Many Meridian area drivers have encountered a jackknifed semi on area roads. A semi-truck is often one of the largest and heaviest vehicles on a road so any kind of accident involving them can be scary. A jackknifed semi is one of the most common causes of a truck accident. A jackknife semi is when the trailer of the truck goes a different way than the cab, often blocking several lanes of traffic. There are many reasons why a truck may jackknife.
Brakes
If a semi-truck doesn’t receive proper maintenance their brakes can fail. When the brakes are not working properly, the axels can lock up resulting in the truck dragging the trailer with locked brakes. This can push the trailer out to the side of the cab.
Speeding
When a truck driver engages in dangerous driving behavior such as speeding, they can cause their truck to jackknife. Sudden braking can be too much for a loaded trailer to handle which can lead the truck stopping at a different rate of speed then the trailer.
Cargo
Of course, the purpose of semi-trucks is to haul large amount of cargo around the state and country. But how that cargo is packed in the truck can have an effect on whether it will jackknife. Improper weight distribution or improperly secured cargo can influence how the trailer responds and can cause a truck to jackknife.
Road conditions
If a road is wet or icy it can be slippery, causing a truck to lose traction and slide, resulting in a jackknife accident. Debris in the road can also be a cause of a jackknife semi. And, of course, any challenging situation on the road can be hard for an inexperienced semi-truck driver to handle, resulting in an unexpected accident.
If a person has been injured in an unexpected truck accident due to no fault of their own, they may want to speak with a legal professional who specializes in personal injury. An attorney can review the circumstances surrounding the accident and help their client with their personal injury case. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages.