What Is a Jackknife Accident?
A jackknife occurs when the trailer on a big rig swings off to the side, forming a right angle with the cab. This is thought to look like a partially unfolded knife, hence the name. In these collisions, the tractor may turn back toward its trailer at an angle. The greater the length of a large truck, the higher the odds of a jackknife, as concluded in a study published by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA).
Big rigs can jackknife for a number of reasons, but it usually happens when the truck or the trailer loses traction with the road. This loss of contact causes the trailer to swing, and the force of the trailer swinging then causes the driver to lose control of the truck. Common ways that a trailer may suddenly lose contact with the road include:
- Brakes locking up from unsafe or sudden braking
- A trailer that is overweight or unbalanced
- A driver traveling too fast for local road conditions
- Collision with another vehicle or object
- Malfunctioning equipment
- Fatigued, distracted, or intoxicated driving
- Oversteering or overcorrecting
When a truck jackknifes, it skids out of control, often colliding with other vehicles. If a passenger vehicle collides with a jackknifing truck, occupants are likely to suffer serious injuries or death. A jackknife may impact multiple vehicles, due to the size of a semi-tractor trailer, causing a mass pileup on the roadway. This level of damage can, and often does, lead to extreme injuries.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K.
The Danger of a Jackknifing Truck
An average big rig can weigh upwards of 80,000 lbs. When a vehicle that size loses control, the fallout of a collision is immense. That is especially true of jackknifes, as the trailer often swings out into other lanes of traffic, leading to underride accidents. Jackknife accidents are likely to cause serious or catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations or limb loss
- Crush injuries and nerve damage
- Severe soft tissue injuries
- Disfigurement
- Death
After being involved in a jackknife accident, you have likely been left with debilitating injuries, or have even lost a loved one. In such a case, you will likely be filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim. To do so, however, you will need to determine who the at-fault party for your accident was and who can be held liable for your damages.
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Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Jackknifes and Liability
Determining liability in a claim will require an in-depth look into your case. Every accident is different, and as such, you may not be facing the at-fault party you assumed you would. Thankfully, the team at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability. In a truck jackknife collision, potentially liable parties may include:
- Truck driver: In many jackknife accidents, the truck driver is at fault. He or she may have been speeding, driving recklessly, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or violating hours of service regulations designed to help prevent fatigued driving.
- Trucking company: Companies that hire truck drivers are responsible for ensuring they put qualified, trained, and safe drivers behind the wheel of a truck. When a trucking company fails in this responsibility or pressures a driver to violate hours of service or other trucking regulations to deliver a load on time, it may be liable for resulting accidents and injuries.
- Truck maintenance company: Some trucking companies outsource truck maintenance to third parties. A company responsible for truck maintenance may be liable for a truck jackknife accident if brake failure or other equipment malfunctions caused the crash.
- Another at-fault driver: If the driver of another vehicle caused the jackknife collision, that driver may be responsible for your injuries in an auto accident claim.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Jackknife truck accidents are complex, high-stakes cases, and insurance companies will fight hard to minimize their payouts. If you have been injured in such a crash, it is in your best interest to have an experienced attorney by your side.
Contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC at (303) 219-7377. Our Boulder truck accident attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and can provide the same thorough legal aid in your case.
