Jackknife Accident Attorneys: Why Does Braking Cause Jackknife Accidents?
Jackknife accidents happen when a large truck folds inward while on the road, with the trailer swinging toward the cab. These accidents can span onto various traffic lanes, leaving serious injuries, property damage, and other psychological trauma in their wake.
The act of braking, specifically sudden braking, can be one of the main causes of jackknife accidents on California roads. Keep reading to learn more from BD&J truck jackknife accident attorneys on how braking causes these accidents, how to avoid speeding trucks, and what can help your legal claim.
The BD&J team is available 24/7, so call us at 855-906-3699 or complete our online form to connect!
How Common Are Jackknife Accidents in California?
California’s busy commercial hubs like Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Jose, and San Francisco means a large quantity of commercial trucks are out and about among the typical California traffic.
Long shifts, crossing state lines, and the need to make tight delivery deadlines means truck drivers may be tired, distracted, or even speeding to make it to their destination in time. This leads to a higher risk of jackknife accidents in California, and with 378 fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles recorded in the state in 2024, a higher risk of severe or fatal injuries.
Sudden Braking and Jackknife Accidents
Sudden truck braking is attributed to being one of the main causes of jackknife accidents. When a massive commercial truck attempts to brake within a short period of time or with little following distance between itself and other cars, this can lead to disaster.
Sudden braking can often happen due to:
- Weather conditions like rain, sleet, or hail that cause vehicles to drive slower, or also increase the chances of hydroplaning.
- Other drivers cutting off a truck driver, brake checking a truck driver, or coming to a complete stop with little time due to speeding.
- Truck driver negligence or errors on the road like being distracted by a GPS or cell phone, driving while sleepy, or failing to yield, speeding, and committing other unsafe driving maneuvers.
Sudden braking can ultimately cause jackknife accidents due to a few factors:
- Shortened stopping distances
- Uneven weight distribution
- Slippery roads
- Brakes that malfunction and lock under pressure
When sudden braking results in jackknife accidents, it can often mean serious injuries for drivers and passengers in front and behind trucks, and even in nearby lanes. Because jackknife accidents can lead to a swinging of the truck’s trailer, impact can be especially heavy for other motorists.
Talk to a California truck accident lawyer after an accident to understand your legal rights.
How To Avoid Speeding Trucks on the Road
Large trucks must go at lower speeds than other smaller vehicles, but this rule isn’t always followed by drivers. If you notice a speeding truck on the road, the following steps can help you possibly avoid an unexpected accident.
- Keep your distance. – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends about 5 seconds of space between large trailer trucks going at a faster speed and other vehicles, so keep this in mind.
- Stay out of a truck’s no zones. – The no zones of a truck are the blind spots, which include the area in front, behind, and to the sides of a truck starting at the side mirrors.
- Do not brake check a speeding truck. – A speeding truck that is behind you may be aggravating, but it’s essential not to brake check them as this can lead to an accident.
- Steer your car out of the way if a truck is tailgating you. – If a truck is tailgating you, the best course of action is to move over to the right and let the truck pass and avoid any aggression.
- Talk to a jackknife accident attorney in California in the event of an accident. – While it’s expected licensed commercial drivers will be cautious and follow their vehicle regulations, this isn’t always the case, and after an accident a jackknife accident attorney in California can help you understand your legal rights.
What Do I Do After a Jackknife Accident?
After a jackknife accident on a highway, freeway, or other road, you should do the following:
5 Minutes After
- Seek a safe side of the road to pull over to (usually to the right where there’s a shoulder)
- Check yourself and passengers for any immediate injuries
- Call the police and report the accident
- Check on other involved drivers
- Exchange information with the truck driver, including insurance and contact info
5 Hours After
- Finish getting medical treatment for injuries
- Prepare all photos and videos you’ve taken from the accident scene
- Contact other witnesses who may have had dashcam footage from the accident to ask for a copy of the recording
- Research jackknife accident attorneys, noting client testimonials and case results
- Visually inspect your vehicle for notable damages
5 Days Later
- Continue treating your injuries, noting persistent symptoms, physical limitations, and more
- Book your consultation with a truck accident lawyer
- Gather your evidence and questions for the attorney consultation
- Avoid speaking with the other truck driver’s insurance or giving any statements to their employer
- Document all communications made with other involved parties to show your attorney
How Soon Should I Speak with a Jackknife Accident Attorney?
You should speak with a jackknife accident lawyer as soon as you’ve been cleared from any hospital stays and ready to get started on a legal claim. If you’re:
- Unsure whether you have a claim
- Unsure of who is responsible for the accident
- Unable to pay for your medical expenses
- Having your claim denied by insurance
- Unsure if an insurance offer is fair
- Having a truck driver deny responsibility for the accident
Then you should be looking into consulting with a jackknife accident injury attorney on your legal rights and if you’re eligible for a claim.
3 Things that Can Help Your Jackknife Accident Claim
Getting started on a jackknife accident case can be easier when you’re working with an experienced accident lawyer. While there are some things to avoid in a personal injury claim, there are others that can benefit your case and continue to build a strong support for your fight for compensation.
3 things that can help your jackknife accident claim are:
- Solid evidence, including medical documentation of injury, photos and videos of the accident and the accident scene, pay stubs verifying your employment for lost income, and vehicle repair estimates.
- Being completely upfront with your truck accident attorney about the accident, even if you were partially at fault.
- Following medical treatment recommendations, not just for your overall health, but also to document the recovery of your injuries and obtain information on future medical care and the prognosis of your wounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose Insurance Company Do I File a Claim with After a Jackknife Accident?
This ultimately depends on who caused the accident. For example, a truck driver who was negligent and caused the accident may have their own insurance if they’re an independent contractor. If they were an employee of a trucking company, then the trucking company could be held liable through their insurance.
Some injured drivers also report the accident to their own insurance to get compensation for vehicle repairs sooner. However, it could help you to talk to a jackknife truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to decide what route to take.
Should I Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Company Alone?
No, because insurance companies will often twist recorded statements to put liability on an injured driver. Do not give any recorded statements to an insurance company alone.
What Evidence Can Help My Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Evidence that could help your lawsuit includes photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries, truck black box data that records its operations, speeds, and braking levels, the contact information for any witnesses to the accident, and medical documentation of your injuries.
What if I Had Some Fault for a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Fortunately, you can still file a claim for compensation because the state of California recognizes comparative negligence. This allows injured victims of accidents to recover reduced compensation for their injuries, even if they had some fault for the accident.
How Much Compensation Would I Recover Through Comparative Negligence?
Compensation through comparative negligence is reduced by the amount of fault a person is assigned during the claim. For example, a person who is awarded $350,000 in a truck accident claim but is found to be 40% at fault for driving distracted would recover $210,000.
How Could a Jackknife Accident Be Prevented?
Some preventative tips for jackknife accidents recommended for truck drivers include checking brakes and tire pressure before getting on the road, not going over truck speed limits, and maintaining a safe following distance.
What Can a Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer Do for My Case?
While you’re recovering from your injuries after an accident, a jackknife truck accident lawyer can help with filing your claim, compiling evidence, negotiating a fair settlement amount using specialized tactics and past case experience, as well as communicate with all other parties on your behalf.
How Can I Tell if a Law Firm is the Right Representative for My Claim?
A couple of ways to learn more about a certain law firm and decide if they’re a good fit to represent your case include scheduling a free consultation, coming to this consultation with questions, learning about their case results and past success, and reading client testimonials.
How Can I Prove Psychological Trauma After a Jackknife Accident?
Proving psychological trauma after a jackknife accident may include psychological documentation by an expert, the testimony and friends and family, and any formal written diagnosis.
What Compensation Can a BD&J Truck Accident Attorney Help Me Recover?
A BD&J truck accident attorney can help you recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, loss of income if unable to work, vehicle repair or replacement, pain and suffering, and emotional and psychological trauma.
How Can I Connect with the BD&J Law Firm?
BD&J has offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Fresno, and Sacramento.
You can call us or complete our online form to connect with a BD&J team member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Let BD&J help you in the legal fight for justice and contact us now!
Jackknife Truck Accident Injury Lawyers that Require No Upfront Payment
Sudden braking and even brake malfunctions are some of the most common causes of jackknife truck accidents. When you’re a driver injured in an unexpected jackknife accident with another large commercial truck, you have the right to seek compensation.
BD&J is the California law firm that fights for compensation on behalf of injured victims and their families. Because we work under a contingency fee basis, all attorney fees are deducted from the final compensation amount after your case is settled, which means no fees until we win*.
Contact us to schedule your free initial consultation with a jackknife truck accident lawyer from BD&J today!