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Wide turn truck accidents are a common occurrence. Because semi-trucks are so big, they often need to veer left before making a right turn.
This can create a dangerous scenario for other drivers near the truck. If you have been involved in a wide turn truck accident, it may be a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Personal injury lawyers can help you determine who is liable in wide turn truck accident cases, determine what type of damages you might be owed, and help you build a strong case for your accident claim.
Tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks need a lot of extra room to make turns, especially right-hand turns.
Because their vehicles are so large, truckers often have to move from the right lane into the left lane before turning right. This creates a dangerous scenario that can lead to accidents and even catastrophic injuries.
Trucks need this extra room to turn right because of the length of their vehicle. Without it, they might end up jack-knifed, meaning the middle of the truck gets hung up on a curb or another obstacle.
Big rigs make wide right turns to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, when operating on city streets or in areas with multiple lanes or other smaller vehicles on the road, big rigs making wide right turns can cause accidents.
Wide truck turns create a dangerous scenario on the road, but there are actually multiple reasons why an accident may occur.
The specific reason why a wide turn semi-truck accident occurs might influence who is held liable for damages resulting from the incident.
Trucks have large blind spots, or areas on the sides and in the rear of the truck where a driver is unable to see cars in their mirrors.
This can lead to an accident when a commercial driver goes to make a turn without knowing that there is a car in their path.
Sometimes, a driver may not see that a large truck or commercial vehicle has its turn signal on. In this scenario, the driver of a smaller car might not take the necessary precautions to maneuver out of the big rig’s way.
This can lead to an accident, as the smaller vehicle may end up in the path of the big rig when it goes to make a turn.
Squeeze play accidents can result in serious injuries and are a common occurrence when a truck turns right.
This type of wide turn accident happens when a truck veers into the left lane to give itself more room to make a right turn. A driver then tries to pass the truck on the right, only to be “squeezed” with nowhere to go when the big rig turns right.
Because big rigs are so high off the ground, this type of accident can result in the crushing of the roof of a smaller vehicle.
Sometimes, wide turn truck accidents are caused by driver error, meaning a person fails to leave a truck adequate room to make a turn or makes another mistake.
Often, however, these accidents are caused by negligent truck drivers, improper training, or other circumstances outside of a smaller vehicle driver’s control.
Some factors that often cause wide turn truck accidents include:
Car accidents involving a semi-truck making a wide turn can range from minor collisions to severe vehicle accidents. Truck accident victims may experience any of the following common injuries:
If you or a loved one is injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may want to seek legal advice. Commercial drivers are required to be trained and operate their vehicles safely.
Since there are many different types of collisions that can occur during wide semi-truck turns, multiple parties may be at fault for the accident. It is important to note that fault is not the same as liability.
For example, if a truck driver is determined to be at fault for a collision with a passenger vehicle, the truck driver may not be liable for paying medical bills and other damages. Instead, this liability could be placed on the company operating the truck or their insurance provider.
Experienced truck accident lawyers are experts at helping accident victims to determine fault and ensure that a passenger vehicle driver is not assigned more fault for an accident with a semi-truck than they should be.
If you are injured in a wide turn truck accident, determining the liable party is the first step in the legal process. Parties that might be liable for damages including the cost of medical care, property damage, and pain and suffering are listed below.
In rare cases, a truck driver might be liable for an accident involving another motor vehicle. This is usually only the case when the driver is working as an independent contractor, rather than an employee, and/or they have made a driving error that has led to the accident. Just because a truck driver is at fault for an accident does not mean they will be the liable party.
Trucking companies are almost always the liable party in an accident involving a big rig. Trucking companies have a responsibility to train their commercial drivers properly.
If a truck driver is at fault in a collision with another vehicle, the trucking company will most likely be held liable for any damages owed to the parties involved.
Sometimes, trucking companies have insurance that will cover some or all of the cost of damages owed to other drivers involved in a crash with one of their trucks.
Insurance coverage is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the trucking company will be liable for any damages not covered by insurance.
If you or a loved one is injured in a wide turn truck accident, it can affect your life in a number of ways. All of the negative effects that result from your accident can be claimed and ultimately collected as monetary damages related to the incident.
If you are injured in an accident involving a big rig, all of your medical expenses related to the incident can be claimed as damages.
This includes not only medical expenses for acute care directly after the accident, but also for any ongoing issues that may result from your injuries.
If you, your legal team, and the liable party reach a settlement, it will include estimated damages for any medical costs that have already occurred, as well as those that may occur in the future.
If you are unable to work as a result of your injuries from a wide turn truck accident, your lost wages can be claimed as part of the damages related to the incident.
A personal injury attorney can help you calculate any lost wages that have already occurred or are likely to occur, and ensure that you are compensated fairly in return.
Wrongful death damages refer to damages that someone may seek if a loved one is killed in a wide turn truck accident.
These damages can include anything from pain and suffering to lost wages if the person was being supported financially by the deceased individual.
Getting injured in a wide turn truck accident can negatively impact your life in a number of different ways. Other damages that might be sought include pain and suffering which occur as a result of the accident and lost ability to earn money.
Pain and suffering is a common type of damage sought in a variety of personal injury cases, and can refer to any physical, emotional, or mental hardship that occurs as the result of an accident.
The first step in filing a truck accident claim is to hire an experienced truck accident attorney. Most attorneys offer free consultations (also called free case evaluations) wherein they will review your case and determine whether filing a claim is the right thing to do.
If you move forward with your claim, your attorney will help you to gather all evidence and documents related to the case. Next, they will file a personal injury claim with any parties that they deem to be liable in the incident.
Usually, personal injury claims settle out of court, meaning that the liable parties, you, and your wide turn truck accident lawyer come to an agreement on a settlement amount to be paid based on damages related to the claim.
If the claim does go to court, your attorney will have the know-how and skills to make a strong case, giving you the best possible chance at collecting a large settlement.
Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions related to wide turn truck accidents, and their answers.
Wide turn truck accidents can lead to serious injuries, major property damage, and other losses. Trucks making turns get in accidents frequently because they create a major hazard on the roadway.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, you should seek compensation for your damages.
Hiring an experienced attorney from an accredited law firm is the best way to ensure that your personal injury case reaches a settlement that you are satisfied with.
Contact LegalFinders today to connect with the top wide turn truck accident attorneys in your area.
