Back January 20, 2021

What Causes a Truck to Jackknife?

When a negligent tractor-trailer operator causes a truck jackknife accident, the truck could careen out of control and collide with another vehicle or more. When that happens, and people are injured, the accident victim(s) could file a claim against the person who caused the accident. 

Truck jackknife accidents occur when the trailer of an 18-wheeler truck, along with the tractor, curve toward each other inwardly, often causing the vehicles to careen out of control – and into the path of another vehicle or vehicles. Since the tractor and trailer’s maneuver resembles the acute shape of a jackknife, these types of accidents are often called truck jackknife accidents. 

In many instances, truck jackknife accidents occur because the operator of the truck is in some way negligent. When that is the case, accident victims could pursue a claim or lawsuit against the individual truck driver and/or against the trucking company that employs the negligent driver. 

If you or someone you love has suffered an injury (such as bone fracture, soft tissue injury, or traumatic head injury) in a truck jackknife accident, the knowledgeable Matthews truck accident lawyers at the Panchenko Law Firm are here to help. Our legal team can determine how your accident occurred, and if necessary, retain an accident reconstructionist. Once fault for your accident has been established, we could file a claim on your behalf and pursue the monetary compensation and damages that you need. 

Common Reasons Why Trucks Tend to Jackknife

Large tractor-trailers, many of which are 18-wheelers, can jackknife for a variety of reasons. In some instances, the driver of the truck cuts a curve or corner too sharply, causing the tractor and trailer to curve inward and careen out of control. At other times, the truck’s braking system may not have been maintained properly – or a truck repair facility might have recently performed deficient repair work on the truck. 

When trucks jackknife, there are several individuals who could be fully or partially responsible, including the following:

• The operator of the truck, especially where he or she was driving too fast or cut a corner too sharply
• The truck driver’s employer (the trucking company), under an agency theory of liability – or where the trucking company negligently failed to supervise a problem truck driver
• A repair facility, especially where poor maintenance or braking systems caused the truck to jackknife
• A truck parts manufacturer, if a defective truck part, such as a braking system or steering system, caused the truck to jackknife and careen out of control while on the roadway

Contact an Experienced Matthews Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in a Matthews truck jackknife accident, the skilled team of attorneys at the Panchenko Law Firm could assist you with pursuing a claim or lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for your accident. First, we could assist you with identifying potential at-fault parties. We could then pursue the proper claim or lawsuit against those parties, seeking various types of monetary compensation and damages. 

For a free legal consultation and case evaluation with an experienced Matthews truck accident attorney, please call us today at (704) 900-7675 or contact us online.