South Jersey Jackknife Accident Lawyer

Commercial trucks are immense, unwieldy, and difficult to maneuver through traffic. They may outweigh standard family vehicles by as much as 76,000 pounds, posing a significant hazard to vulnerable motorists in traffic accidents. There were 5,837 large trucks involved in accidents in 2022—the most recent full-data year—including commercial truck accidents in South Jersey. One of the most deadly types of truck accidents are Jackknife accidents. Often, a truck jackknife accident involves multiple vehicles and can result in chain reaction accidents, multiple collisions, and even deadly underride accidents, when smaller vehicles become wedged under the truck’s trailer after a collision.

What Is a Jackknife Accident?

Semi-tractor-trailer trucks have two separate parts, the tractor and the trailer which attach through a powerful coupling mechanism. In some circumstances, the trailer may come out of alignment with the truck, sliding forward and sideways causing a crash that may tip the truck’s cab over sideways. The end result of this type of accident is the crashed truck and trailer forming a shape like a partly opened jackknife. When a jackknife accident happens on a multi-lane highway, smaller vehicles traveling in parallel lanes may collide with the truck and trailer, which is large enough to block several lanes. When this type of truck accident occurs on a two-lane road it may block traffic in both directions and cause collisions with one or more oncoming vehicles.

Common Causes of Truck Jackknife Accidents In South Jersey

The freight industry is complex, requiring multiple entities to take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety on the roadways and carefully follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. When one or more of these entities breaches their duty of care, the result can be a jackknife accident with serious injuries to motorists. The most common causes of jackknife truck accidents include the following:

• Unsecure loads
• Mechanical failure or defective equipment
• Inexperienced drivers
• Negligent truck maintenance
• Slippery road conditions
• Speeding around curves

When truck jackknife accidents happen in South Jersey, there may be one or more entities at fault and liable for damages. Speak to a truck accident lawyer in South Jersey for more information. 

Who is Liable for Damages In a Truck Jackknife Accident In South Jersey?

When one party’s careless actions cause a truck jackknife accident, they are liable for damages to injury victims. It often takes a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident, anything that contributed to the accident, and the party or parties liable for the damages. Common liable parties in truck accidents include the following:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• A negligent freight loading company
• A negligent truck maintenance company
• The manufacturer of a defective truck, trailer, or coupling part

Insurance companies for trucking companies commonly point the finger at other entities or delay and deny claims.

Damages in New Jersey Truck Accident Claims

Truck accidents often result in serious or catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Common damages in jackknife truck accident claims include property damage, past and future medical expenses, past and future income loss, diminished earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. Sometimes other non-economic damages like PTSD, disfigurement, or loss of enjoyment of life also apply.

How Can a South Jersey Truck Accident Attorney Help?

No one should have to take on a powerful trucking company or their insurers alone. An experienced accident lawyer in South Jersey can help you recover the maximum compensation available to you by investigating the cause of the accident and documenting evidence of liability to make claims against any entity that contributed to the accident. Contact Grungo Law in South Jersey for experienced representation in your truck accident claim.