Wide Turn Large Truck Accidents

Large trucks require a higher degree of difficulty to drive, maintain and have a high potential for causing accidents on the roadway. One of the most common ways trucks may injure other drivers is by performing an unsafe wide turn, which may put other vehicles (unseen to the driver) in harm’s way. If you or a loved one was injured as the result of a truck taking an ill-advised wide turn, contact the Massachusetts-based truck injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP today.

There is a reason commercial trucks require a special license to operate – they are more difficult to drive and have a higher chance of harming other commuters than any other vehicle due to their size and complex ranges of motion. In the Boston area, trucks have it even more difficult as they must attempt to maneuver around incredibly tight roads and narrow alleyways to make deliveries – all the while remaining aware of heavy foot traffic and cars traversing along the same routes.

Wide turn accidents may occur in many ways, however some common reasons resulting in a wide turn accident are:

Taking excessively sharp turns

A driver may overestimate how much room they have to operate a sharp turn, causing them to collide with another vehicle which they thought was farther away. To get enough of a turn radius to make a sharp turn, operators may have to swing the cab of the truck in the opposite direction of the turn prior to making the turn in the proper direction. This may result in head-on collisions with vehicles coming the opposite direction, as the truck will likely veer into the opposite lane while making the turn.

Failure to check blind spots

Truck drivers are very reliant on mirrors to see around the sides of their large vehicles. Large blind spots exist next to a truck’s trailer, especially on the passenger side. If a driver does not take heed to check their blind spots carefully prior to making a wide turn, they may crash into or even crush a vehicle that was driving next to them, causing potentially life-threatening injuries.

Driver negligence

As with all other trucking accidents, wide turn accidents may be caused completely by operator error. This may include a driver making an ill-advised wide turn while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, prescription medication or over-the-counter caffeine supplements to stay awake. Similarly, a driver may be overtired and fatigued, leading to a dangerous wide turn and causing an accident.

Who is liable in a wide turn accident?

Truck drivers have a responsibility to safely operate their trucks during deliveries and when out driving in populated areas. They must exercise great caution to ensure a turn is safe before engaging in a wide turn maneuver, and this includes taking special care to be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists which may reside in their blind spots prior to a turn.

Trucking accidents leave very little room for error, so if an operator exercises negligence and causes an accident they can be held liable for any injuries which happen as a result of their actions. Accidents caused by trucks can result in devastating injuries which result in huge medical bills and a lot of time missed from work – which can cause further financial turmoil.

The expert truck attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP have over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our clients who have been injured in truck accidents, and we will use that expertise to help you earn financial compensation for your injury as well, while holding negligent truck drivers accountable.

Call us for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.