Detroit Wide Turn Truck Accident Attorneys

Oversized trucks like eighteen-wheelers need a lot of space to negotiate a right-hand turn. Their size and weight make this maneuver challenging. One wrong move can lead to potentially catastrophic accidents with other motorists. 

You may have legal options if you or a loved one is involved in an accident with a truck making a wide turn. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages. The wide turn accident lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

What Is a Wide Turn Accident?

Because of its size, a large truck can’t turn right like other vehicles. Instead, it must travel out of its lane and into oncoming traffic. This wide turn radius, combined with the truck’s size and high center of gravity, makes this maneuver particularly dangerous.

Wide turn accidents often result in a rollover. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) lists rollovers as the most fatal truck accident type. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), nearly half (49%) of all deaths of drivers or passengers in large trucks in 2023 occurred in rollover crashes. This figure is much higher than the percentages for occupants of SUVs and pickups (34%) and more than double the percentage for car occupants (21%) in rollover accidents.

Smaller passenger vehicles are incredibly vulnerable in a collision with a large truck. The occupants of passenger vehicles are often killed in these accidents. Cars traveling too close to a truck making a wide turn can be “squeezed” between the curb and the truck. Smaller cars may be pulled under the truck and crushed. 

Causes of Wide Turn Truck Accidents

Wide turn accidents happen for various reasons, many of which are driver errors. Common mistakes include:

• Failure to check blind spots for vehicles.
• Failure to signal.
• Unfamiliarity with roads.
• Swinging too far into the left lane to make a turn.
• Drowsy driving.
• Inexperience with driving on and making turns on tight city streets.
• Distracted driving.
• Traveling too fast for road conditions.
• Driving under the influence.

Improperly secured or overloaded cargo can also cause a truck to tip over while turning.

Who Is Responsible for a Wide Turn Accident?

Most truck drivers are well-trained, skilled professionals who abide by federal and state safety regulations. However, even the most seasoned operators can make mistakes. When an accident occurs while making a wide turn, the truck driver may be legally responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.

A driver’s employer could also be liable for damages. They may have allowed an inadequately trained driver or one not properly licensed to operate their truck. Or they may have pressured the driver to meet stressful deadlines, leading them to drive while tired. Some companies cut corners on safety regulations, skipping inspections and failing to ensure their trucks are mechanically sound.

Improperly loading or securing cargo can also lead to a wide turn accident, shifting some responsibility onto the company that loaded the truck.

Many accidents result from a combination of negligent acts by multiple parties. An experienced truck accident attorney can investigate a wide-turn accident to determine what caused it and identify all responsible parties.  

Potential Damages in a Truck Accident Case

Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. Because truck accidents are often so severe, this can be a large amount of money. 

Potential damages in a truck accident case include:

• Medical expenses.
• Future medical care costs.
• Lost earnings and benefits.
• Lost future earning potential. 
• Pain and suffering.
• Permanent disability or disfiguration.
• Wrongful death.

Some of these damages are easy to calculate because they have an established dollar value. Others are more subjective. Proving the value of losses like pain and suffering requires specialized knowledge and expertise. An experienced attorney can help determine a case’s full and fair value to ensure an accident victim doesn’t settle for less than they deserve.

Contact a Detroit Truck Accident Attorney for Help

Sommers Schwartz, P.C.’s experienced truck accident attorneys understand the complex rules and regulations governing truck drivers and trucking companies. When operators and owners ignore the rules, we know how to hold them responsible. Our team knows how to secure the recovery you deserve for the injuries they cause. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a wide turn truck accident, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. 

Contact Sommers Schwartz, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation consultation and learn what sets us apart from other Detroit truck accident attorneys.