Jackknife Truck Accidents in Nashville

Jackknife truck accidents in Nashville can lead to severe, traumatic injuries. Moreover, the nature of these wrecks makes it likely that multiple cars will be involved, placing further stress on the situation. Although some natural circumstances—such as bad weather—can cause a semi-truck to jackknife, often, these incidents stem from a mistake made by an individual.

When you are injured in a jackknife accident, the costs the wreck imposes on your life can linger well past the collision. If your accident was caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or negligent actions, you should not have to bear those costs. An experienced truck crash attorney at Ponce Law could help you pursue fair and just compensation for your losses.

Common Causes of Jackknifing

Most semi-trucks are composed of two main separate pieces:

• The cab, where the controls are, and the driver sits
• The trailer, where the truck’s cargo is stored

These two pieces are connected by a joint that allows the cab to turn independently of the trailer. Without this functionality, the 18-wheeler’s turning radius would be increased significantly, and its overall maneuverability would be greatly reduced.

This ability for the trailer to move independently of the cab, however, also makes the truck more difficult to control. In some scenarios, the driver can lose control of the trailer. Situations where an out-of-control trailer swings to form a right angle with the truck’s cab are known as “jackknifing.” These situations could be caused by:

• The driver attempting to stop too quickly
• The driver taking a turn at an excessive speed
• The 18-wheeler’s cargo shifting or falling from the trailer
• The truck’s braking systems failing or not operating effectively

Many of these causes may not be readily apparent at the scene of the wreck, but a Nashville lawyer with experience handling semi-truck collisions that result from jackknifing could investigate the crash and work with relevant subject matter experts to determine the cause.

Responsibility for Jackknife Truck Accidents

In any auto accident, determining who is at fault is often difficult. This complexity is often compounded in collisions that involve commercial vehicles jackknifing because the party that is ultimately responsible for the wreck could include:

• The truck driver: For failing to reasonably observe or comply with safe driving procedures or techniques given the circumstances
• The trucking company that employs the truck driver: Either for the truck driver’s actions taken during the course of their employment, failing to have appropriate hiring and training policies in place, or having driving procedures in place that incentivize the driver to take dangerous or reckless actions
• The company responsible for loading the truck’s cargo: If the cargo’s excessive weight or improper securing led to the wreck
• The company responsible for the vehicle’s repairs and maintenance: If the failure of the truck’s brakes or other safety features contributed to the accident

Determining the party ultimately responsible for a jackknife truck crash in Nashville is a complicated and time-consuming endeavor, but it is essential to get correct for an injured person to recover fair compensation for their losses.

Reach Out to a Nashville Attorney After a Jackknife Truck Crash

After a serious injury to you or a loved one, you have enough on your plate managing the recovery process. You should not also have to bear the burden of taking on a large corporation through the legal system.

Our dedicated attorneys at Ponce Law could help you investigate the cause of the wreck, evaluate who is ultimately liable, and seek to hold that person or entity responsible for your losses. Contact our firm today to speak with a lawyer experienced in handling jackknife truck accidents in Nashville.