Miami Jackknife Truck Accidents
Jackknife truck accident lawyers in Miami, FL
According to the USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration, there were over 10 million trucks of all kinds registered in the state of Florida in 2021. These vehicles play a major role in keeping our state’s economy up and running. Thanks to the rise of e-commerce and interstate trade, large commercial vehicles have become more common fixtures on Miami’s local roadways.
As important as these trucks are to our local economy, the growing presence of large commercial vehicles in and around Miami definitely raises some questions and concerns about traffic safety. Truck drivers and motor carriers must follow specific safety protocols to protect themselves and others from harm. But what happens when a company violates its legal duty of care?
Truck accidents can be incredibly dangerous due to the size and scale of modern freight vehicles. Jackknife accidents are some of the most frightening crash scenarios involving these trucks because of the amount of damage they can cause in a relatively short amount of time. In a jackknife accident, a truck’s trailer swings out from behind the cab at a harsh angle. In a jackknife scenario, a trailer can easily sweep across multiple lanes of traffic and cause serious harm to anyone in its path. These accidents commonly result in a loss of driver control and can snowball into a rollover or pile-up situation before nearby drivers have time to fully react.
Many survivors of jackknife accidents suffer serious physical injuries in addition to extensive property damage and emotional trauma. If you were injured in a truck accident and believe jackknifing may have played a role, contact the experienced Miami truck accident lawyers at Hickey Law Firm Accident and Injury Trial Lawyers to discuss whether you may be entitled to compensation based on the facts of your case.
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What is a jackknife truck accident?
Articulated vehicles like semi-trucks can be prone to jackknifing because they are composed of two (or more) distinct components. In your average jackknife accident, one component of the vehicle – typically the trailer portion of a semi-truck – swings out from behind the cab and folds in on itself to form a V-shaped or L-shaped angle. This accident scenario gets its name from this swinging and folding motion because the disjointed parts of the vehicle often resemble a jackknife once the dust has settled.
Articulated vehicles are supposed to travel in a straight line just like any other automobile. Because the cab and trailer of a semi-truck are technically two separate components of the vehicle, it is possible for them to move in different directions from one another under certain conditions. Even a brief loss of alignment between the cab and trailer can make it difficult for a driver to regain control and may quickly lead to a jackknife accident.
There are countless risks associated with these accidents. A rogue trailer can easily weigh several tons and may be large enough to sweep across multiple lanes of traffic during an accident. This can do extensive damage to several neighboring vehicles in quick succession and may serve as the first link in a chain-reaction crash.
These accidents happen quickly, and nearby drivers may not have enough time or stopping distance to avoid a collision. Even if the jackknifed truck is several yards ahead, it’s easy for these accidents to cause major pile-ups that impact drivers all along the interstate. When all is said and done, the fallout from these incidents can be extensive, and a single jackknifed truck can do massive damage to property, people, and infrastructure.
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Why are jackknife accidents so dangerous?
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 1,000 large-truck crashes involving jackknifing resulted in injuries in 2020. In this same period, there were approximately 169 fatal accidents involving jackknifing reported to the agency. As the number of commercial trucks on our interstates continues to increase, we may see a commensurate increase in the number of injuries and fatalities associated with jackknife crashes.
In addition to the size and scale of the vehicles involved in these crashes, there are a few additional factors that can make jackknife accidents incredibly dangerous:
Loss of driver control
When a truck jackknifes, the driver may be unable to correct course or otherwise control their vehicle. At the first sign of an imbalance between the cab and trailer of a truck, a driver may begin to encounter difficulties with steering, stopping, and staying in their lane of travel. Once a driver loses control of their vehicle, the potential risks of a crash can increase exponentially.
What’s more, drivers in some cases may attempt to overcorrect when facing a potential jackknife scenario. This may lead them to swerve into adjacent or oncoming lanes of traffic or make other hasty decisions that put other vehicles in harm’s way.
Multi-lane obstruction
As a jackknife accident unfolds, there is often immediate danger posed to nearby vehicles. Because the trailer swings outward in these accidents, it can quickly block several lanes of traffic and cause collisions with several vehicles at a time. This kind of large-scale obstruction can also serve as the impetus for a multi-car pileup. As drivers encounter the crash site, they may be unable to stop with enough time to avoid colliding with a vehicle in front of them. Other drivers may attempt to swerve in order to avoid an out-of-control truck, which can lead to side-swipe collisions and other dangerous crash scenarios.
Severe impact forces
Think about the amount of momentum involved in these crashes. A jackknifed trailer can essentially become a giant pendulum – striking numerous vehicles with remarkable force. Impacts of this sort are capable of doing extensive damage and may cause serious and even life-threatening injuries to nearby motorists. Even cars caught in a pile-up scenario may be forced into one another at high rates of speed (remember Newton’s Cradle?), which can result in multiple vehicles and individuals suffering catastrophic harm.
Because of all of these factors, jackknife truck accidents are some of the scariest crash scenarios involving large vehicles. Due to the pervasive nature of the harm these accidents cause, many survivors of jackknife crashes require extensive medical treatment and incur massive financial costs in the aftermath of a collision.
Common causes of jackknife truck accidents
There are many different factors that may contribute to a jackknife crash – some preventable and some less so. In general, these crashes commonly occur when a tractor-trailer loses traction or when the cab and trailer respond differently to braking forces. Each case is different, however, and there may be other practices or variables involved in these crashes, including:
Sudden or improper braking
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. As a result, these vehicles usually need to roll to a slow stop to prevent momentum from working against the truck’s components. If a truck driver suddenly slams on the brakes, the wheels may slow down while the trailer continues moving in its original direction. With nowhere else to go, the trailer may then swing outward at a high rate of speed, at which point the entire vehicle becomes nearly impossible to control.
Slippery road conditions
Slick road surfaces can also cause trailer wheels to move in opposition to the truck’s cab. Adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, and sleet can increase the risk of a traction-related jackknife accident, but spilled oil and other roadway hazards can cause these crashes as well. When some or all of the vehicle’s wheels lose traction, the truck may begin to skid, and the trailer may begin to move sideways rather than forward. Drivers must exercise caution and travel at reasonable rates of speed when driving in potentially dangerous conditions. If a driver fails to take steps to mitigate harm when driving in a hazardous environment, they could be held responsible for any harm caused by their jackknifed trailer.
Improperly loaded cargo
Proper cargo loading practices play an important role in preventing jackknife accidents. Cargo needs to be evenly distributed inside a trailer to prevent the vehicle from becoming unbalanced. If there is too much weight on one side of a truck, the driver may be unable to properly control the vehicle, particularly when turning or stopping. Trucks need to be well-balanced to ensure the vehicle maintains its center of gravity during operation. Even cargo that was initially loaded properly can shift during travel, so drivers must periodically inspect their trailers to ensure nothing has dangerously shifted on the journey.
Mechanical failures
All of the components of a truck must be working properly and synergistically in order to ensure safety on the road. Worn brakes and defective tires can result in the momentum and traction issues outlined above, and may increase the risk of a jackknife accident. Even a relatively minor mechanical failure could make it harder for a driver to control their vehicle or respond properly to certain roadway hazards. Truck manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are safe for operation, and trucking companies are expected to invest in adequate inspection and maintenance services to mitigate the risk of harm.
Seeking accountability for a jackknife truck accident
Jackknife truck accidents can cause serious and costly harm to multiple parties involved in a crash. Because of the severity of these collisions, many survivors find themselves facing compounding losses in the weeks, months, and years following a crash. Over time, these losses can become a source of major financial strain, leading some crash victims to file claims for compensation against negligent parties who caused or contributed to their losses.
Because of the complexity of these crashes, determining liability for a jackknife accident can pose some challenges. In a fairly straightforward case, you’ll need to determine whether a driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or cargo loading service violated its legal duty of care and caused you harm as a result. In a more complex case like a pile-up crash, you may need to focus on multiple potential sources of liability simultaneously to ensure you consider all available sources of compensation based on the facts of your case.
In Florida, we utilize a modified comparative negligence system, which means each party involved in a crash will have their level of fault assessed as part of the claims process. If an investigation reveals that you were more than 50% responsible for your own injuries, you may be barred from recovering any compensation from other involved parties. If, however, your level of fault is assessed as 50% or less, you may still be entitled to damages, though any compensation you recover will be reduced by a percentage equal to your level of fault.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you thoroughly investigate all potential sources of liability in your case and work with you to push back against unsubstantiated claims of contributory fault. By examining the facts of your case and gathering supporting evidence, your lawyer can help you build a solid legal framework and recover any economic or non-economic damages you may be entitled to under the law.
Find a Miami jackknife truck accident lawyer
If you’re facing extensive medical bills, costly property damage, or other losses related to a negligence-related jackknife accident, you may be entitled to compensation under Florida law. At Hickey Law Firm, we understand how complicated these cases can become – particularly when they involve multiple parties or corporate negligence.
Our team is committed to helping clients fully understand their rights so they can pursue the legal option that’s best for them. We strive to ensure our clients feel supported and empowered so they can regain their sense of safety and control after a life-changing accident.
If you or a loved one was injured in a jackknife truck accident in Miami, our attorneys are standing by to provide you with the information and resources you need to make an informed decision about how best to fight for your right to compensation. Fill out our online contact form or stop by our office – 12150 SW 128th Ct., Suite 225; Miami, FL 33186 – to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, and let’s discuss whether you may have the basis for a claim.