--- description: Washington, DC personal injury lawyers from Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. explain causes of jackknife accidents. title: Jackknife Accidents | Attorney in Washington, DC canonical: https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/jackknife-accidents/ date_modified: 2026-08-11T17:02:54+00:00 practice_area: truck-accident --- - Jackknife Accidents | Attorney in Washington, DC # Jackknife Accidents [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Washington DC Truck Accident Lawyer](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/) » Jackknife Accidents What's On This Page View All Practice Areas Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* Send # Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney in Washington, DC ## Injured in a jackknife accident? Jackknife accidents are one of the more common types of truck accidents. As semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other various commercial vehicles are articulated vehicles, meaning that they have a cab and a separate trailer, there is an added element and risk of danger posed by these trucks. In a jackknife accident, a commercial vehicle towing a trailer folds where the cab and trailer meet, often in a fashion that resembles a folding pocket knife. Trailers can swing wildly while still attached to the cab and often migrate through other lanes of traffic. As a result, jackknife accidents nearly always involve multiple vehicles and an elevated risk for causing extensive, serious harm. If you have been injured in a [truck accident](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/), contact our team today for a [free consultation](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/). **Just as with any truck accident, jackknife accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including any of the following scenarios and factors:** Sudden braking or rear-end collisions - Defective or improperly maintained vehicles - Equipment failure or malfunction - Driver error, aggressive driving, and driver negligence - Adverse roadway conditions, including wet or icy roads - Adverse weather conditions - Overloaded trucks According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), jackknifing accidents have among the highest potential for causing multi-vehicle collisions, injury, and fatality of any truck accidents. As such, there are a number of federal trucking laws that aim to reduce the risk for jackknifing accidents. In addition to properly training drivers on ways to avoid jackknifing, trucking companies are also required to regularly [maintain vehicle](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/trucking-accident-causes/truck-maintenance/)s and [properly load freight](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/trucking-accident-causes/improperly-loaded-cargo/). Although these regulations can reduce the risk that a jackknife accident will occur, they do not mean that other drivers will always be immune to potential danger, and they definitely do not imply that all truck drivers and trucking companies will abide by the law. As establishing fault and liability is of the utmost importance in trucking accidents, our legal team taps into decades of experience and a strong working knowledge of the various trucking laws in place. We are meticulous in our investigations and case preparation, and we leave no stone unturned when extrapolating the evidence that can support your claim. When done successfully, thorough investigations and careful case preparation can establish the foundation that our firm will use to aggressively fight on your behalf and hold trucking companies fully liable for the damages you suffered. ### Washington, DC Personal Injury Lawyers Handling All Aspects of Your Case At times when you and your loved ones should be focused on recovering and putting your lives back together, our legal team knows that by taking the time to keep you constantly informed and handling every legal matter on your behalf, we can alleviate much of your worries and concerns. You can also gain a sense of reassurance that comes with knowing top-rated attorneys are on your side. Members of our legal team have been recognized as some of the “Top Lawyers” in Washington, DC by *Washingtonian Magazine*. **Allow proven negotiators and skilled trial attorneys to secure the results you deserve. [Contact](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) a Washington, DC personal injury lawyer from our firm to discuss your case during a free consultation.** ![Main CSCS Video - Thumb 1](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1.png) Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. [Free Case Evaluation](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including [Virginia](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/virginia-personal-injury-attorney/) ( [Alexandria](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/alexandria-injury-lawyer/), [Arlington](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/arlington-va-personal-injury-lawyer/), [Fairfax](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/fairfax-va-personal-injury-attorney/), [Falls Church](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-falls-church-va/), [Leesburg](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-attorney-leesburg-va/), [Manassas](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-attorney-manassas-va/), [Northern Virginia](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-northern-virginia/), and [Woodbridge](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/woodbridge-va-personal-injury-lawyer/)), and [Maryland](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/maryland-personal-injury-lawyer/) ([Bethesda](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bethesda-personal-injury-lawyer/), [Bowie](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-bowie-md/), [Frederick County](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/frederick-county-md-personal-injury-lawyer/), [Greenbelt](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-greenbelt-md/), [Hyattsville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/hyattsville-personal-injury-lawyer/), [Laurel](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/laurel-personal-injury-attorney/), [Montgomery County](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyers-in-montgomery-county-md/), [Prince George’s County](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-prince-georges-county/), [Rockville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-attorney-rockville-md/), [Silver Spring](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/silver-spring-personal-injury-lawyer/), [Upper Marlboro](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/personal-injury-lawyer-upper-marlboro-md/), and [Waldorf](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/waldorf-personal-injury-lawyer/)). ```json-ld {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"LegalService","@id":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/#firm","name":"Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Personal Injury Lawyers","url":"https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/","telephone":"+1-202-659-8600","email":"publicrelations@dc-law.net","logo":"https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/new-logoBaskerville@2x.png","image":"https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cscs-firm-photo.jpg","description":"Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel is a Washington D.C. personal injury law firm with decades of experience representing accident victims throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia.","foundingDate":"1969","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1232 17th St NW","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","postalCode":"20036","addressCountry":"US"},"founder":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Joseph Chaikin","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1232 17th St NW","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","postalCode":"20036","addressCountry":"US"}},{"@type":"Person","name":"Ira Sherman","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1232 17th St NW","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","postalCode":"20036","addressCountry":"US"}}],"employee":[{"@type":"Attorney","name":"Allan M. Siegel","jobTitle":"Founding Partner","email":"asiegel@dc-law.net","telephone":"+1-202-659-8600","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1232 17th St NW","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","postalCode":"20036","addressCountry":"US"}},{"@type":"Attorney","name":"Joseph Cammarata","jobTitle":"Founding Partner","email":"jcammarata@dc-law.net","telephone":"+1-202-659-8600","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1232 17th St NW","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","postalCode":"20036","addressCountry":"US"}}],"areaServed":[{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"Washington, D.C."},{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"Maryland"},{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"Virginia"}],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+1-202-659-8600","contactType":"customer service","areaServed":"US","availableLanguage":"en"},"knowsAbout":["Personal Injury Law","Motorcycle Accidents","Car Accidents","Medical Malpractice","Truck Accidents","Brain Injury Cases"],"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/chaikin-sherman-cammarata-&-siegel/","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjeO2vc67zgjYKFqnnmP51g","https://www.facebook.com/CSCSLaw/","https://x.com/CSCSLaw"]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/jackknife-accidents","url":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/jackknife-accidents","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/#website"},"about":{"@id":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/#firm"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Truck Accidents","item":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Jackknife Accidents","item":"https://chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/jackknife-accidents"}]}]} ```