Causes Of Truck Jackknife Accidents And What To Do If You're Involved In One
Posted on: 6 December 2019
One of the scariest accidents is when a semi-truck jackknifes. No accident is without its perils, but jackknife accidents seem especially dangerous. Part of the reason for that perceived danger is that such accidents usually involve numerous vehicles. Find out how jackknife accidents work and what to do if you're involved in one.
How a Truck Jackknifes
To understand how a jackknifing accident happens, you need to understand a little about how semi-trucks work. They consist primarily of the tractor unit, or cab, and the semi-trailer, which is the detachable part. The braking system consists of three parts — one for the steering axle, one for the cab itself, and one for the wheels on the trailer.
A jackknife accident happens when the cab and the trailer become out of sync. When that happens, the long trailer portion of the semi-truck folds around the tractor unit. The result is usually an L shape, often with the truck toppling over. As How Stuff Works points out, the accident gets its name from the fact that the truck then resembles a knife folding into its handle.
What Causes a Jackknifing Accident
Jackknifing accidents usually happen in one of two ways. Going back to the brakes, truck drivers have to operate all three in the proper order. However, if they have to brake quickly, they may end up hitting the brakes that control the cab. The semi-trailer doesn't slow down accordingly, so it whips around in the jackknifing motion.
The other common cause of jackknife accidents is a slick surface. Automobile wheels use static friction to maintain contact with the road and propel the vehicle along. If you've ever seen a semi-truck trailer, you know it has a lot of extra wheels. Well, if enough of them hit a slick surface, such as black ice, the wheels can skid instead of roll, causing that sideways swing toward the cab.
Steps for after a Jackknifing Accident
When a truck jackknifes, it usually involves several lanes of the road. The truck may even take your vehicle out as it slides into the jackknife.
You should follow the usual protocol for after an accident. Report the accident immediately — don't assume other drivers involved in the accident will do so.
Always seek medical attention even if you don't think you're badly injured. With adrenaline coursing through your body, you might not even feel the pain that shows up later.
Finally, because such big accidents usually involve many cars and high-value property, insurance and liability cases are complicated. Consider seeking out the advice of a truck accident lawyer.
Let a truck accident lawyer help you make your case after a jackknifing accident.
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