Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer

A recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study found that 73 percent of fatal truck accidents involve tractor trailers. The large, heavy, and difficult to control nature of semi-trucks also make them prone to jackknifing, a type of serious accident specific to articulated vehicles.

If you have been injured in a truck jackknife accident, contact the experienced truck accident attorneys of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Our team wants to fight for your right to compensation and justice. We can discuss your legal options during a free initial consultation.

What Is a Jackknife Truck Accident?

A jackknife accident is a type of accident unique to articulated vehicles like semi-trucks, which involve a powered tractor hauling an unpowered trailer. If the tractor loses traction, the momentum of the trailer can push the towing vehicle until it starts to spin around. The trailer swings toward the tractor at the point of articulation, an action that looks like a closing pocketknife – hence the name “jackknife.”

The jackknifing truck can hit any car in its path, resulting in severe injuries or even death. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 3.5 percent of all fatal truck accidents result from jackknife truck accidents, with victims including truck drivers, other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

How Can an Experienced Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer Help with Your Claim?

If you have suffered injuries in a jackknifing truck accident, an experienced truck accident attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help you seek compensation through a personal injury claim by:

  • Determining the cause of the crash that injured you and the party or parties liable for your injuries
  • Collecting collision and police reports
  • Gathering eyewitness testimony
  • Hiring expert witnesses to provide testimony and reconstruct the events leading up to the crash
  • Negotiating with insurance companies to seek an agreeable settlement on your behalf
  • Filing your lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
  • Fighting for your right to total compensation at trial if settlement negotiations are not successful

We are proud to serve truck accident victims on a contingency basis, which means we will perform these services without charging you an upfront fee. Instead, you’ll only pay us if we win.

Common Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents

There are a few different ways a jackknife accident occurs. Determining the exact cause in your case is vital for identifying who might be liable for your injuries. Some of the most common causes of jackknife accidents include:

  • Improper Loading – An overloaded trailer increases the risk of jackknifing if the driver has to brake heavily. When an overloaded truck suddenly brakes, the cab slows down faster than the trailer, causing the trailer to “catch up” to the cab and jackknife.
  • Speeding – Speed also increases inertia, which, in turn, increases the chance of a jackknifing accident if the cab brakes suddenly. Additionally, turning while going too fast can cause the trailer to swing out from behind the cab, leading to jackknifing.
  • Excessive Braking – Truck drivers should apply the brakes gradually to avoid a sudden change of momentum that can cause the truck to jackknife. If a truck driver brakes hard, they can cause crashes that involve multiple vehicles. 
  • Distracted Driving – Distracted drivers are one of the most common hazards on the road. Distractions such as food or cell phones can be even more dangerous when the driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck. 
  • Fatigued Driving – The long distances some truck drivers travel make drowsy driving another potential hazard that can lead to jackknifing. Despite these dangers, trucking companies may push drivers to work beyond the permissible hours of service.
  • Driver Error – Large commercial trucks are difficult to operate. An inexperienced driver may make a mistake that endangers other motorists when their truck jackknives. For example, a truck driver might begin merging into a lane without noticing a car in their blind spot. Then, once they belatedly see the car, they attempt to avoid it by turning the steering wheel hard in the other direction, causing their trailer to jackknife.
  • Mechanical Failures – Mechanical failures can happen if a part has a defective component or has not been properly maintained. Common mechanical issues leading to jackknifing include brake failures, hydraulic failures, and tire blowouts.

If you suffered serious injuries in a jackknife accident, an experienced truck accident attorney can investigate your case to determine who should be held liable for your resulting injuries. 

Who Is Responsible for a Jackknife Truck Accident?

Several different parties might bear legal responsibility for a jackknife collision, including the following:

  • The Truck Driver – Many of the leading causes of truck jackknife accidents come down to driver negligence, in which case the truck driver who made the mistake is likely to blame for the consequences.
  • The Trucking Company – The trucking company could also be liable under a few circumstances. Trucking companies may be liable for any damage caused while the driver is on the job under the legal theory of vicarious liability. The trucking company could be directly liable if it encouraged the driver to ignore federally mandated breaks for long-distance drivers.
  • The Cargo Loading Company – Cargo loaders could be to blame for your truck accident injuries if the jackknifing event resulted from overloading or improper securing of cargo.
  • The Maintenance Provider – Improper maintenance or failure to regularly service the semi truck could make the truck’s maintenance provider liable for your injuries. 
  • The Vehicle Manufacturer – In cases where a mechanical defect contributes to a jackknife accident, the vehicle manufacturer could be liable in a product liability claim.

Our experienced jackknife accident attorneys can help you seek compensation and accountability from all the parties responsible for your severe injuries. 

Contact Our Chicago Attorneys for a Free Consultation

Have you recently suffered truck accident injuries because of a jackknife accident in the Chicago area? If so, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.’s experienced Chicago truck accident attorneys for a free consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your options, develop a legal strategy, and answer any questions you have. Our team has recovered more than $2.5 billion in compensation for our clients by aggressively fighting for their rights.

Let us put that experience to work for you at no upfront cost. Call us today to get started.