A jackknife accident happens when a tractor-trailer folds in on itself, with the trailer swinging outward to form a sharp V-shape against the cab. The trailer can sweep across multiple lanes in seconds, crushing smaller vehicles and setting off chain-reaction pileups.
If someone else’s negligence caused your truck accident, Tennessee law allows you to file a legal claim for compensation. That said, Nashville truck accident lawsuits are often more complicated than they first appear. Multiple parties may share the blame, and building a strong case takes the right evidence and legal strategy. Here is what you should know.
What Usually Causes Jackknife Truck Accidents?
Jackknifing starts when the truck’s drive wheels lose traction with the road. Once that happens, the trailer can slide forward or sideways in an uncontrolled skid. Common causes include:
- Sudden hard braking at highway speed, which can cause the cab to slow faster than the trailer behind it
- Speeding or tailgating, both of which shrink the driver’s ability to stop safely
- Wet or icy road conditions that reduce tire grip
- Worn brake pads or imbalanced braking systems that prevent the truck from stopping evenly
- Unevenly loaded cargo that throws off the trailer’s center of gravity during turns or hard stops
In most cases, at least one of these factors traces back to negligence by the driver or the trucking company.
Liability in a Jackknife Crash Often Extends Beyond the Driver
The truck driver is not always the only party at fault. Several others may share legal responsibility depending on what caused the crash:
- The trucking company may be liable if it cut corners on vehicle maintenance or pressured the driver to meet unsafe delivery deadlines.
- Parts manufacturers can face product liability claims when defective brakes or tires contribute to a loss of control.
- Cargo loaders may share blame if improperly secured freight shifted during transit and destabilized the trailer.
Tennessee’s modified comparative fault law also plays a role here. You can pursue compensation only if your share of fault is below 50%, and your award will be reduced by whatever percentage of blame is assigned to you. The trucking company’s legal team will look for ways to shift responsibility in your direction, which makes having an attorney on your side early on in the process important.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Investigate the Crash and Fight for Full Compensation
Jackknife cases involve federal trucking regulations, multiple potential defendants, and evidence that can disappear quickly. Our experienced truck and car accident attorney in Nashville can dig into the details of the crash and pursue records like black box data and maintenance logs that the trucking company is unlikely to hand over on its own.
Schedule a free consultation with Woodard Injury Law today to learn more at 615-640-1487. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients to date.