Have you been involved in a crash with a truck driver who made an unexpectedly wide right turn? If so, you might wonder if the maneuver was justified and whether the truck driver is at fault. Here’s what you need to know about why trucks make wide right turns.
Reasons Truckers Swing Wide When Turning Right
When truck drivers make right turns, they often swing out to the left first. The maneuver is necessary due to the truck’s size and design. A truck’s back wheels do not follow the same path as its front wheels because trucks are much longer than most vehicles. The length means more space is necessary to turn without hitting curbs or other obstacles. By swinging wide, truck drivers ensure that the back ends of their trucks clear any obstacles and don’t cause damage or get stuck.
Additionally, the area to the truck’s right side is harder for the driver to see. The blind spot on tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles makes it risky to turn tightly because it increases the chance of colliding with other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. For these reasons, truck drivers must swing wide to ensure a safe and effective turn, protecting everyone on the road.
How Should Truckers Warn About Wide Right Turns?
Even though wide right turns are often necessary for large trucks, truck drivers must execute these maneuvers carefully and warn other road users. Specifically, they must deploy their turn signals well before the turn to give drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians ample time to understand the truck driver’s intentions and keep a safe distance.
Many truckers also apply signs to the back ends of their trailers that alert others to the possibility of wide turns. These precautions can prevent truck accidents and ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Truck drivers can be liable for wide right-turn accidents if they do not signal or take other appropriate precautions before turning right.
What Are the Causes of Wide Right Turn Accidents?
Wide-turn truck accidents can happen for many reasons. Below is a list of common causes that might lead to a right-turn squeeze accident:
- Truck driver fatigue, distraction, or impairment
- Misjudgment of the truck’s turn radius
- Inadequate mirror adjustments
- Insufficient surveillance of blind spots
- Failure to use turn signals
- Incorrect lane positioning before the turn
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Improper training on wide right-turn techniques
- Lack of warning signs on the truck
- Overloading of the truck
- Mechanical failures
- Poor road conditions
- Obstructions in the turning path
Who Is at Fault for a Truck-Wide Right Turn Accident?
Determining who is at fault in a wide right-turn truck accident can be challenging. In some cases, the truck driver holds responsibility for failing to signal properly or turn safely. Truckers must use signals, check mirrors, and monitor their blind spots before any right turn. However, other drivers also have a role to play. All road users should keep a safe distance and avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots. If an accident occurs, investigators will look at the actions of everyone involved to decide who was at fault.
Get Help from Our Wide Turn Truck Accident Lawyers Now
If you’ve been involved in a wide right-turn truck accident, don’t wait to get legal help from an experienced truck accident lawyer at our law firm. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free consultation. Our truck accident attorneys are ready to discuss your case, guide you through your options, and seek fair compensation for you.
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