Thousands of jackknife accidents occur across the United States every year, and some of those happen in Metro Detroit. Because of the auto industry, semi-trucks carry auto parts and other equipment through downtown Detroit and nearby suburbs every day. If a semi-truck driver is distracted or roadways are slippery, jackknife accidents can happen in an instant.
Common Causes of Jackknife Accidents
Many factors can cause a semi-truck to jackknife, leading to injuries and fatalities. Some of the most common causes of jackknife accidents include:
- Sudden Braking: When a truck driver brakes too hard or too quickly, the trailer’s momentum can cause it to swing outward as the cab slows, leading to a jackknife accident. This is especially dangerous because the trailer wheels may lock up before the tractor wheels, creating an unstable pivot point.
- Slippery Roads/Weather: Ice, sleet, snow, rain, and other weather conditions reduce tire traction, creating treacherous driving conditions in Detroit. When wheels lose grip during braking or turning, the trailer can slide sideways with nothing to keep it aligned behind the tractor.
- Speeding: Taking curves or turns too fast causes a semi-trailer to become unsteady. The trailer’s weight and momentum can overpower the connection point, causing it to swing out to the side of the cab and jackknife. A speeding semi-truck also has little time or room to evade other vehicles on the road that may be changing lanes or making turns.
- Equipment Failure: Malfunctioning brakes, worn brake pads, engine problems, or a defective steering system can cause a semi-truck to lose control and jackknife.
- Empty or Light Trailer: An unloaded or lightly loaded trailer has less weight pressing the tires to the road, making it easier for those wheels to lose traction and slip sideways during braking or turning, which can result in a jackknife.
- Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers who are sleepy or tired can easily lose control of their large vehicles, causing jackknife accidents. In some cases, truckers have been known to drive longer than the limited number of hours allowed by federal law, putting other motorists in danger.
- Poor Road Conditions/Maintenance: Potholes, gravel, broken guardrails, oil spills, and road debris can cause a truck driver to brake suddenly or swerve and lose control of an 18-wheeler.
- Distracted Driving: A truck driver who is texting, eating, talking on the phone, or fiddling with a navigation system can become distracted and fail to see other vehicles or impediments, resulting in a jackknife crash.
- Driver Under the Influence: Truck drivers who drink alcohol or take drugs before getting behind the wheel of a semi can have slowed motor function and response time, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
Requesting a Police Report in a Jackknife Accident
If you’ve been injured in a jackknife accident and want to request an accident report from the Detroit Police Department, there are three ways you can do it:
- In Person
Location: Detroit Police Department – 3rd Precinct
Address: 2875 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 596-1909
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Online
Website: Purchase through LexisNexis
- Search, pay for, and print a crash report online
- Cost: $10.00 (credit card required)
- Provide date of the crash, your driver’s license number, and possibly the incident number.
- Reports are downloaded directly (not emailed or mailed)
- By Mail
Send a written request to:
Detroit Police Records Section
2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202
Include:
- Report number (if available), or
- Month, year, and type of report (crash/accident report)
Dangerous Roads in Detroit Where Truck Accidents Happen
Accidents involving 18-wheelers often make the TV news in Detroit. The most dangerous roads in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, where jackknife truck accidents can happen, include:
- Interstate 94 (I-94): I-94 is a major freight corridor and the site of multiple semi-truck accidents each year. The stretch between Detroit and the center of the state is particularly hazardous because of traffic congestion and frequent road construction.
- Interstate 75 (I-75): I-75 runs from Detroit through Rochester and Flint and is a major artery in Southeast Michigan. Semi-trailers, commuters, and a wide variety of other motorists heavily travel I-75.
- SR-3 (Gratiot Avenue): State Road 3 from Liberal Street to Van Dyke Avenue is a deadly stretch of road in Detroit. It is a north-south state trunkline highway that starts in downtown Detroit and runs through the city in a northeasterly direction. One of the city’s five major avenues, SR-3 is a bustling and crowded thoroughfare that is the site of frequent crashes.
- Interstate 696 (I-696): I-696 runs through the Metro Detroit communities of Southfield and Sterling Heights and is heavily traveled by commuters and large trucks. The stretch of I-696 near the Woodward Avenue/I-75 interchange is a site of merging and congested traffic, often leading to vehicle accidents.
- Interstate 96 (I-96): I-96 runs through urban Detroit and is a major highway in Southeastern Michigan. Semi-trucks, cars, SUVs, and motorcycles converge to create a hazardous mix, particularly during rush hour traffic.
Detroit Hospitals Where Jackknife Injuries Can Be Treated
Several hospitals in Southeastern Michigan provide comprehensive emergency, trauma, specialty, and/or general medical services. Some of these include:
- Henry Ford Hospital 2799 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
- DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital 4201 St. Antoine Blvd, Detroit, MI 48201
- DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital 6071 W. Outer Dr, Detroit, MI 48235
- DMC Harper University Hospital 3990 John R Street, Detroit, MI 48201
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan 3901 Beaubien Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48201
- DMC Heart Hospital 311 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
- Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan 261 Mack Blvd, Detroit, MI 48201
Liability in Truck Jackknife Crashes
A jackknife injury case can sometimes involve more than one at-fault party. Because of this, there may be multiple defendants in a semi-truck accident claim. Potential responsible parties include:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Truck manufacturer
- Cargo loaders
- Government entities (for road design/maintenance)
- Other motorists
A skilled and experienced Detroit personal injury attorney at Fieger Law will know how to identify the negligent parties in your jackknife accident lawsuit.
Detroit-Area Automakers That Use Semis for Transporting Goods
Detroit-area automakers are among the largest corporations in the United States, and each transports thousands of auto parts and other goods via semi-trailers every day. The auto industry, including suppliers and subcontractors as well as the automakers themselves, is one of the primary reasons semi-trucks pass through the Detroit region. Some of these automakers recently changed the address of their headquarters.
They include:
- New Headquarters (as of January 2026): Hudson’s Detroit, 1240 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
- Previous Headquarters: Renaissance Center, 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243
- New Headquarters (as of 2025): Ford World Headquarters (The Hub), 1 American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126
- Previous Headquarters: Henry Ford II World Center (The Glass House), which Ford occupied from 1956-2025
Stellantis (formerly Chrysler)
- North American Headquarters: 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Call Fieger Law Today for Skilled Legal Representation
The attorneys at Fieger Law care about our clients and treat each one with the respect and attention they deserve. We know that you and your family are going through a difficult time.
We put our skill and experience to work for clients and handle the legal side of things, so they can focus on recovering from their injuries. Contact us today to get started on your case and path towards full compensation.
