Jackknife Accident

Jackknife big rig crashes are most commonly caused by the sudden application of the brakes in a tractor-trailer.  In some cases, though, improperly adjusted brakes can cause jackknife accidents.  Improperly adjusted brakes and brake failure in trucks are one of the top reasons for truck crashes on the US roadways.  Loss of pedal pressure is among the most common symptoms of brake failure.  In fact, any time the angle of articulation between the centerline of the tractor and semi-trailer exceeds fifteen degrees, the truck will jackknife and potentially cause a big truck accident.

Have you or someone you know been involved in a jackknife accident? If so, contact one of our experienced jackknife truck accident attorneys in your are today!

Property adjusted brakes and brake failure in trucks and other automobiles is one of the top reasons for truck accidents on the US roadways. Loss of pedal pressure is among the most common symptoms of brake failure.

Aside from sudden braking and brake failure, jackknife accidents can also be caused by:

• Downshifting
• Accelerating on a low friction surface
• Engine retarders
• Entering a curve too quickly

According to the truck accident news from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), there are few sources of information that can be used to link truck performance and handling to highway safety.  Most accident investigation and collection recourses pay little attention to evaluating the performance capabilities of heavy trucks.  The ability of the braking system to help avoid accidents depends on the capability of the truck to stop quickly in a stable and controlled manner.

The DOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute conducted a study to address the relationship of truck size and weight (TS&W) policy, vehicle handling and stability, and safety.  Handling and stability are the main mechanisms that relate to vehicle characteristics and safety.  The study helps to examine vehicle performance in safety-related maneuvering situations leading to such events as jackknifing, rolling over, poor tracking, poor braking, and loss of directional stability.  Vehicle dynamics have defined “intrinsic” or “inherent” safety.  Rollover and jackknife accidents are easy to recognize by accident investigators and predictable by appropriate types of vehicle analyses.  The study shows that rollover accidents are more likely for fully laden trucks and truck combinations and that jackknife accidents are more likely for empty combinations.

Findings suggest that improvements in brake proportioning and antilock systems should reduce the number of jackknife accidents.  Traditionally brake proportioning in the U.S. has been devised for fully laden axles without consideration to the breaking complexities of an empty vehicle or when load is shifted from the rear axles to forward axles.  Truck stability and control during braking depend on avoiding wheel locking.  A tractor-trailer may jackknife if the rear wheels lock and a trailer swing can occur if the trailer wheels lock.  In addition, the study shows that trailers with wide spread axle arrangements can encourage tractor jackknife during tight-radius turning on slippery surfaces and during intersection turns on slippery surfaces.  Weight has proven to be the strongest association with fatal truck accident rates.  The relationship with fatal truck accident rates was evident when the analysis was limited to specific accident types that were physically related to the vehicle characteristic, such as jackknife accidents and braking efficiency.

Have you or someone you know been involved in a jackknife accident? If so, contact one of our experienced jacknife truck accident lawyers in your are today!

Updated: LW

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Have you or someone you know been involved in a jackknife accident? If so, contact one of our experienced truck accident attorneys in your are today!