Few crashes are more dangerous than a jackknife truck accident. When a tractor-trailer folds in on itself, the trailer can sweep across multiple lanes in seconds, leaving nearby drivers with little time or space to escape.
On busy Arizona highways like Interstate 10 near Tucson, or Loop 202 around Mesa, motor vehicle crashes can quickly turn into a devastating commercial truck crash involving multiple vehicles, cause catastrophic injuries, and raise complicated questions about who is legally responsible. Jackknife truck accidents have occurred on Interstate 17, Loop 101, and Interstate 40, where steep grades, high speeds, heavy truck traffic, and changing weather conditions can make driver error more common.
If you or someone you love was hurt when a truck jackknifes, this guide explains why these wrecks happen and what your legal options are in Arizona.
Free Case Evaluation
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
What Is a Jackknife Truck Accident?
A jackknife occurs when the driver of a semi-truck loses traction, causing a dangerous tractor-trailer collision or multi-vehicle pileup. Large trucks are especially prone to this because of their size, weight, and the separate cab-and-trailer design that lets the two sections move independently.
Because a loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than the passenger cars around it, even a partial jackknife can block multiple lanes and trigger a chain-reaction pileup. These jackknife crashes are among the most destructive collisions on the road, and the injuries they cause are frequently catastrophic.
Unlike a spinout in a smaller vehicle, a jackknifing rig cannot simply be corrected once the trailer breaks loose, which is why the outcomes are so often severe. Although jackknifes are different from a truck rollover, the two types of crashes sometimes happen together when the driver loses control of the trailer.
Injured in a jackknife truck accident? Speak with an experienced Arizona truck accident attorney today to learn your legal options during a free consultation.
If you want a broader look at how these claims work compared to ordinary crashes, please read our blog, How Truck Accident Claims Differ from Car Accident Claims.
Common Causes of Jackknife Accidents
Understanding the causes of jackknife accidents is the first step toward proving who is responsible. Most jackknifes come down to some combination of the following factors.
Speed is a leading cause of jackknife truck accidents. When a truck travels too fast for conditions, especially into a curve or down a grade, the trailer can lose traction and swing out.
Braking too hard is another major contributor. Slamming the brakes can lock the wheels and cause the trailer to slide, particularly on the drive axle. Improper braking on a downgrade, like the descents around Arizona’s high country, is a classic trigger.
Weather and road conditions matter too. Rain-slicked pavement during a monsoon storm, gravel, or oil on the roadway all reduce traction and make it easier for a driver to lose control.
Poorly maintained or unbalanced cargo shifts the trailer’s weight and destabilizes it, making commercial trucks prone to tipping and skidding into a jackknife.
Faulty or worn brakes and tires increase the odds of a skid, which in turn increases the likelihood of a jackknife event.
Distracted driving can also contribute to a jackknife truck accident. Looking at a phone, adjusting a GPS, eating, driver fatigue, or taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can delay braking or steering, making it easier for a trailer to swing out of control.
What do all of these causes have in common? They are preventable. When a trucking company cuts corners on maintenance or pushes drivers past safe hours, a jackknife is often the result.
If you were injured in a jackknife accident, Rasmussen Injury Law can investigate what happened and identify everyone who may be legally responsible. Contact us today.
Why Jackknife Crashes Are So Dangerous
The physics are simple and brutal. A tractor-trailer that jackknifes can sweep sideways across every lane of a highway, and drivers in passenger cars rarely have time or space to avoid it. Because so many vehicles can be caught in a single event, these crashes frequently involve multiple parties, which makes both the injuries and the legal picture more complicated than a typical two-car collision.
Victims often suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and worse. The medical costs alone can be overwhelming, and that is before you account for lost income, long-term care, and the pain and suffering that follows a life-altering wreck.
Arizona’s stretches of interstate see heavy freight traffic day and night, and a jackknife on a busy corridor like I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson can involve a dozen vehicles before traffic comes to a stop. The sheer scale of these events is part of what makes them so hard to recover from, both physically and financially.
Serious injuries deserve serious legal representation. Let our Arizona truck accident lawyers protect your rights while you focus on healing. Call today for a free consultation.
Who Is Liable for a Jackknife Truck Accident?
Determining who is legally responsible is one of the most important parts of any jackknife truck accident claim.
Unlike most car accidents, where liability falls to one or more passenger car drivers, truck accident claims often involve multiple liable parties. Depending on what caused the crash, responsibility may rest with the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded or maintained the trailer, the cargo owner, or even the manufacturer of a defective brake, tire, or other truck part.
In some cases, more than one party shares responsibility. Arizona follows a comparative negligence system, and determining who is at fault may require reviewing driver logs, inspection reports, maintenance records, electronic logging device (ELD) data, and black-box information.
Commercial trucking companies must also comply with numerous Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations covering driver hours, vehicle inspections, maintenance, cargo securement, and driver qualifications. Violations of these rules can provide important evidence after a jackknife truck accident.
This is exactly the kind of knowledge that an experienced truck accident attorney provides, and it is why going it alone against a trucking company is rarely a fair fight.
If you or a loved one was injured in a jackknife truck accident, contact Rasmussen Injury Law today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and answer your questions. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you
Jackknife Accident in Arizona? Rasmussen Injury Law Can Help.
If you were injured in a jackknife truck accident, Arizona law may allow you to recover compensation for economic and noneconomic losses, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. In some cases involving especially reckless or intentional conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Trucking companies and their insurance carriers often move quickly to protect themselves. They may offer a settlement before you know how badly you are hurt or ask you to give a recorded statement that could be used against you. Before accepting an offer or speaking with the insurance company, it is a good idea to talk with an experienced Arizona truck accident lawyer.
Jackknife truck accident cases are often more complicated than other crashes because they can involve multiple liable parties, federal trucking regulations, and large insurance companies. They also require evidence that is not usually part of a typical car accident claim, including driver logs, maintenance records, black-box data, inspection reports, and cargo records. Preserving that evidence early can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
With more than 30 years of combined experience handling personal injury claims across Arizona, the attorneys at Rasmussen Injury Law know how to investigate serious truck accidents, identify everyone responsible, and build strong claims supported by the evidence. We have helped injured people in Mesa, Glendale, Phoenix, Tucson, and communities throughout Arizona recover the compensation they deserve after devastating truck accidents.
If you or a loved one was injured in a jackknife truck accident, contact Rasmussen Injury Law today for a free consultation. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and answer your questions. There is no obligation, and no fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jackknife Truck Accidents in Arizona
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Arizona?
In most cases, Arizona gives injured people two years from the date of a truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some claims have much shorter deadlines, especially when a government entity or public employee is involved. In those cases, Arizona law generally requires a Notice of Claim within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year. See A.R.S. §§ 12-821 and 12-821.01.
Speaking with an Arizona truck accident attorney as soon as possible helps protect your rights.
Who can be held liable for a jackknife truck accident?
Depending on what caused the crash, liability may fall on the truck driver, the trucking company, a maintenance provider, a cargo loading company, or a parts manufacturer. Many Arizona truck accident claims involve more than one liable party.
What compensation can I recover after a jackknife truck accident?
If someone else’s negligence caused the crash, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future medical care, pain and suffering, property damage, and other accident-related losses.
What should I do after a jackknife truck accident?
Seek medical attention immediately, report the accident, take photos if you can, avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer, and contact an experienced Arizona truck accident lawyer before accepting a settlement offer.
Do I need a lawyer after a jackknife truck accident?
Because jackknife crashes often involve multiple liable parties, federal trucking regulations, and complex insurance claims, having an experienced Arizona truck accident attorney can make it much easier to preserve evidence and pursue full compensation.