Wide Turn Truck Accidents

When a fully loaded tractor-trailer or delivery truck makes a turn, it takes up far more road space than passenger cars need, especially on right turns. Unfortunately, that extra room often leads to wide turn accidents. These serious collisions can crush smaller vehicles, cause devastating injuries, and even take lives.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we’ve represented victims of truck crashes across Westchester County, New York, and surrounding areas for almost 40 years. If you have been injured in a truck accident or are facing a death in the family following one of these collisions, schedule a consultation with attorney Mark A. Siesel. Our law firm can explain what options you may have to pursue compensation.

What is a Wide Turn Truck Accident?

A wide turn truck accident happens when a large commercial vehicle swings too far into another lane or into oncoming traffic while turning. These crashes often occur when:

• A truck driver turns right from the center lane or swings left to make a wide right turn.
• A smaller vehicle is trapped or sideswiped as the trailer cuts across lanes.
• The truck crosses into opposing traffic while making a left turn.
• A driver misjudges clearance and hits a curb, pedestrian, cyclist, or parked vehicle.

To understand why these accidents happen, keep in mind that a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck can be up to 70–80 feet long. When a vehicle of that size turns right, especially, the back wheels of the trailer do not follow the same path as the front wheels. Instead, they swing in closer to the curb in a motion called “off-tracking.” The driver then needs to swing left before turning right to avoid coming into contact with the curb or any other objects in the way.

What often happens in these accidents is that drivers of passenger cars following the truck may not realize the truck is turning and may try to pass. As the truck makes its right turn, the smaller vehicle then gets trapped between the curb and the trailer. This is known as a squeeze play accident, and it can happen in seconds—quickly enough that the driver of the passenger car cannot react. The smaller vehicle can also be in the truck’s blind spot, meaning the truck driver cannot react in time, either.

In these situations, the car can become crushed. The accident can also become an override accident, where the smaller car becomes jammed under the trailer. The top part of the car can become sheared off or crushed, leading to serious injuries for anyone inside.

Why Wide Turn Crashes are so Dangerous

Wide turn truck accidents tend to be serious collisions. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger car. When that much force strikes a smaller vehicle, the people inside often suffer severe or fatal injuries. Common outcomes include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions.
• Neck and spinal cord damage.
• Broken bones and crush injuries.
• Internal bleeding and organ trauma.
• Severe lacerations or disfigurement.

In these accidents, it may be safest to call 911. The impact and crushing of the smaller car can create a danger of a fire and the occupants inside the smaller vehicle may be trapped. They may require firefighters to free them from the vehicle. Even if your accident seems relatively minor, it is important to seek medical attention without delay. These accidents are likely to cause internal trauma, brain injury, soft tissue injury, and other complex injuries that do not always present symptoms right away.

Who May Be Responsible for a Wide Turn Truck Accident

Several parties may share responsibility depending on what went wrong in a wide turn accident. In these cases, the truck driver will sometimes blame the car driver, saying they did not leave them enough space for a turn. The car driver may claim that the truck driver failed to signal. Our team investigates every angle to get answers. We often find that multiple liable parties can be responsible, including:

1. The truck driver, if negligent driving, distraction, fatigue, or improper turning technique played a role in the accident.
2. The trucking company, for poor training or failing to maintain the vehicle.
3. Maintenance contractors, if mechanical issues such as brake failure or faulty turning signals contributed to the crash.
4. Cargo loaders, for improperly balanced loads that affect turning stability.
5. Manufacturers, if defective parts or design flaws caused the vehicle to handle unsafely.
6. Municipalities, if roads lack the signage or design needed for trucks to make turns safely.

We obtain driver logs, black box data, GPS records, driver data, and company maintenance reports to find out what happened in the crash.

What To Do After a Wide Turn Truck Accident

After a serious crash, your first priority is medical attention. Once you’re safe, there are important steps you can take to protect your legal rights:

1. Call the police and ensure an accident report is filed.
2. Exchange information with the truck driver and any witnesses.
3. Take photos of the vehicles, damage, skid marks, and surroundings, if you can do so.
4. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies until you’ve spoken with a lawyer.
5. Consult with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible.

The trucking company and its insurers will move quickly to protect themselves. Having an experienced attorney on the case as soon as possible means it is your lawyer who will be handling these calls, which means the insurance company can’t easily trick you with questions that try to get you to admit fault.

Common Causes of Wide Turn Truck Crashes

The most frequent causes of wide turn crashes include:

• Driver inattention or distraction.
• Improper truck driver training or lack of experience.
• Speeding or turning too quickly for conditions.
• Fatigued driving.
• Failure to signal or check blind spots.
• Overloaded or poorly balanced trailers.
• Mechanical failure such as worn tires or faulty brakes.
• Poorly designed roads.

Why Experience and Responsiveness Matter

When you hire a lawyer after a truck accident, you’re trusting them with your future. The challenge is that schools don’t teach you how to choose the right lawyer. Far too many people simply choose an attorney they’ve seen on a billboard, or the one they read about first online.

The reality is that a law firm that prioritizes billable hours may rush through your case to get to the next one. They may never get to know what you need from the claim, or even get to know your name. They may fail to communicate with you, leaving you in the dark and with more worries than you had before. All of this can make it harder for you to get the compensation you need.

You want someone who will fight for fair compensation, but who will also understand what you need the compensation for. Understanding you as a person and communicating with you helps your attorney understand what the best outcome possible might look like in your case. And while all attorneys are busy, your attorney should never be too busy for you.

We created The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel to reflect these values. While we aggressively pursue compensation for you, we never lose sight of you as a person. We keep you up to date and we always respond to your emails and calls within 24 business hours—and often on the same day. It’s why our clients not only recommend us, but also stay in touch for years after we recommend them.

If you have been in a truck accident and aren’t sure where to turn, you can turn to us. Contact The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation to learn more about what you may be able to do to seek compensation.