Wide-Turning Trucks Cause Wrecks — Have You Been Injured?
Have you ever been waiting at a traffic signal in the left-turn lane while a massive semi-truck came barreling in your direction from a cross street and tried turning right? With other drivers stacked up behind you and no room to back up, you may have thought your vehicle would get crushed.
Although large trucks and buses often end up maneuvering through crowded residential and commercial streets, these massive vehicles simply aren’t built for tight quarters, and their wide turns can be a significant danger to others on the road — especially when these large vehicles are driven by undertrained drivers who don’t have the skills to operate their vehicles correctly.
Below, we’ll discuss how these trucking accidents happen — and what you should do if you’ve been injured by a careless truck driver.
Unsafe Truck Driver Behavior and Lack of Training Can Lead to Wide-Turn Trucking Accidents
A wide-turn crash happens whenever a truck driver misjudges their turning radius and crashes into another vehicle. Even at relatively low speeds, the massive size of the trucks in these crashes can lead to severe injuries or even death for the passengers in the other vehicle.
Wide-turn accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- The truck driver’s failure to signal
- The trucker failing to check their blind spots or adjust their mirrors properly
- Distraction, fatigue, or intoxication on the part of the truck driver
- The trucker’s unfamiliarity with the roads or their own vehicle
When wide-turning trucks collide with passenger cars, they can cause severe or even deadly injuries that include:
- Broken bones
- Severe cuts (lacerations)
- Internal trauma and bleeding
- Amputation of limbs
- Severe burns
- Spinal cord injuries, potentially leading to quadriplegia, paraplegia, hemiplegia, or monoplegia
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
All truck drivers should have sufficient training to anticipate wide turns and handle them properly without creating a hazard. Unfortunately, many trucking companies fail to properly train their drivers before they put them on the road. These truck drivers endanger others due to their inexperience and lack of skill with their vehicles.
If a trucking company failed to properly train a driver and that driver injured you in a wide-turn accident, you may have a valid claim against that company for negligence. You may also be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Wide-Turning Trucks Can Cause Deadly “Squeeze Play” Crashes
Sometimes, a truck driver will swing to the left before making a right-hand turn to accommodate the truck’s wide turning radius. Unfortunately, other drivers on the road may misinterpret this move as the truck changing lanes to the left rather than getting ready to turn right, especially if the truck driver fails to signal properly. Passenger vehicle drivers may then try to pass the truck on the right, only to get caught in an extremely dangerous collision when the truck swings right for the turn.
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This type of crash is sometimes called a “squeeze play” accident after a type of baseball play (although these wrecks are anything but a game to the victims). Cyclists and motorcycle riders are especially prone to getting caught in a squeeze play wreck, and the consequences for them are often life-altering or even fatal. Pedestrians can also fall victim to this type of crash if they try to cross the street because they don’t realize the truck is turning.
The trucking industry knows of the dangers of these crashes and has many ways to prevent them if trucking companies would only choose to adopt them. If trucking companies implemented life-saving side guards on their big rigs to prevent other vehicles and people from going underneath the truck during a crash, these accidents would be much less deadly. Other solutions to this problem run from technology to simple driver training.
Unfortunately, too many trucking companies are motivated primarily by short-term profits instead of public safety, so cyclists, motorcycle drivers, and pedestrians will continue to suffer.
Injured in a Trucking Accident? Contact Morgan Adams Today!
If you or your someone you know has been injured or lost a loved one a crash involving a large truck or bus, Truck Wreck Justice Attorney Morgan Adams is here to help. With years of experience and a sole focus on large vehicle cases, Morgan Adams has the resources to stand up for your rights and represent you through the complex process of a trucking accident lawsuit.
Please contact Truck Wreck Justice at (866) 580-4878 or fill out our online contact form if you need help. We offer free initial consultations to assess your situation and discuss your legal options. We also handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that you won’t pay attorney’s fees unless we achieve a financial recovery on your behalf.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
