If you have been driving Colorado’s highways for any amount of time, particularly in the winters, a jackknife semi truck crash is likely a familiar sight. These largely avoidable crashes frequently confront travelers on Colorado’s major interstates, I-25 and I-70. A jackknife semi truck can cause catastrophic crashes and road closures snarling traffic for hours.
A jackknife semi truck can be a deadly obstacle on a roadway. They can stretch across multiple lanes blocking traffic; and at night can be almost invisible. We cannot overstate the potential for these crashes to cause serious personal injuries and property damage.
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash with a jackknife semi truck, you deserve to know why it happened and what someone could have done to prevent it. You need an experienced truck crash attorney to help determine the underlying cause of a jackknife crash.
Have you been injured in a jackknife semi truck accident?
Call The Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson for a free consultation: 303-444-1505
What is a Jackknife?
Jackknifing is a function of the nature of a combination vehicle like a semi truck and trailer. Unlike passenger vehicles, a tractor and trailer are linked but can move independently.
A semi truck “jackknifes” when a trailer being pulled by a tractor swings out from behind the cab at a sharp angle. The tractor and trailer resemble the folding of a pocket knife, hence “jackknife.” The trailer can end up almost completely perpendicular to the roadway, while the semi truck’s cab remains almost stationary and facing forward.
Semi trucks can jackknife in two ways – trailer or tractor first. Both can obstruct oncoming traffic and cause crashes.
- Trailer Jackknife – occurs when the back end of the trailer slides to the right or the left when the trailer’s tires lock up or lose traction. The tractor may continue facing straight up the roadway or slide itself. Trailer jackknifes can happen relatively slowly as the long trailer slides across the roadway. An experienced truck driver may be able to stop or recover without losing control.
- Tractor Jackknife – happens when the tractor loses traction and the weight of the trailer pushes the tractor to the right or left until it folds into the side of the trailer. Because the tractor is smaller and has a shorter wheelbase, this type of jackknife happens fast and does not offer the truck driver much chance to recover.
[Source: Truckingtruth.com]
What Causes Semi Trucks to Jackknife?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) recorded over 5,000 fatal jackknife crashes between 2019 and 2020. Trucks can jackknife for many different reasons; but there are a few conditions and actions that can lead to jackknifing.
- Loss of Traction – The risk of jackknifing is much higher when there are hazardous weather conditions such as rain, wind, sleet, ice, or snow. These conditions all lead to a loss of road traction which can lead to a jackknife accident.
- Improper Braking or Brake Problems – Braking suddenly, especially on slick roads, can cause the trailer brakes to lock up and begin to slide out from behind the tractor. This is a particular risk when the trailer is empty as the lighter weight of the trailer reduces the traction on the roadway.
- Mechanical Issues – Commercial vehicles like semi trucks have complex air brake systems that mechanics must inspect regularly and maintain properly. Failure to do so can lead to breakdowns, including causing the brakes to lock up, leading to jackknifing.
- Speed – Travelling too fast for road conditions, something the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) closely regulate, will cause large trucks and trailers to jackknife.
- Improper Cargo Loading or Empty Trailers – A fully loaded tractor and trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Proper loading of the cargo and weight distribution is imperative to safety. Uneven weight distribution or shifting cargo can lead to jackknifing.
- Driver Error – When confronted with any of the above conditions an experienced and properly trained truck driver may be able to recover control of their tractor. A driver who lacks training, experience, or is fatigued or distracted will not be able to. This can lead to failing to maintain a proper distance from other traffic, speeding, or sudden braking causing a jackknife.
Experienced Truck Crash Attorneys Can Get to the Bottom of a Jackknife Semi Truck Crash
Jackknife semi truck crashes require attorneys with specialized experience in commercial trucking cases. While insurance companies often blame poor weather and claim no one was at fault, the best truck crash attorneys know that these “sudden” crashes often result from systemic trucking company problems.
Experienced truck crash attorneys know what to look for and how to prove a trucking company’s action led to a jackknife semi truck crash. Truck crash lawyers know a trucking company’s actions, as much as the driver’s, can cause a jackknife semi truck crash.
The best truck crash attorneys know that even when a truck jackknifes in hazardous weather, brakes, routing decisions, and driver hours of service could be the real cause of the crash. You need a truck crash attorney with the knowledge and experience to know how all these factors can lead to a jackknifed truck.
Weather Related Jackknife Accidents
Trucking companies that route drivers through Colorado have a responsibility to hire or train competent drivers to safely navigate the mountain highways and the windy plains. While a lot goes into getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL), the motor carrier also has to ensure and document that a driver is skilled and qualified to operate.
In Colorado, that means that a driver knows how to handle the often sudden changes in weather. If a trucking company knows a driver does not have experience with the conditions that can occur in the mountains or on the open plains, they should assign a different driver or route. Semi truck accident attorneys in Colorado will know what areas of the state are prone to these extreme weather conditions.
Sudden changes in weather and road conditions are common in Colorado’s mountains and plains. Ice and wind increase the risk of jackknife semi truck crashes in the mountains and on the plains. Inexperienced drivers can quickly find themselves driving in conditions they are not prepared for.
State and federal laws and regulations also require commercial truck drivers to take certain actions in adverse weather. All commercial motor vehicles in Colorado, like semi trucks, must carry chains from September 1st through May 31st. Knowing when to stop and when to chain up can make all the difference in preventing a jackknife semi truck crash and trucking companies should ensure their drivers know when to slow, chain up, or stop outright.
Federal regulations even require drivers to exercise “extreme caution” in hazardous weather conditions like snow, ice, fog, or smoke when visibility or traction is affected. At a minimum, truck drivers must reduce their speed when confronted with snow, rain, or fog. If the road conditions get worse, they must stop altogether. Experienced Colorado truck crash attorneys know what to look for in a driver’s qualification file or the trucking company’s training and supervision practices to determine if a driver should have been driving in the conditions or been on the road at all.
Brake Failure & Jackknifing
Improperly maintained brakes or how an inexperienced or untrained driver applies their brakes also can cause or contribute to a jackknife crash. Motor carriers or trucking companies are required to inspect, repair, and maintain all the CMVs in their fleet and/or under their control. Truck drivers are required to inspect and document the condition of their trucks, including the brake systems, every day.
Knowing how to brake is important, as addressed above, because it can directly lead to a jackknife semi truck crash. However, improper application or overuse degrades brake performance initially and can lead to an outright failure. The best truck crash attorneys in Denver will work with the right experts to determine if the conditions of the tractor or trailer’s brakes led to the jackknife.
If you were injured in a jackknife semi truck crash, you need lawyers with the experience and education to win tough commercial truck accident cases. Attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson have the experience and education necessary to handle complex truck accident claims. Peter M. Anderson is board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, one of only two such qualified in the state of Colorado. He can navigate the complex federal regulations applicable to your injury claims. He has a history of successfully holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies responsible in serious truck crash cases. Call the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson, Colorado Truck Accident Lawyer, at 303-444-1505 today.