is because they need to be fully focused to act quickly when an emergency happens on the road. Many hours on the road without stopping can make you tired, as can driving for long amounts of time without stopping.
- Lack of focus or distractions
Another common reason for jackknife crashes is drivers who are not paying attention or are distracted. It takes the driver's attention away from the road, which makes an accident more likely. Texting while driving, looking at their phones for directions instead of where they are going, or reading something that takes their full attention, like a book or newspaper, to pass the time on a long journey can all lead to this.
- Overloaded truck
A lot of truck accidents happen because the big trucks are not stable and are hard to steer. When trucks are loaded correctly, the weight is spread evenly across both wheels. Each tire is made to hold about a quarter of its maximum weight when it is full. Jackknife is more likely to happen when the truck is heavy. The weight of their trucks has to be checked every day, but if the driver is only making short hops, this might not be enough.
If you or someone you know has been involved in such an accident, it is important to seek legal counsel right away to make sure your rights are protected.