All truck accidents in Missouri can be deadly because of the amount of force involved in a collision with a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. However, one type of truck accident can be particularly dangerous: a jackknife crash. A jackknife occurs when half of the truck skids and causes the vehicle to fold in on itself.
Commercial trucks and large rigs have two parts: the cab and the trailer. The cab is where the driver sits, and the trailer is where the cargo travels. These two parts are joined by a fifth wheel or a coupler, allowing the components to move independently. If the truck skids and the trailer shifts into a jackknife position, the vehicle could overturn.
In 2023, there were 137 fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles, while truck jackknife accidents in Missouri accounted for 169 of all fatal large truck accidents in 2020, of which there were 4,842. But what causes these highly dangerous crashes?
At Beck & Beck Car Accident Lawyers, our team of skilled Missouri truck accident lawyers has decades of legal experience. We have helped numerous clients understand who’s responsible for complex accidents and represented them as they pursue compensation. Learn more about truck jackknife accidents in Missouri and how our team can help.
How Do These Jackknife Accidents Happen?
Truck jackknife accidents occur when the trailer or the cab loses traction. To maintain adequate traction, there has to be plenty of friction between the tires and the ground. More static friction means the tires have a better chance of doing their job and keeping the truck running safely and smoothly.
If the tires lose the necessary amount of friction, however, they can start to slide. Sliding friction doesn’t have nearly the same grip as static friction, so the trailer can shift out of place and move forward. This causes the truck to fold in on itself.
There are a number of reasons why this lack of traction can happen. The following are the most common ones our experienced truck accident lawyers have seen.
Improper Application of Brakes
A truck is a gigantic vehicle that requires powerful brakes and a driver who knows how to use them correctly. If a driver hits the brakes, the cab itself may stop moving, but the trailer won’t. It will continue hurtling down at the same speed the truck was traveling at, causing the vehicle to jackknife.
This is a serious concern, especially if there’s an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Companies that don’t train their truckers correctly could be held liable if lack of training or experience leads to truck jackknife accidents in Missouri.
Damaged Brakes
The driver may not always be at fault when there are brake issues, though. Sometimes, these essential components are damaged or not installed correctly, resulting in catastrophic consequences for the driver and everyone else sharing the road.
Weather Conditions
Roads that are too slippery because of snow, ice, or rain can all result in jackknife accidents. During the winter, the risks of these accidents rise exponentially, especially if the roads are not maintained as they should be.
Fast Turns
A truck driver who takes a turn too quickly can cause the trailer to whip out. The force of this movement may then lead the vehicle to topple and even roll over. This type of accident can impact all of the cars around the truck.
Weight Distribution Problems
Most people don’t realize just how important it is for a truck to be loaded correctly. If a truck is overloaded or has cargo that isn’t secured in place, it can end up with a center of gravity that isn’t correct or safe for the vehicle’s size. When taking a turn or even changing lanes, an improper weight distribution can lead a truck to jackknife.
If the trailer is empty, however, the chances of this accident occurring are even higher. That’s because heavier trailers have more friction against the road. An empty trailer can slide forward more easily.
Why Truck Accidents in Missouri Are So Dangerous
You only need to look at a commercial truck to realize that these vehicles are huge compared to other cars on the road. They aren’t just larger in terms of size and weight, though — commercial trucks also exert much more force.
Many fully loaded commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds, whereas passenger cars weigh an average of about 4,000 pounds. The truck’s weight magnifies the force exerted during impact.
A commercial truck also requires more time to come to a complete stop, as well as more space in which to maneuver. Inexperienced drivers or those who are distracted can miss hazards until the last second.
When they respond by slamming the brakes, they think that will be enough to stop the vehicle. Unfortunately, however, it’s not, and that action actually puts everyone at risk of a jackknife accident.
Additionally, commercial trucks could be carrying hazardous cargo. If a collision occurs and cargo spills, it could cause even more damage to everyone nearby. There’s a higher chance of a truck catching fire, too, because of the substantial amount of fuel it carries.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Jackknife Accident in Missouri?
To understand who can be liable for truck jackknife accidents in Missouri, the first thing to identify is what caused it in the first place. If an accident occurred because the driver hit the brakes abruptly or took turns at too high a speed, they may be liable for acting negligently.
In some instances, though, the trucking company that hired them may be held responsible. If it failed to offer proper training or ensure that its drivers had the right experience, it’s responsible for putting others on the road at risk.
The company could also be to blame if the driver was too fatigued behind the wheel because the company doesn’t enforce federal regulations regarding working hours. A fatigued driver could easily lose control of a truck.
Truck manufacturers might be to blame if there is a mechanical failure like faulty brakes. Trucks generally receive maintenance checks before being allowed on the road. Thus, if the people in charge of these checks didn’t spot mechanical issues or didn’t take steps to resolve them, they could be held responsible, too.
Many trucking businesses rely on third-party companies to get their cargo loaded. The loaders could fail to secure the cargo correctly or overload the truck. If either action contributes to the accident, the third-party business could be at fault.
More than one party may be liable for truck jackknife accidents in Missouri. By hiring our truck accident lawyers, you’ll be able to hold the right people responsible.
Proving Fault After a Jackknife Accident in Missouri
Proving fault after a jackknife accident in Missouri requires gathering evidence that shows negligence occurred. To establish negligence, you’ll have to demonstrate that the other party owed you a duty of care that they breached and that their breach resulted in compensable losses.
It’s helpful to look at an example. If the truck driver was texting while behind the wheel, they might have failed to spot a hazard until the last moment. That could have led them to hit the brakes, causing the trailer to jackknife and hit your vehicle. In this case, the trucker breached their duty of care because they were using their phone while driving.
To prove this was the case, our team can request phone records that show the trucker was texting while driving. If the truck had in-cabin cameras, we could use this footage as well.
The evidence we gather will depend on the parties we’ll attempt to hold liable. In general, though, we’ll likely rely on police reports, medical records of your injuries, and witness statements. In cases involving a mechanical failure, we can get expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.
Skilled Missouri Truck Accident Lawyers
Being in a truck accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries and serious losses. To get the compensation you need, you should hire a team of experienced truck accident attorneys.
At Beck & Beck Car Missouri Accident Lawyers, we are a down-to-earth and hardworking team of lawyers who see you as more than just another client. We truly understand the struggles you’re facing, and we bring a compassionate but fierce approach to helping you get the assistance you deserve after what you’ve suffered.
We will negotiate with insurers to get you fair compensation and fight your corner in court if necessary. With us, you get a team ready to take on trucking companies and hold them accountable. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Some of the locations our legal team serves include St. Louis, Florissant, Springfield, Kirksville, Cape Girardeau, Kansas City, and more.
