Fault for Jackknife Truck Accidents – What Drivers Need to Know

Jackknife truck accidents are one of the most dangerous and devastating crashes on the road. Victims could be left with severe or life-altering injuries requiring extensive medical care.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be eligible to seek significant compensation for your medical costs and other losses. Our Harrisburg truck accident lawyers have over 30 years of experience helping injured clients. Call to learn more about your rights, including whether you may have legal options for an injury claim.

Call to request a FREE case review today: 717-727-2500.

What Are Some Common Causes of Jackknife Truck Crashes?

Truck driver negligence is a primary cause in jackknife truck crashes. Common types of negligence may include:

• Excessive speed, especially when approaching curves or in adverse conditions
• Improper braking techniques, such as sudden hard braking on slippery roads
• Failure to adjust driving for weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice
• Incorrect loading/unloading practices leading to uneven weight distribution
• Following too closely behind other vehicles
• Driver fatigue from exceeding legal service hours
• Poor vehicle maintenance, particularly of brakes and tires
• Distracted driving (texting, eating, adjusting controls)
• Taking turns or corners too sharply
• Sudden lane changes without proper signaling or space
• Operating with worn brake pads or misadjusted brakes
• Failure to downshift appropriately when descending hills

Who Is At-Fault for a Jackknife Truck Accident?

Determining fault in a jackknife truck accident can be challenging, especially if multiple parties are involved. Depending on what happened during the accident various parties may be liable.

Some of these parties may include:

• Truck Drivers: Generally, truck drivers may be at fault if improper braking, speeding, distractions or any other negligent behavior caused the accident.
• Trucking Company: The truck company could be liable if they failed to train drivers properly, enforce safety regulations or maintain their trucks.
• Manufacturers: The manufacturer might be held responsible if a defect on the truck contributed to or caused the accident.
• Other Drivers: If other drivers’ actions contributed to the crash, they could be partially at fault. Actions like speeding and tailgating could cause other drivers to be involved in an accident.
• Cargo Owners: If cargo owners do not load the cargo correctly into the truck, it can cause an accident, making the owner liable.
• Maintenance Providers: If a repair shop fails to perform adequate maintenance, they might also share responsibility.

Do Weather and Road Conditions Waive Jackknife Accident Liability?

Weather and road conditions do not automatically waive liability in jackknife accidents. While rain, snow, ice or poorly maintained roads can contribute to these accidents, it does not exempt drivers or other parties like trucking companies or manufacturers from liability.

In some cases, poor road conditions could result in government entities and road authorities becoming liable for jackknife accidents. They could be liable if potholes or inadequate signage contributed to the accident.

Challenges With Determining Fault if Multiple Parties Are Involved

If multiple parties are involved in a jackknife accident, it could complicate the legal process. Some of the challenges with multi-party jackknife accidents are:

Multiple Insurance Claims

Several parties in an accident could mean multiple insurance companies are involved in the claims process. Each insurance company may try to minimize fault to avoid paying out. Disputes over liability could prolong negotiations.

Collecting Numerous Evidence

Collecting evidence for a multiple-party truck accident can have several challenges. Uncovering the accident sequence of events could be complex if numerous accidents happened due to chain reactions.

Witnesses’ statements could also add to multiple parties’ truck accident complications. They can have various perspectives of what happened. Also, the chaos of the accident could influence their memories.

Significant Financial Matters

In multiple-party accidents, the cost of damages can be significant. Victims may also incur costly medical bills if they sustain severe injuries. Additionally, their injuries could prevent them from working, leading to lost income and reduced earning capacity.

How to Prove Liability in Truck Jackknife Accidents?

Actions like driving fatigue or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could mean the driver is liable for the accident. However, you will need clear evidence that shows that the truck drivers failed to operate the vehicle safely.

Some evidence that may help strengthen your case are:

• Accident Reconstruction: Experts may need to examine the accident to determine how it occurred and who is at fault.
• Eyewitness Testimony: Statements from witnesses can provide a different insight into what happened.
• Surveillance Footage: Video evidence from traffic cameras and dashcams.
• Police Reports: This document often contains details about the accident, including initial fault assessments and observations from the scene.
• Driver Logs: Logs can show whether the driver followed standards for driving hours and rest periods.
• Maintenance Records: Records may reveal if the truck was maintained correctly or if any mechanical issues contributed to the accident.
• Truck Company Records: Records from the trucking company can show if they enforce proper safety protocols and whether they may share liability for the accident.
• Black Box Data: Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are tools used to record data like speeding, braking patterns and hours of service. It can help determine if the driver was speeding or fatigued.

If the accident resulted in damages and injuries, you should link evidence, like medical bills and records, to the accident. Other types of evidence that can link injuries to accidents are:

• Testimonies from friends and family who witnessed the impact injuries had on your quality of life
• Work hour documents to show loss of income due to the accident

Contact Our Legal Team for More Information

If you have been involved in a jackknife truck accident in Harrisburg, seek legal counsel immediately. You do not have to deal with the complicated legal challenges alone.

At Schmidt Kramer, we can negotiate with the insurance company and gather solid evidence to help build your case. Learn more about your legal options in a free consultation. There are no upfront costs to hire our services – we only get paid if you do.

Experienced Lawyers. Proven Results: 717-727-2500.