What’s a jackknife truck accident? Causes and prevention tips

Jackknife truck accidents can happen for several reasons, including:

• Road conditions

• Improperly loaded trailers

• Speed

• Harsh braking

• Mechanical issues
  

Whether you’re driving a vehicle with a trailer, a fleet manager, or someone driving around combination vehicles, you have a role to play in helping prevent jackknife truck accidents.

Before the trip:

• Know the condition of your vehicle: Conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection, making sure your brakes, tires, and connections are working correctly. Check to ensure load securement is adequate and loaded correctly.

• Research the weather on your route: When it’s cold, snow or ice can lead to jackknifes. Rain after a long dry spell can cause oily buildup and especially treacherous road conditions.

During the trip:

• Slow down: A jackknife accident can occur at almost any speed, but driving too fast for conditions is a common cause. Hydroplaning and harsh braking can also cause a trailer to stop tracking behind a power unit.

• Maintain safe following distances: Give yourself time to react gradually and to apply your brakes accordingly. Sudden, sharp movements and brake actions may cause a jackknife.

• Know your load: Weight distribution and the center of gravity of the load may affect braking action. Also, empty or lightly loaded trailers can respond unpredictably to braking and other maneuvers.

• Know the road: Road surfaces, railroad tracks, sharp exit ramps, uneven lane changes, and road-to-bridge surface changes may all contribute to loss of control, which can result in an overcorrection and ultimately a jackknife.

• Avoid distractions: Stay off mobile devices and try not to eat or drink while driving. Keeping your attention on the road can help decrease the likelihood of accidents.

If you find yourself starting to jackknife, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Keep rolling: Steering control and traction can only be achieved if the tires are rolling, not skidding. Tires that have significantly worn tread can increase the potential for a jackknife, particularly in bad weather.

2. Use your brakes correctly: Use your vehicle brakes gently and engage the trailer brakes to straighten the towed unit.

3. Don’t oversteer: Counter steer only as much as necessary. Aim your line of sight to where you want to go and steer in that direction.

4. Accelerate slowly: Accelerate slightly to allow the trailer to once again track correctly behind the power unit.

• Train drivers: Ensure your drivers are well trained in the prevention tips outlined above.

• Hire carefully. Prioritize safety from the start by reviewing motor vehicle records (MVRs) and screening candidates for responsible driving history. Check the MVRs of current drivers on an annual basis. Make sure drivers have experience driving the types of vehicles they’ll be using—or make sure they’ll have significant training.

• Build a strong safety program. Implement proactive safety policies, ongoing training, and clear expectations around safe driving practices. Safety policies around cellphones are especially important. At Sentry, our Safety Services team can help you develop a program that works for your business.

• Conduct preventative maintenance: Exceed the minimum manufacturers recommendations for maintaining power units and trailers. Regularly inspect critical systems such as brakes, tires, and steering systems.

• Help prevent distractions: Don’t call or text an employee when you know they’re on the road and may be tempted or feel required to answer immediately.

• Invest in telematics: Telematics technology can provide valuable insights into driver behavior, vehicle performance, and potential risks—helping you take proactive steps to improve safety.
  

• Stay focused: Avoid distractions like texting, making phone calls, eating, or adjusting your GPS while driving. Distracted driving is a common cause of truck accidents.

• Give trucks plenty of room: Give trucks and other vehicles plenty of space to maneuver and stop safely. This is especially true when semis are involved—know the proper truck following distance. Never tailgate another vehicle. When driving in front of a large vehicle, don’t make sudden stops—and always know what’s going on around your vehicle.

• Know a truck’s blind spots: No zones—also known as truck blind spots—are specific areas on the road that truck drivers can’t see because of the size of their vehicles. If you’re driving in one of these no zones, the truck driver won’t be able to see you until you make a quick maneuver, they may overcorrect, potentially leading to a jackknife or other accident.

If you were involved in a truck accident, make sure you and everyone else involved in the accident are off the road and out of immediate danger. From there:

1. Call 911 to alert police and possibly EMS if anyone is injured.

2. Turn on your hazard lights and put out warning devices to alert other vehicles

3. Assist others involved in the crash if needed.

4. Take photos of all involved vehicles, other damage, and the accident scene

5. Exchange information with the driver—get the truck driver’s name, phone number, and insurance information

6. Gather witness names and phone numbers

7. Find out where your vehicle is being moved to (if applicable)

If you’re a truck driver and you’re involved in an accident, your conduct at the accident scene is crucial. In the immediate aftermath, do your part to help keep everyone safe:

• Turn on your four-way flashers and set out a warning triangle

• Provide aid to the injured if necessary

• Notify the police as soon as possible

You can also review these helpful trucking safety and accident procedures, which include truck accident prevention strategies.

At Sentry®, we provide all of our commercial auto insurance customers with accident kits to help drivers respond safely, professionally, and thoroughly following an accident. Kits include:

• Instructions on documenting all needed information

• An accident/cargo damage report that should be completed at the scene

• Witness cards

• Driver’s exoneration form

• A postage-paid return envelope