Commercial trucks can be as much as five times longer than the average passenger vehicle, which means they have a much wider turning radius. When truck drivers do not handle their wide turns carefully, they risk colliding with motorists in adjacent lanes, hopping up onto curbs and striking pedestrians, or crashing into buildings.
If you’ve been hurt in a wide turn truck accident in St. Louis, get the legal help you need to demand compensation and justice. For over 50 years, Sumner Law Group, LLC, has built a track record of success, including numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. We’ve earned a reputation among insurance companies as a personal injury firm that won’t back down and will fight as hard as necessary for our clients’ rights and interests.
Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers, and find out what your case could be worth.
Why Do Trucks Make Wide Turns?
Commercial trucks are much longer than passenger vehicles, and they take much wider turns as a result.
Right turns, in particular, can be hazardous because they involve tighter angles. A truck driver may have to account for this by swinging the truck out to the left before cranking the wheel hard to the right. They may also try to turn from a lane other than the rightmost or leftmost lane to give the truck more room to complete the turn. Alternatively, a truck driver may complete a right turn by traveling through the opposing lanes after turning right before straightening out the truck on the correct side of the street.
All these maneuvers have the risk of causing wide turn truck accidents if the drivers aren’t careful.
Common Types and Causes of Missouri Wide Turn Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Wide turns by semi-trucks can lead to various types of truck accidents, such as:
- Head-on collisions – Truck drivers must check for oncoming traffic before they make a wide right turn that carries them into the oncoming lanes. If they do not, they risk colliding head-on with oncoming traffic.
- Side-impact collisions – A truck driver who attempts to make a wide turn at an intersection without accounting for oncoming traffic risks T-boning other drivers already traveling through the intersection.
- Underride accidents – Truck drivers must swing hard to the left before pulling back to the right when they make particularly tight right-hand turns. If the truck driver fails to signal and check the truck’s blind spot, the trailer could ride over a smaller vehicle to the right of the truck.
- Jackknife accidents – When a tractor-trailer tries to make too sharp of a turn, the truck driver can cause their vehicle to jackknife.
Common causes of wide turning truck accidents include:
- Improper wide turn technique
- Failing to check for traffic
- Not using turn signals or checking side mirrors
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Disregarding traffic signs, such as no-turn signs
- Backing up without looking after failing to negotiate the turn
- Not leaving enough clearance to complete the turn
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Truck driver inexperience
- Inadequate truck maintenance
Injuries That May Result from Wide Turn Accidents in St. Louis
Wide turn accidents in St. Louis can lead to severe injuries, such as:
- Lacerations or abrasions
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Muscle and tendon strains and tears
- Herniated spinal disc injuries
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation or limb loss
- Crush injuries
How Much Is My Wide-Turn Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your wide turn truck accident case will depend on various factors, such as:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Whether your injuries result in prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Whether you need to take time off work during your injury recovery or become permanently disabled from your job
- The number and identity of liable parties
- The availability of insurance coverage and the applicable policy limits
- Whether you share any responsibility for causing the accident
- The extent of damage to your car
Depending on the above circumstances, a successful truck accident claim could provide you with money for your:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, medication, medical equipment, and therapy
- Costs of long-term disability care, such as home health care and housekeeping assistance
- Loss of wages and other income from missed work
- Ongoing or future lost earning capacity if you become disabled from your job
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life due to disabilities, permanent scarring, and disfigurement
- Vehicle repair expenses or reimbursement for the value of your car
Are Truck Drivers Always at Fault for St. Louis Wide Turn Accidents?
Truck drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely and avoid accidents. That’s why they receive training on how to handle large commercial trucks, check the truck’s blind spots, and account for the truck’s turning radius. Consequently, truck drivers who fail to follow the correct procedures for wide turns are often responsible for any accidents they cause as a result.
However, truck drivers are not automatically at fault for every wide turn truck accident. For example, if a driver tries to pass a large commercial truck in the right lane while it’s executing a right turn, that driver may be to blame for the collision. Alternately, a trucking company may also bear liability for a wide turn accident if it employed the at-fault trucker or negligently failed to train and supervise the driver.
Contact Our Experienced St. Louis Wide Turn Truck Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been hit by a commercial truck driver making a wide right turn, you may have the right to seek compensation for your expenses and losses. Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer. We are ready to discuss your options and how we can seek the justice and accountability you deserve.
