What is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Many truck accidents cases in Maryland
are caused when eighteen wheel trucks' axle brakes lock up. This
causes the truck to go into a skid and the trailer swings out
and stops, forming a 90 
degree
angle with the truck. Truck accidents due to jackknifing often
occur when the drive wheels are locked when they reach a slick
spot while the front wheels and the trailer continue rolling forward.
Jackknifing can occur at speeds as low as five miles per hour.
Some trucks are more likely to jackknife. For example, a half
empty tanker is more than twice as likely to be involved in a
jackknifing truck accident than a fully loaded semi truck (which
is also at great risk for jackknifing). Slippery roads can also
cause a truck accident from jackknifing. As truck accident lawyers
in Maryland, our attorneys are often arguing that the slippery
conditions required more prudent driving by the truck driver given
the hazardous condition.
Our Maryland truck accident lawyers have learned that truck accidents from jackknifing can be avoided by prudent breaking. When an eighteen wheel truck driver is required to hit the breaks, he has three basic braking options in his effort to avoid a truck accident. The truck driver can (1) lock up the steering axle brakes, (2) he can lock the drive axles or (3) he can lock the trailer axles. The potential outcomes depend upon which option the driver chooses. If the driver attempts to avoid the truck accident by locking up the steering axle brakes, the eighteen wheeler will typically straighten under most road conditions. But if the driver seeks to avoid the truck accident by locking the drive axles, the truck is more likely to jackknife. The worst option - and the most common in causing truck accidents our Maryland truck accident lawyers have found -is when the driver locks up the trailer brakes. This leads to a trailer swing that frequently leads to a truck accident.
If you have been injured in a truck accident from jackknifing and are looking for Maryland truck accident attorneys experienced in handling truck accident cases on behalf of injured victims, select here or call 800-553-8082.
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