What To Do After A Jackknife Accident In Florida

A semi-truck with a single trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. That makes driving them extremely difficult, especially when it comes to turning and braking. This weight is also what makes a trucking accident especially dangerous. One of the most common types of semi-truck accidents is jackknifing. Jackknifing can cause catastrophic damage and severe injuries. Here is everything you need to know about jackknifing accidents.

What Is Jackknifing?

Jackknifing is a term for a type of semi-truck accident where a truck and a trailer go into a skid and the trailer swings out into a 90 degree angle. What makes these accidents so dangerous is that the movement of the trailer is extremely hard to predict. So even if the tractor misses the other motor vehicle, the trailer can cause a collision. In almost all cases, when a semi-truck jackknifes, it causes the entire truck to rollover because of the force of the velocity.

What Causes A Truck To Jackknife?

There are a lot of factors that can cause a semi-truck to jackknife including:

● Improper or sudden braking
● Sharp curves and turns
● Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
● Poor cargo weight distribution
● Bad weather conditions causing slick roads
● Collisions with other vehicles
● Poor or improper maintenance
● Unskilled or impaired truck drivers
● Steering errors

No matter the cause, a jackknifing accident usually causes severe devastation.

Common Injuries From Jackknifing

Since semi-trucks are so large, most injuries are severe. The most common injuries from jackknife accidents include:

● Broken bones
● Soft tissue damage
● Neck, back, and brain injuries
● Internal injuries
● Lacerations
● Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Sadly, in many cases the injuries can be so severe they lead to permanent disability or even death. These types of injuries can also be financially devastating because not only are the costs of the medical bills extremely expensive, they can put the victim out of work.

Who Is Liable In A Jackknifing Accident

With jackknifing accidents, like all trucking accidents, it is very complex to determine the liable party. Beyond the driver, liable parties can include:

● The truck manufacturer
● The trailer manufacturer
● The maintenance mechanic
● The trucking company
● The loading company
● The company shipping the items

Furthermore, all of these potential liable parties can be located in different states. So determining who is who is liable for a jackknifing accident can be a serious legal challenge. Since it is so difficult to determine liability, it is recommended that injured parties always work with an attorney that specializes in trucking accidents.

What Should I Do If I Am Injured In A Jackknifing Accident?

The first thing you should do after any accident is to seek medical treatment for your injuries. No matter the details of the accident or the complications of filing a claim, the most important thing is your health. Next, you’ll want to contact law enforcement to file a police report. Then you’ll need to collect and document as much evidence from the accident as possible. This could include taking photographs, gathering witness testimony, and writing an account of what you remember. After you’ll collected what you can, you will need to speak with your auto insurance company. Make sure to just tell them the basic facts about the accident because anything you say will be recorded and documented. Finally, you’ll want to contact a personal injury attorney.

The attorneys at All Injuries Law Firm have over 30 years of experience protecting jackknifing accident victims. We know exactly the devastation these types of accident cause and will fight to make sure you get full compensation for your injuries. We’ll find the negligent party, pursue your claim, and make sure your rights are protected. Give us a call at 1-941-625-HURT to learn more!