Oregon Jackknifed Truck Accident Lawyers - Bend/Portland, OR

A jackknifed tractor trailer is one of the most frightening types of Oregon trucking accidents.  A jackknifed trucking accident occurs when the cargo trailer swings around to either side of the driver’s cabin and forms a right angle.  As the name implies, this looks like an open jack-knife because of the “L” or “V” angle that forms between the trailer and the cabin.  A jackknifed trucking accident is an incredibly dangerous and often fatal type of 18 wheeler wreck because a truck driver loses complete control to steer the commercial vehicle.  Not only does this mean that a jackknifed trucking accident could seriously injury or wrongfully kill innocent people in front of the truck or two the sides, but a jackknifed tractor trailer could block several lanes of highway which poise an immediate danger to motorists coming from behind—especially on fast-moving highways and interstates.  Victims of any type of trucking accident where the trailer jackknifed should contact our Oregon jackknifed truck accident lawyers to learn what rights they have.

This is because there are very few non-negligent excuses for a jackknifed trucking accident.  Many of the reasons and causes for a jackknifed tractor trailer crash are due to the reckless, careless, or downright negligent conduct of the truck driver.  Sometimes it could also be the fault of the trucking company who improperly performed maintenance.  In any situation, there are few valid reasons why a jackknifed trucking accident occurs other than the fault of the truck driver or trucking company because this is simply not a common type of crash.

Causes of Jackknifed Trucks

With the proper exercise of reasonable care under the circumstances a large commercial vehicle should never jackknife.  Whenever a jackknifed truck causes a serious trucking accident, anyone injured or families of those wrongfully killed should contact our Oregon jackknifed trucking accident lawyers.  This is because the causes of jackknifed trucks are usually due to the negligence of a truck driver.  Said differently, a jackknifed truck is a warning sign or red flag that there was some form of negligence in causing the crash.

Some fo the most common causes of jackknifed trucking accidents include the following:

• Braking hard on a turn;
• Taking a turn too fast without braking;
• Failing to negotiate slippery road conditions;
• Braking too hard when driving at a high rate of speed;
• Failing to avoid a pothole or defect in the road;
• Distracted driving such as using a cell phone, GPS, radio, or other devices;
• Failing to negotiate curvy roads by going too fast;
• Swerving;
• Falling asleep at the wheel;
• Truck driver inexperience, including negligent training, hiring, or supervision by the trucking company;
• Negligent truck maintenance, especially brake maintenance errors; and
• Many other causes.

Why a Jackknifed Truck is a Dangerous Truck

A jackknifed tractor trailer is simply a dangerous instrument on the roadway.  As the name implies, the swinging around of the trailer results in a large zone of impact that can block oncoming traffic and traffic below the truck.  This sweeping action can literally act as a battering ram whipping over the roadway resulting in horrific damage to other vehicles.  This is by far one of the most dangerous attributes of a jackknifed trucking accident.

Additionally, a jackknifed truck has inherently lost control.  This mean the truck driver is usually without the ability to redirect or guide the truck.  This turns the large commercial vehicle into an unguided missile.  In a city setting this could be catastrophic given the large number of people present.  Further, on highways a jackknifed truck is also completely devastating and destructive because of the sheer momentum of the vehicle which propels it forward.  Victims of any Oregon jackknifed trucking accident should contact our lawyers to learn what we can do to help them in this dangerous type of crash.

Bend/Portland, Oregon Jackknifed Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of a trucking accident or collision contact the Oregon Truck Accident Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.  

We handle cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.  

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Trucking accident cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.  

Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.