What Causes Truck Jackknife Accidents?

When a large commercial truck cab moves in one direction while the wheels move in a different direction, jackknifes can occur. A jackknife is a term that means a large trailer cab skids and the trailer of the truck swings in the other direction, landing at a 90 degree angle. Jackknifes are very dangerous because big rigs are huge and heavy. A jackknife can crush other cars or push other vehicles off the road.

What Are the Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents?

When big rig trucks jackknife, a variety of situations could have led to the accident. Often bad weather conditions create hazardous conditions. When there is low visibility and roads are slippery, it is more common for a truck driver to lose control of a vehicle. This may not be the driver’s fault. But there are situations where a truck driver could be an at-fault driver.

• Braking: A seasoned driver knows there are proper braking techniques that need to be followed when driving a commercial truck. If the correct procedure isn’t followed, the drive axles of the truck can lock up.
• Speeding: When a driver is moving at a high speed, there is a higher probability of a skid. Plus, when trucks are moving fast, it can be difficult to reduce speed in time to avoid an accident.
• Steering: If a driver turns the steering wheel too far and too fast, the truck trailer can jackknife. Sometimes this happens when a truck driver is trying to avoid another vehicle.
• Cargo: The cargo of a truck needs to be secured. If the cargo within the truck shifts unexpectedly, it can cause the truck to be imbalanced.

Accidents that start with a jackknifed truck can involve multiple vehicles. If you have been in this situation, be sure to talk to a healthcare professional immediately after the accident. Then, you need to speak with a Miami truck accident attorney. Experienced lawyers can help you to determine what the cause of the crash was and who is negligent. The truck driver may not be the at-fault driver. Once the accident is reviewed, it can be determined if compensation is possible.

Who Is Liable?

When a smaller vehicle is sidelined during a truck accident, they can receive compensation. In order to determine who is liable and what compensation is due, it pays to talk to a truck accident attorney.

The trucking company may be negligent if it can be proven the driver wasn’t trained properly or if the driver had a history of accidents and was allowed to continue driving. Also, drivers may be liable if they were driving under the influence and maintenance providers may be liable if there was a technical maintenance malfunction. Maintenance companies can also be responsible if there were upkeep issues that were ignored, from recalled parts to updated federal standards.

Truck accidents can be very upsetting emotionally and can result in a lot of financial damage. Our Miami truck accident attorneys at Spencer Morgan Law will fight for fair compensation. Contact us today at 305-423-3800 to schedule your free consultation.

https://www.smorganlaw.com/prevent-boating-accidents-while-visiting-in-miami/