When the driver of a small car brakes hard, skid marks appear and the vehicle literally screeches to a halt, perhaps narrowly avoiding a serious collision.
When a truck driver brakes hard, the result is often much more dramatic: a jackknifed semi truck blocking all lanes of traffic on the Beltway.
The ensuing traffic congestion may give you a headache. More importantly, a jackknifed truck has the potential to cause serious injury to multiple people, the truck driver included.
We frequently assume that if a truck jackknifes it’s because the driver made an error. Indeed, that is often the case, such as in the following examples:
- The truck driver was speeding and lost control.
- The driver was tailgating another vehicle.
- The driver failed to brake properly.
- The driver was not properly trained in how to drive a big rig.
We automatically assume that the truck driver is either careless or incompetent and therefore responsible for any resulting Maryland truck accident. However, it’s important to know that not all jackknifing accidents in Maryland are due to trucker error or negligence. For example, any of the following may have contributed to the crash:
- The truck’s brakes were bad and failed.
- Icy road conditions made it impossible to stop smoothly.
- Another driver cut off the truck, leaving the driver no room to brake.
Whether the truck driver or another person was responsible for the Maryland truck crash, a jackknifed big rig often ends in serious injury or death. If you have been involved in this type of accident, you should speak to a Maryland truck accident lawyer today regarding your rights and next steps. For a free consultation call Nickelsporn & Lundin at 800-875-9700.