Jack-Knifed 18-Wheeler Closes I-610 East for 6+ Hours
On Thursday, February 9th, an 18-wheeler jack-knifed on I-610 – closing a significant section of the interstate for 6+ hours, according to NOLA.com. The 18-wheeler truck crashed into the guardrail near the interstate merge with I-10.
Unfortunately, this crash happened around 2:00 AM during inclement weather, so no injuries or causes of the crash were definitely related to the weather. While we are unsure of the exact cause of this jack-knife truck accident, we are keenly aware that it shut down a major interstate for 6+ hours.
Did you know that jack-knifing is a common accident for commercial trucks?
Weighing in at nearly 40 tons, commercial trucks far outweigh the passenger cars we drive for our day-to-today routines. Because of their significant size and weight, 18-wheelers need to contend with several issues that other cars, trucks, and SUVs don’t:
- 18-wheelers take much longer to start and stop than smaller vehicles
- Tractor trailers and big rigs alike have less visibility in general and are harder to maneuver
- Due to their structure, trucks are prone to jackknife accidents
Jackknifing is a common accident for commercial trucks, and it’s one of the most dangerous. If you’ve been the victim of a jackknifed truck accident, you’re likely dealing with significant property damage, severe injuries, lost wages, and more. You need a dedicated legal advocate to ensure your needs are met.
While you are driving on the road, we want you to be aware of these common causes of Jackknife truck accidents.
- Improper loading of cargo
- Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, sleet, or fog
- Failure to properly maintain the vehicle
- Incorrect braking technique or adjustment
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Fatigued driving
- Equipment failure
- Driver inexperience
All of these jack knives causes force the truck driver to brake suddenly. A big truck’s braking system is far more complex than your average sedan, making a “sudden brake” extremely difficult to execute safely. Sadly, this abrupt stop is how jackknife incidents occur – damaging drivers, victims, and putting other drivers at risk.
