Why are Jackknife Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Of all the different types of tractor-trailer accidents that happen on the roads, those involving a jackknifed truck are some of the most dangerous. Drivers can easily lose control of the vehicle when a truck jackknifes and this can possibly lead to a multi-vehicle accident. Tractor-trailer jackknife accidents have many different causes including equipment failure, driver error, and wet road conditions. Regardless of the cause, these accidents cause some of the most severe injuries. Below, our San Antonio tractor-trailer jackknife lawyer explains what these are and the dangers of these accidents.
What is a Tractor-Trailer Jackknife Accident?
A tractor-trailer jackknife accident occurs when a truck skids and the trailer swings to one side. This creates an ‘L’ or ‘V’ shape with the cabin of the truck. These accidents are called jackknife accidents because the trailer folds similarly to a pocket knife. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 2,027 reported fatalities in 2020 due to tractor-trailer jackknife accidents.
What Dangers Do Jackknife Truck Accidents Pose?
There are many reasons why tractor-trailer jackknife accidents are so dangerous. Transport trucks are much larger and much heavier than other vehicles on the road. When they crash, they can cause substantial damage to buildings, objects on the road, other vehicles on the road, and the occupants within them.
Also, a jackknifed tractor-trailer will also block other lanes of traffic. This can lead to other vehicles striking the trailer, or vehicles colliding with each other. Being one of the most serious types of crashes on the roads, a jackknifed tractor-trailer will also cause some of the most severe injuries, and even fatalities, on the road.
What Injuries are Caused by Tractor-Trailer Jackknife Accidents?
Just as there are many different causes of tractor-trailer jackknife accidents, they also cause many different types of injuries. All of them, however, are severe and catastrophic.
If a truck crashes into another vehicle, the occupants within the smaller vehicle will suffer serious injuries. Brain injuries, burns, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries are just a few of these. When a smaller vehicle is at an angle to the trailer, it may slide underneath. These crashes are known as underride accidents and they are also some of the most severe. Accident victims rarely survive an underride accident.
Occupants of smaller cars can also become seriously injured when they crash into other small vehicles. Jackknife accidents often happen at high speeds, such as on the highway, and drivers of smaller vehicles do not always have enough time to stop. This can create a chain reaction and in just a matter of seconds, several vehicles may be involved in the crash.
Our Tractor-Trailer Jackknife Lawyer in San Antonio Can Help After a Crash
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a jackknife accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. At the Law Offices of Israel Garcia, our San Antonio tractor-trailer jackknife lawyer will handle every detail of your claim while you focus on recovering from your serious injuries. Call us now at 210-LAW-9999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
Source:
fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/vehicles-table-17-large-trucks-crashes-jackknife-occurrence-and-crash-6
