Jackknife truck accidents in St. Louis often involve complex liability questions across multiple parties. Learn how these crashes happen and what Missouri law says about fault. Our skilled Missouri accident attorneys can help. Find answers to your questions, discover next steps, and more here.
St. Louis Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney
St. Louis sits at the intersection of Interstate 70, Interstate 44, and Interstate 55, three of the busiest trucking corridors in Missouri. Jackknife crashes are among the most dangerous risks drivers face on these highways. Nationwide, jackknife trailers were involved in 169 fatal large truck crashes, accounting for 3.5 percent of all fatal large truck crashes that year, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data.
For more than 40 years, Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien has earned the trust of clients across St. Louis and beyond. We’ve recovered millions for our clients across Missouri, bringing local insight, proven results, and the integrity our clients have trusted for decades.
A truck jackknife accident lawyer can investigate what caused your crash, identify every party who may be responsible, and pursue compensation for your losses and damages.
What is a Jackknife Accident?
A jackknife accident happens when a tractor-trailer’s trailer swings out from behind the cab and folds toward it at an angle, forming a V shape, similar to how a folding pocketknife closes. It occurs when the trailer’s wheels lose traction and skid.
Once a trailer jackknifes, the driver typically loses control of the vehicle. The out-of-control trailer can swing into other lanes and strike nearby vehicles, and other drivers swerving to avoid it can cause a multi-vehicle pile-up. If the trailer is carrying cargo, that cargo can also spill onto the roadway.
Common Causes of Jackknife Truck Accidents
The most frequent cause of truck jackknifing is sudden braking. Large trucks require significantly more distance to stop than passenger vehicles and depend on gradual, controlled braking to stay in alignment. When a driver brakes suddenly, the trailer’s wheels can lock and skid, causing the trailer to swing outward.
Other common causes of jackknifed truck accidents include:
- Collision impact: If another vehicle strikes the trailer, the force of that impact can push the trailer sideways and out of alignment with the cab, causing it to jackknife even if the truck driver was not braking.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Uneven or overloaded cargo can cause the trailer to lose traction or shift suddenly, pulling the trailer out of alignment with the cab.
- Inclement weather: Jackknifing occurs more frequently in rain, ice, and snow, when road traction is reduced.
- Mechanical defects: Brake failure or tire blowouts can trigger a jackknife.
- Speeding: Higher speeds increase the risk of jackknifing, particularly on curves or in poor weather conditions.
Determining which of these factors caused your accident is the first step in building the case for who should be held liable.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Jackknife Truck Accident in St. Louis?
By conducting a thorough investigation, a jackknife truck accident attorney can identify every party who may be held liable for your accident.
Depending on the facts of your case, liability may extend to:
- The truck driver: A driver who brakes suddenly, follows too closely, speeds, or drives while fatigued or distracted may be held liable for causing the trailer to jackknife.
- The trucking company: A trucking company may be held liable if it failed to properly train or supervise its drivers, pushed drivers to violate federal hours-of-service regulations, or failed to maintain its fleet.
- Cargo companies: If the accident happened because cargo was unbalanced or improperly secured, the company responsible for loading the trailer may be held liable.
- Manufacturers or repair facilities: If a design flaw or mechanical defect caused the crash, such as a tiedown or brake component failing, the manufacturer or a repair facility responsible for maintaining that part may be held liable.
- Other motorists: Another driver who collided with the truck may have caused or contributed to the jackknife.
Where Jackknife Accidents Are Most Likely in St. Louis
Jackknife accidents are more likely wherever heavy truck traffic meets sudden braking or stop-and-go congestion. The interchange of Interstate 64, Interstate 55, and Interstate 44 in St. Louis ranked among the 10 most congested freight bottlenecks in the country in the American Transportation Research Institute’s 2021 analysis. Merging traffic at interchanges like this can force drivers to brake suddenly, which is the leading cause of jackknifing.
Potential Compensation
Compensation, or damages, in a jackknife truck accident may include:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, under RSMo § 516.120. Insurance adjusters often begin negotiations with an offer lower than your claim is worth, and if a fair settlement isn’t reached, your case may proceed to litigation. Learn more about the St. Louis Truck Accident Settlement Process.
Contact a St. Louis Jackknife Accident Lawyer
After a serious jackknife accident, insurers move quickly to protect their bottom line. You need an attorney who moves just as fast to protect yours. If you were injured in a jackknife truck accident, contact the experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien, P.C. for a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
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