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Accidents involving big vehicles like tractor trailers are in the news frequently. These vehicles are used to transport goods in different parts of the country.  Fatalities do happen when these vehicles are involved.  These incidents, however, are entirely preventable.    

Jackknifing accidents, on the other hand,happen when an 18-wheeler and the main cab get out of alignment or sync then forms a V or L shape, resembling a folding knife.  To avoid such situation, you have to understand how it happens. 

There are a number of factors that can cause a vehicle to get into trouble. The biggest problem is the lack of traction.  Tires lose their grip on the road or get stuck in the mud and the wheels work with static friction to move forward.  Loss of traction happens when the roads are icy or due to rain.  It could also happen due to bad breaking and when the tires skid instead of rolling along smoothly on the pavement.  As these vehicles are large and heavy, brakingcan be difficult and the trailer may swing out of control.

How to Prevent Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents are preventable even in the worst weather conditions. As a driver, you have to implement a few safe practices.

          The first thing you need to do is to check the side and rearview mirrors regularly to see if the trailer is not swinging too much. Do this more often in a situation that requires hard braking.

          It is possible to stop the trailer from getting into an acute angle with the cab.  Experts usually recommend letting up on the brakes and keep the wheels rolling. This helps you to gain traction again.

          When such accidents happen, trailers are usually empty. Loaded trailers have their weight distributed evenly on the wheels and gain better traction.  Driving these huge rigs can be difficult and a person needs special licenses and training to do so.  Part of the learning process is to focus on proper braking. It is important to remember not to slam on the brakes as it causes them to lock up. 

Many times, it becomes necessary to hire amputation lawyers for both the driver of the rig and other accident victims, especially if these accidents are related to weather.

If in case the accident happened and may require amputation, you need to contact the right lawyer. Amputation lawyerscan help review the details of your case and make sure that insurance companies will not disregard your situation. 





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