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Davis Law Group Receives Seattle Business Magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ Award Learn More
Jackknife truck accidents are among the most dangerous and devastating types of collisions involving tractor-trailers. While they may be less common than other truck accidents, their potential for catastrophic injury is extremely high.
But what is jackknifing a trailer? How can you avoid these types of truck accidents? And what kind of injuries might you incur if you are involved in a jackknife accident? Keep reading to learn more.
A jackknife accident is a type of truck accident that involves a tractor-trailer. The term “jackknife” refers to the shape the truck and trailer make during the accident. A jackknife is a knife that opens and closes on a hinge. In a jackknife accident, the trailer and the tractor represent the blade and the hilt of the knife.
During a jackknife accident, the trailer swings out in a different direction than the tractor. During turns, a trailer is expected to be at a slightly different angle than the tractor, and it should return to a straight line after the turn is complete. During a jackknife accident, the trailer swings around at an extreme angle to the truck, often blocking multiple lanes of a road.
Typically, a jackknife accident occurs when the trailer loses traction for some reason, which can happen due to:
The last reason is one of the most dangerous because drivers may have little control over this cause. Most often, trucks are loaded at a cargo dock. While the driver may inspect the load to ensure it is present and appears balanced, they are usually not present for the entire loading process.
If a load is unbalanced, it could pull the trailer to one side. Unfortunately, this effect may not be obvious at low speeds. It often only happens at highway speeds, meaning that by the time the driver becomes aware that they are towing an unbalanced load, it is usually too late to correct the situation.
One of the biggest differences between most car accidents and truck accidents is the severity of injuries resulting from them. When two cars collide, they usually exert relatively equal levels of force on each other. It tends to limit the severity of the accident and injuries suffered, assuming all passengers are using appropriate safety equipment (such as seat belts).
In a truck accident, however, the truck might weigh up to 80 times as much as the car. This difference in force is dramatic and likely to result in much more serious injuries. Jackknife accidents are even more terrifying because a jackknifing truck often loses momentum. This means the impact for the car is similar to running into a brick wall at highway speeds.
Due to these factors, some of the common injuries in a jackknife accident are:
Anyone involved in a jackknife accident is likely to need immediate and long-term medical care to recover. Many injuries may require a lifetime of care or result in permanent disability.
If you are unlucky enough to be in a jackknife truck accident, you will probably suffer life-changing injuries. While there often isn’t much you can do to avoid these, it helps to be cautious around tractor-trailers. If you see one that is wobbling or shaking, move away from it and consider reporting the situation to authorities.
If you’ve been injured in Seattle, WA, and need legal assistance, contact Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact our legal team and schedule a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer today. We proudly serve King County in Washington and its surrounding areas. Visit our law office at:
Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
2101 4th Ave 1030 Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 727 4000
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