Being involved in an accident with a commercial semi-truck is scary and often leads to injury. There’s a certain movie from the early 2000s featuring a semi-trailer full of logs that still haunts people to this day. In the real world, however, semi-truck accidents typically involve a direct collision.
One type of truck accident that can quickly result in multiple collisions is “jackknifing”.
Jackknifing is when a large commercial truck enters into a skid and the trailer swings out and stops at an angle. Jackknifes can happen for a variety of reasons including sudden stops, slick roads, equipment failure, and more.
Regardless of the cause, the resulting aftermath can be very dangerous to everyone else on the road.
When a jackknife accident is caused by a professional truck driver’s inability to safely maneuver the vehicle, the resulting victims of injury could be compensated.
If you’ve been involved in a jackknife accident, it’s best to speak to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Why Do Jackknife Accidents Occur?
Some jackknife accidents are due to road conditions. A slick spot in the road or slippery roads due to precipitation can cause wheels to lock up or trucks to swerve resulting in a jackknife.
Jackknifes can also be caused by driver fatigue and inexperience. Drivers who are tired or overworked tend to have a slower reaction time or even impaired judgment making them more likely to jackknife in an accident.
Trucking companies are responsible for hiring experienced and qualified drivers and training them adequately. When that doesn’t happen, drivers are unprepared to handle and properly respond to dangerous situations. This often leads to unfortunate accidents that cause serious harm to other drivers on the road.
If these accidents are caused due to negligence from the trucking companies or the truck driver, compensation is legally owed to those who suffer damages.
How Can Truck Drivers Avoid Jackknifing?
Truck drivers should do the following things to avoid a jackknife crash:
- Always maintain a safe distance between the truck and other vehicles sharing the road
- Don’t decelerate when turning or approaching bends
- Try to brake early and spread it over the longest distance possible
- Don’t swerve or take sudden evasive actions
- If the truck starts to skid, steer in the direction of the skid
Truck Accident Lawyer in Ohio
If you or a loved one have been injured in a jackknife or other truck accident, you should seek the representation of a truck accident Lawyer in Hamilton, Ohio. The Richards Firm has years of experience representing victims of car, motorcycle, and truck accidents, ultimately helping them receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
To talk about the details of your case we can be reached at 513-868-2731, or you can fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation.
