Accidents involving commercial trucks can cause widespread catastrophic impact because the large truck can impact many smaller vehicles as the driver loses control. A direct impact from a large truck can cause severe bodily harm, resulting in injuries like back and neck injuries, bone fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). One type of commercial truck accident that can expose other drivers to harm is a jackknife truck accident. This type of truck accident occurs when a truck's front cab and rear trailer come out of sync, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes. The trailer can swing out from behind the cab, causing the driver to lose control of the truck. As the trailer swings out, it can hit other vehicles and cause damage that can result in severe truck accident injuries.
What is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
A jackknife truck accident occurs when the front cab and rear trailer move in separate directions, leading to the driver losing control of the vehicle. This is one of the most dangerous types of truck accidents, accounting for 172 fatalities and over 1,000 injury crashes in 2019. What makes a jackknife truck accident so dangerous is the driver’s lack of control over the trailer, which can swing out and slam into smaller vehicles. Trailers house possibly tens of thousands of pounds of cargo. If the trailer comes out of sync from the front cab, the driver cannot stop the trailer from crashing into other vehicles. Most small cars do not have the protective equipment to keep drivers and passengers safe from the impact of a trailer containing heavy cargo crashing into them at full speed.What Causes a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Jackknifing can occur because of the negligence of the driver. If the truck driver does not pay attention to the road or is in the wrong frame of mind to be driving, they can cause a jackknife truck accident. They may take a sharp turn poorly, which can lead to the trailer misaligning from the truck cab. Some negligent driving behaviors that can cause a jackknife truck accident include distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, drowsy driving, etc. A jackknife truck accident can also occur because of the negligence of another party. The truck’s equipment might malfunction due to defective design or manufacturing defects, leading unexpectedly to a jackknife truck accident. In this case, the defective product manufacturer can be liable in a product liability claim. This type of truck accident can also result from the negligence of the truck loaders. The trailer and cab can become misaligned if the cargo is not loaded properly. The truck can become unbalanced, leading to the truck cab and trailer going in different directions. The driver will not be able to control the trailer before it crashes into another vehicle.Severe Injuries Caused by a Jackknife Truck Accident
Jackknife truck accidents can expose other drivers to harm, as the heavy trailer can crash into their cars. Their small cars are unlikely to be able to withstand a direct hit from a trailer containing heavy cargo, meaning that the drivers and passengers could receive blunt force trauma that could cause severe truck accident injuries. The following are some severe truck accident injuries caused by jackknife truck accidents:- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Facial injuries
- Elbow injuries
- Internal injuries