Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Jackknife Truck Accidents in North Carolina
Trucks are a common sight on our roadways in North Carolina. There are more than 14 million large commercial trucks registered in the United States. Large commercial trucks are also called 18-wheelers, semi trucks, tractor-trailers, or big rigs. They have two sections, including the cab or driver compartment and an attached trailer that holds cargo. These huge trucks are quite heavy, weighing up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When a big rig collides with a passenger vehicle, it can have devastating effects.
What is a jackknife truck accident? This video breaks it all down — and now you can listen in. 🔊
What is a Jackknife Accident?
Large tractor-trailer trucks have two parts including the front cab and the back trailer. A jackknife occurs when the front and back parts of the truck move in opposite directions, forming an “L” shape or folding into a “V” shape. A jackknife is the result of a total loss of control of the truck. The truck cab may be stopping or turning while the back half or cargo area continues to move faster than the front, causing a skid to occur that pushes the truck sections apart.
What Causes Jackknife Accidents?
Jackknife accidents, like all truck accidents, may have several contributing factors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) to provide insight into what causes large truck accidents. Causes and contributing factors fall into several categories, including driver error, mechanical problems, and external conditions.
Driver error includes things such as distracted driving, speeding, and failing to obey traffic laws, among others. Mechanical problems may include brake issues and tire blowouts, as well as other problems. External conditions are things such as bad weather, poor visibility, and dangerous roads, as well as others.
Conditions That May Lead to Jackknife Accidents
There are many conditions that are the most common causes or contributing factors in jackknife accidents.
- Fast Stops – Large trucks have a difficult time quickly coming to a stop. Hard braking can cause a big rig to jackknife. This happens most often when the trailer is loaded with cargo. The heavy trailer continues moving when the cab has slowed, and this results in a jackknife effect.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo – When cargo is not properly loaded in the trailer, it can make it difficult for the driver to control the rig. Cargo may be poorly loaded or unsecured, causing it to shift during transport. This can lead to the inability of the driver to handle the semi-truck.
- Inadequate Training or Experience – Trucks require a good deal of training and experience to ensure the driver can handle situations as they arise. If the driver is inexperienced, they may make poor decisions that could cause the rig to jackknife on the road.
- Speeding – Driving too fast can result in difficulty coming to a stop. When a truck driver speeds, they are risking an accident. If they come upon a road condition that requires them to stop quickly, they will be unable to do so. The driver may have no choice but to brake hard, which may result in jackknifing.
- Distracted Driving – Truck drivers need to be very alert while driving. Unfortunately, sometimes they are distracted, especially when they are fatigued. Distractions can cause the driver to be unable to react quickly, and this may end up with a jackknife situation.
Jackknife accidents are avoidable and are often due to the negligence of the driver or the trucking company. If you were hurt in a jackknife accident, you may be owed compensation for your injuries. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to talk to our experienced legal team.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncdoi.gov/consumers/auto-and-vehicle-insurance/distracted-driving-awareness
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/rock-trucks-1442326
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
See Our Related Blog Posts:
Dump Truck Accidents in North Carolina