Call Us atAny accident involving a truck can be dangerous, but jackknife truck accidents in Bothell are particularly dangerous because they have the potential to cause injuries to people in multiple vehicles. Fortunately, you might have a legal avenue that you could pursue to recover your losses. A dedicated truck crash attorney could help you seek accountability and financial compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
What is a Jackknife?
Most commercial trucks are tractor-trailers, which have two parts. The driver sits in the cab, and the trailer carries the truck’s cargo. The two parts of a truck are connected and usually travel together.
How Jackknives Occur
Jackknife incidents occur when the two parts somehow no longer travel in sync with each other and move independently. People call this type of accident a jackknife because the trailer swings away from the cab and resembles a folding pocketknife. Jackknife incidents are particularly dangerous because the swinging trailer can veer through multiple lanes of traffic, crushing smaller vehicles in its path, and the truck’s driver often has no ability to stop the trailer when it moves wildly.
Causes of Jackknife Incidents
Jackknives usually occur when there is a loss of traction and the truck’s tires skid, allowing the trailer to swing sideways. Some of the most common reasons for jackknives to occur are as follows:
- Improper braking
- Slick, wet roads due to unremoved snow and ice
- Overly curvy roads due to soft shoulders, construction detours, or poor road designs
- Debris in the road that a truck driver tries to avoid
- Oversteering or overcorrecting turns
- Speeding
- Unbalanced cargo in the trailer
- Defective truck parts
- Excessive wear and tear on brakes leading to malfunctioning
Our compassionate Bothel lawyers understand how traumatic jackknife incidents can be and could work closely with an injured crash survivor to learn about the effects the accident has had on their life.
Potentially Liable Parties After a Jackknife Collision
Determining liability after a Bothell jackknife accident can be difficult.
Truck Driver
The truck driver could be responsible for failing to prevent the jackknife or stop it once it started. Experienced drivers should know how long it takes to come to a complete stop and how to turn their cumbersome vehicles correctly.
Trucking Company
Trucking companies should hire experienced drivers with clean driving records and provide new employees with training. They should also inspect their vehicles and provide them with regular maintenance.
Manufacturing Company
If a trucking part malfunctions due to inherent defects, the manufacturer could be liable.
Mechanic
If the truck jackknifed because of wear and tear on the brakes or other parts, the mechanic in charge of maintenance could be at fault.
Loading Company
If another company loaded the cargo on the truck improperly, causing it to become unbalanced, that company could be liable.
Municipal Authority
If dangerous roadways due to poor designs or lack of maintenance caused the jackknife, the Washington State Department of Transportation or the local government agency in charge of roadway maintenance could be responsible.
A dedicated legal team could carefully comb through the evidence and identify who is potentially legally responsible.
Speak with a Bothell Attorney About a Jackknife Trucking Accident
Jackknife truck accidents in Bothel can be scary to witness and even more terrifying to be a part of. If you experienced serious harm in a jackknife incident, you deserve help. Speak with a well-informed attorney who could offer you knowledgeable advice about your next steps.
