What To Do After A Jackknife Accident

Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay

Accidents on the road can be sudden and disorientating. You might freeze up and not know what to do. The first thing you should do after suffering a jackknife accident is to seek medical attention, collect evidence for the accident, and seek compensation for any injuries or damages. This article will discuss what a jackknife accident is, its causes, and steps to take if it happens to you.

What Is a Jackknife Accident?

Driving along a semitrailer can be dangerous. Due to the enormous trucks’ size, their skidding or dumping of cargo can create unique risks to other road users. Jackknife accidents occur when the trailer or anything on tow skids and the driver fails to control the vehicle’s trajectory. This skidding can cause the trailer to move to one side, causing a right angle position between the cab and the trailer.

Several dangers can result when this happens, including the truck hitting other vehicles as the trailer swings out or the trailer drifting across lanes, damaging cars as they collide with the truck, or hitting each other as they try to stop. Jackknifing also causes trucks to overturn, spill cargo, or catch fire.

What Leads to a Jackknife?

Several factors cause jackknifing accidents. Some of these include:

• Excessive speeds: Applying emergency braking or negotiating a corner at high speed causes the trailer to skid or lose control.
• Tight turns: Roads with tight turns have higher risks of having jackknives than straight roads. Such happens when the driver takes a sharp turn or when negotiating a corner at high speeds.
• Poor road conditions: Any bad terrain or poor road conditions may make driving and controlling the vehicle difficult. There are more jackknife accidents on wet terrains than on dry roads.
• Fatigue and Distraction: Fatigue or distraction lowers the driver’s reaction time, making them make urgent decisions such as emergency braking that causes the trailer to skid.
• Inexperienced drivers: Lacking or inadequate training may make a driver unable to apply brakes and control the vehicle as required. Every driver needs to have experience and a verified driving license.
• Light Load: Trailers with light load are difficult to control, especially on wet roads.

What to Do After the Accident?

Jackknife accidents can cause fatal accidents to other road users. According to NHTSA, at least 10% of yearly fatalities are from jackknife accidents. Immediately after the accident, take these steps:

1. Seek Medical Help

Seeking medical assistance should be a priority, even if you haven’t suffered any external injuries. You need to be checked for internal bleeding and injuries and also get counseling for trauma. Some of the severe injuries sustained in jackknife accidents include traumatic head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, broken bones, cuts, bruises, and soft tissue injuries. You should have a medical report for these injuries, as your lawyer and insurance will require them.

2. Call Police

In most cases, police do arrive immediately after an accident. It would help to call them in case of delay to take details of the accident. The police report takes all elements of the mishap, vehicles’ position and can be used to file your insurance claim. You can click here to learn how to prove negligence for your accident. Filing a police report also helps back up the evidence and witness accounts.

3. Get Evidence

Getting evidence of the accident will help in seeking compensation for the damages caused by the accident. You need to take pictures of the accident, if possible, truck and driver details, witnesses, and details about damage to your car to enable you to file for compensation. It will also help to record witnesses’ accounts.

4. Get a Competent Attorney

The truck company will have a lawyer when filing your compensation case. To ensure everything is straightforward and you get compensated for damages, getting an injury attorney to assist you with your case is essential. They will help to explain your situation to the insurance company or stand for you in court as you recover from any injuries.

These damaging accidents can be caused by several factors. A company might fail to service their vehicles or entrust vehicles to incompetent or, lack of maintenance, defective parts, or bad road conditions can also lead to catastrophe. Jackknife accidents can have lasting effects on your health, mental well-being, and financial stability. It is highly advisable to contact a lawyer who can help you get compensation for negligence after suffering a jackknife accident.