A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer of a truck swings out from behind the cab. It is called a jackknife because the tractor-trailer resembles a folding pocketknife when in this position.
These collisions are particularly dangerous, as the trailer can stretch across multiple lanes of traffic as it swings. Because they cover so much of the roadway, a jackknifing truck can cause a massive pileup. If you were in this type of devastating accident, consider speaking to one of our lawyers.