Helping Clients Across All of California
A jackknife accident happens fast and leaves devastating damage. One moment, a tractor-trailer is headed down the freeway ahead of you, and the next its trailer is sliding sideways across multiple lanes and folding into an L-shape. Nearby drivers only have seconds to react and nowhere to go to avoid the incoming trailer.
Jackknife crashes can involve damage to one or multiple cars, depending on who’s on the highway at the time. They can also block an entire freeway, spill cargo, start fires with flammable material, and cause injuries that change a family’s life permanently.
If you were hurt in a jackknife accident, the trucking company’s insurer may already be preparing to blame the weather, the road, or even you. The California jackknife truck accidents attorneys at BD&J have recovered more than $3 billion* for injured clients across the state.
Call 855-906-3699 or complete our online form to speak with a California jackknife truck accident attorney in a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 with help available in multiple languages.
Key Takeaways
- A jackknife accident happens when a truck’s trailer swings out of control and folds towards the cab, usually sweeping across several lanes of traffic.
- Brake problems are one of the leading factors in jackknife crashes. In 2025, inspectors cited 15% of the trucks they checked during a week-long brake enforcement check for brake violations.
- Federal rules require truck drivers to slow down in rain, fog, snow, and other hazardous conditions, so bad weather isn’t a valid excuse for losing control.
- California caps the speed of trucks pulling trailers at 55mph on highways.
- Electronic stability control is required on most new heavy truck tractors, but many older trucks without it are still on the road.
- Jackknife crashes often involve multiple vehicles, which makes it harder to sort out who pays and makes experienced legal help especially important.
What Is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
A jackknife accident happens when both the tractor and trailer of a truck stop moving in the same direction. Usually in a jackknife crash, the trailer keeps going forward while the cab slows down or turns, swinging around until the two sections form a sharp angle. If both parts of the trailer form a 90-degree angle, it’s called a T jackknife. If the trailer comes even closer to the cab, it’s considered to be a jackknife.
There are two main types of jackknife crashes:
- A tractor jackknife occurs when the cab’s rear wheels lose traction (at the front of the vehicle) causing the cab to spin back toward the trailer. This often happens when the drive wheels lock up during hard braking.
- A trailer swing occurs when the trailer’s wheels lock up or lose grip, and the trailer slides out to the side and swings into nearby lanes.
Either way, the driver can lose control within seconds, and often can’t get it back.
What Causes a Truck to Jackknife?
The most common cause of Jackknife crashes is a loss of wheel traction while on the road. But that may happen due to various factors, such as:
Brake Failures and Improper Braking
Brakes issues and problems make up most jackknife cases. When brakes are worn, out of adjustment, or unevenly balanced between the tractor and trailer, some wheels can lock up while others keep rolling. Uneven braking is what pulls a rig into a jackknife.
Jackknife crashes due to braking violations are more common than you’d think. During the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2025 Brake Safety Week, inspectors across North America checked 15,175 commercial vehicles and placed 2,296 of them out of service for brake violations. That’s 15.1%, or roughly 1 in every 7 trucks inspected. The most common reason was defective service brakes on the vehicle.
Driver technique also matters when it comes to braking. Slamming the brakes, braking hard in the middle of a curve, or using an engine brake on a slick road can all make a trailer swing out.
Speeding
Speed makes every jackknife risk worse, and can provoke trailer slides. A heavier, faster truck needs more distance to stop and more grip to stay in line. California law (Vehicle Code 22406) dictates trucks with three or more axles and trucks pulling trailers can’t drive faster than 55mph on a highway, even where cars may go 65 or 70. A truck driver who ignored that limit, or drove too fast for curves, grades, or traffic, may be responsible for what happened in an accident.
Weather and Road Conditions
Rain, fog, wind, ice, and snow all reduce traction and visibility while on the road. In fact, the Federal Carrier Safety Administration (392.14), requires truck drivers to use “extreme caution” when snow, ice, sleet, fog, rain, dust, or smoke affects visibility or traction. The rule says drivers must slow down in those conditions, and must stop driving if conditions become dangerous enough.
In other words, the law expects truck drivers to adjust to the weather. When they don’t, the weather doesn’t excuse them of the consequences.
Empty or Lightly Loaded Trailers
It may seem counterintuitive, but the lighter the trailer, the more dangerous and likely to jackknife. With less weight pressing down on the trailer’s tires, they have less grip, so they can lock up and skid more easily during hard braking.
Loads that are poorly balanced or shift during the trip can also throw a truck off balance. Learn more about how improperly loaded trucks cause crashes.
Fatigue and Distraction
A tired or distracted driver is more likely to react late and then brake too hard to make up for it. Sudden, panicked braking is a classic jackknife trigger. Fatigued truck drivers and drivers distracted by phones, dispatch screens, or GPS units put everyone on the road at risk.
Missing or Broken Safety Technology
Federal rules and regulations have required anti-lock brakes (ABS) on heavy vehicles since 1997. In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a rule requiring electronic stability control (ESC) on truck tractors and large buses weighing more than 26,000 pounds. The requirement took effect for most heavy trucks in 2017 and has been in place ever since. NHTSA estimated that ESC would prevent 14% of loss-of-control crashes, the category that includes jackknifes.
Brake records, maintenance logs, and stability control data can show what really caused your crash. Call BD&J at 855-906-3699to start an investigation.
Who Is Responsible for a Jackknife Crash?
Jackknife crash responsibility can often involve several companies, each with its own insurer.
Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include:
- The truck driver. A driver who sped, braked improperly, drove while fatigued, or kept driving in dangerous weather may be at fault.
- The trucking company. Carriers are responsible for maintaining brakes, training drivers to handle slippery roads, setting realistic schedules, and pulling unsafe trucks out of service. In many cases, the company behind the driver often shares responsibility.
- Brake and maintenance providers. A shop that adjusted brakes incorrectly may be liable.
- Parts and equipment manufacturers. Faulty brake components, ABS modules, or stability control systems can support a product defect claim.
- Shippers and cargo loaders. A company that loaded the trailer unevenly or failed to secure the cargo may share the blame.
- Government agencies. In some cases, a dangerous road design or poor road maintenance may involve a public agency. Just know that these claims have much shorter filing deadlines.
Injuries Caused by Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife crashes often involve side impacts, multiple collisions, and spilled cargo, which can lead to a wide range of serious injuries:
- Head injuries. These range from concussions to traumatic brain injuries with lasting effects on memory, mood, and the ability to work.
- Back and neck trauma. This includes herniated discs and spinal cord injuries.
- Burns. When fuel tanks rupture or flammable cargo ignites, victims may suffer burn injuries that require skin grafts and long hospital stays.
- Broken bones and crush injuries. These are common in side impacts with a trailer.
- Whiplash and soft tissue damage. Chain-reaction rear-end collisions often cause these.
- Emotional trauma. Many survivors develop anxiety, PTSD, or a lasting fear of driving near trucks.
When a jackknife causes a fatal crash, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible.
If you had a back or neck condition before the crash, it doesn’t automatically ruin your claim. Despite a pre-existing condition, you may still recover compensation when a crash makes an existing injury worse.
A jackknife crash can leave you with injuries that need years of care. BD&J works to make sure your compensation covers your future needs, not just today’s bills. Call 855-906-3699 for a free consultation.
Compensation for Jackknife Accident Victims
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses. This includes emergency care, surgery, burn treatment, rehabilitation, and future medical needs.
- Lost wages and earning capacity. This applies if your injuries keep you from working or force you into a lower-paying job.
- Property damage. This covers your vehicle and anything inside it.
- Pain and suffering. This includes physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death damages. These may include funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of a loved one’s companionship.
- Punitive damages. These are rare, but possible when a company acted with malice or conscious disregard for safety, such as knowingly sending out a truck with failing brakes.
Because jackknife crashes often involve several insurance policies, an experienced attorney can identify every source of coverage. That includes the trucking company’s commercial policy, the trailer owner’s policy, and policies held by any other liable parties.
How to Navigate the Aftermath of a Jackknife Accident
If you were involved in a jackknife crash, these steps can help protect your safety and your claim:
- Get to safety. – Move away from the wreckage if you can do so. Jackknifed trucks may leak fuel or spill cargo, and other vehicles may still be sliding toward the scene.
- Call 911 and describe the scene. – Let dispatchers know a tractor-trailer jackknifed and how many vehicles are involved, so enough responders are sent.
- Get checked by a medical professional. – Multi-impact crashes can cause internal injuries and head trauma that don’t show symptoms right away.
- Photograph the trailer’s angle and position. – If you are able to, take pictures of how the trailer is turned, where it ended up, and any tire marks on the road.
- Write down the truck and trailer details. – Note the company name, DOT number, truck and trailer numbers, and license plates.
- Keep your own records. – Save medical bills, repair estimates, and any calls or letters from insurance companies, and don’t sign anything from the trucking company’s insurer.
- Call an attorney before the brake evidence is gone. – Brakes can be repaired and trucks returned to service quickly, so a lawyer can act fast to preserve the truck and its data.
It’s important that you take care of yourself and document the entire recovery process. Make sure you follow these steps and avoid the most common mistakes for the best chance on your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jackknife Truck Accidents
What Usually Causes a Truck to Jackknife?
Most jackknife accidents happen when a truck’s wheels lose traction, often because of hard or uneven braking, speeding, slippery roads, or an empty trailer. Brake defects and poor maintenance are common contributing factors.
Can a Truck Jackknife Even When It’s Going the Speed Limit?
Yes. A truck can jackknife at or below the posted limit if it’s going too fast for the weather, a curve, or traffic, or if its brakes aren’t working properly.
Can a Trucking Company Blame the Weather for a Jackknife?
Not usually. Federal rules require truck drivers to use extreme caution and reduce their speed in rain, fog, snow, ice, and similar conditions, and to stop driving when conditions become too dangerous.
Does It Matter if Chain Controls or Weather Advisories Were Posted?
It can. Posted chain controls or advisories can show that the driver knew, or should have known, about dangerous conditions and needed to slow down or stop.
Who Pays When a Jackknife Causes a Multi-Vehicle Pileup?
Often, more than one party shares the cost, including the trucking company, the driver, and sometimes other motorists. An attorney can reconstruct the crash to show which party caused which impacts.
What if I Crashed into the Trailer After It Jackknifed?
You may still have a claim against the trucking company, since the jackknife created the hazard. Under California’s comparative negligence rules, any share of fault assigned to you only reduces your recovery.
Can I Sue if Bad Brakes Caused the Jackknife?
Yes. If poorly maintained or defective brakes contributed to the crash, the trucking company, the maintenance provider, or a parts manufacturer may be held responsible.
How Do I Find Out Whether the Brakes Were Defective?
Your attorney can request the truck’s maintenance and inspection records, review its roadside inspection history, and have experts examine the brake system. Acting quickly matters, because brakes are often repaired soon after a crash.
How Long Do I Have to File a Jackknife Accident Claim in California?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government agency is involved, you usually must file a written claim within six months.
Does It Matter if the Trucking Company Is Based in Another State?
Usually not. When a crash happens in California, you can generally bring your claim here, even if the trucking company is headquartered elsewhere.
Talk to a California Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney Today
A jackknifed truck can turn an ordinary drive into a life-changing emergency, and you shouldn’t have to deal with the trucking company and its insurers on your own.
Contact BD&J at 855-906-3699 or complete our online form for a free, confidential case review. Our team is available 24/7, and there are no fees unless we win.*
