A jack-knifing incident occurs when a semi-truck's trailer swings out at an angle from the cab, creating a dangerous "V" shape that can block multiple lanes and cause catastrophic collisions. In Harrisonburg, these accidents commonly occur on I-81 and Route 33, particularly during adverse weather conditions or when trucks brake suddenly. Contributing factors often include improper brake maintenance, driver fatigue, excessive speed for conditions, and improper cargo loading. When jack-knifing causes an accident, multiple parties may bear liability: the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, or cargo loaders. Victims can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Determining liability requires extensive investigation, including analysis of the truck's maintenance records, driver logs, black box data, and cargo documentation.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Virginia follows a contributory negligence standard, meaning accident victims cannot recover damages if they are found even partially at fault. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the accident date. Commercial trucks must carry minimum liability coverage of $750,000, though many carriers maintain higher limits. Virginia Code § 46.2-341.20 requires commercial drivers to exercise special care in adverse conditions. Multiple insurance policies may apply, including the truck's primary liability coverage, excess coverage, and cargo insurance. Compensation can cover medical expenses, lost earnings, property damage, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages for gross negligence. An experienced Harrisonburg personal injury lawyer will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Jackknifing can happen in all kinds of commercial truck crashes including:

• Harrisonburg big rig truck accidents
• Harrisonburg blind spot truck accidents
• Harrisonburg wide turn truck accidents
• Harrisonburg drunk truck driver crashes
• Harrisonburg dump truck accidents

Related Resources

• Rockingham County Circuit Court
• Virginia DMV Crash Report Center
• Harrisonburg Victim/Witness Program
• Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
• Virginia Code Title 46.2 Motor Vehicles
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations

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