Jackknife Truck Accidents
The trucking industry is a critical aspect of Montana’s infrastructure, transporting goods and services that support not only the supply chain but also Montana’s other industries. Unfortunately, the reliance on large commercial trucks also leaves Montana’s roadways crowded with trucks that outweigh cars by as much as 76,000 pounds, resulting in catastrophic accidents, including jackknife accidents. If you have been involved in a jackknife accident in Montana, contact an experienced truck accident lawyer today.
What Is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
When a truck’s trailer comes out of alignment with the cab, it may pull the cab sideways or push it forward and then to the side, causing the truck to crash in a resting position that resembles a partly opened jackknife. Because of the extended length of a truck and trailer, this type of accident can instantly block other lanes, causing multiple collisions with fast-moving vehicles when other drivers don’t have time to stop. Jackknife truck accidents in Montana are a major cause of multi-car pileups or chain reaction accidents.
What Causes a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Large commercial trucks and trailers have complex parts meant to support safety and stability when well-maintained and operating correctly. Still, Montana’s truck accident fatality rate is three times higher than the national average, ranking as the fourth-worst truck accident state in the nation.
The most common causes of truck jackknife crashes include the following:
- Improper braking
- Turning too sharply
- Speeding, especially around curves
- Driving too fast in slippery road conditions
- Sudden shifting of an improperly secured load, causing the trailer to swing outward
- Tire blowouts
- Mechanical failures
Insufficient maintenance, defective equipment, fatigued or impaired drivers, and unsecured cargo all increase the risk of jackknife accidents.
Injuries to Other Motorists in Truck Jackknife Crashes
According to National Safety Council (NSC) data, about 70% of truck accident injuries and fatalities involve motorists in other vehicles, not the truck driver. Common injuries in Montana truck accident claims include the following:
- Bone fractures
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, tendon damage, and torn ligaments in the knees, shoulders, wrists, elbows, or ankles
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Internal bleeding/internal organ injuries
- Facial and dental trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputations
- Burns
In some of the worst jackknife accidents, a car may become wedged beneath the truck’s trailer when unable to stop in time to avoid a blocked lane. These underride accidents sometimes cause traumatic brain injuries, broken necks, and even decapitations.
Compensatory Damages in Jackknife Truck Accident Cases
An injury victim can demand financial accountability from the truck driver, trucking company, or a negligent truck maintenance company, depending on the result of the investigation. Common compensatory damages in jackknife truck accident claims include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Reduced earning ability due to disability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Catastrophic injury compensation for injuries with permanent adverse effects like loss of limb, disfigurement, organ loss, loss of hearing, vision damage, disability, or diminished quality of life
- Wrongful death compensation to a family member after a truck accident wrongful death
Compensation for damages typically comes from the at-fault party’s liability insurance.
How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
After an accident, damages add up quickly when a serious injury prevents a return to work, and also requires costly medical treatment. Instead of leaving your case in the hands of a large trucking company and its powerful insurance providers, call Beck, Amsden & Stalpes PLLC, to learn more about your rights and options for recovering the full compensation you deserve.