Truck Accidents Caused by Wide Turns in Virginia

Semi-trucks are long — about 72 feet long with the trailer attached. As a result, they have a much wider turning radius than a 15-foot family car. A truck driver who fails to anticipate their turn far enough in advance risks hopping curbs, accidentally merging into other lanes, or colliding with objects directly in their path.

If you’ve been the victim of one of these collisions, consider contacting a wide-turn truck accident lawyer in Virginia immediately.

What Is a Wide Turn Truck Accident?

Truck accidents caused by wide turns is exactly what it sounds like: a commercial truck accident that results from a truck’s wide turning angle.

A combination tractor and trailer is about 72 feet long, roughly five times as long as the average passenger vehicle. As such, it takes much more time and space to turn effectively. Truck drivers need to plan and execute their turns with care in order to avoid striking other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, or stationary objects in their path. When they fail to do so, they can be liable for the consequences.

According to the Virginia DMV, about 140 reported truck accidents statewide were the result of improper turning on the part of the truck driver.

What Are the Main Causes of Wide Turn Trucking Accidents?

Wide-turn accidents happen for many different reasons. Among the most common are as follows:

• Negligent Handling – Drivers attempting wide turns too quickly or carelessly, or engaging in reckless driving, may encroach on other lanes and cause accidents.
• Insufficient Training – Truck drivers who have not received adequate training may not know how to safely execute wide turns, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Failure to Check Blind Spots – Large trucks have commensurately large blind spots, and inattentive drivers might overlook smaller vehicles or pedestrians during a turn.
• Improper Use of Turn Signals – Failing to signal adequately or in time can leave other road users unaware of the truck’s intended maneuver.
• Overcrowded Roads – Tight spaces and heavy traffic make it harder to execute a wide turn effectively.
• Driver Fatigue or Distraction – When a driver is tired or is engaging in distracted driving (such as texting, eating, or drinking), they may misjudge the space needed to complete a wide turn safely.
• Improperly Loaded Cargo – Overloaded or unevenly loaded cargo can affect a truck’s stability, potentially causing it to shift or even cause a rollover accident during a turn.
• Poor Road Design or Conditions – Narrow lanes, obstructed visibility, or slippery road surfaces can make it even harder to negotiate a truck’s wide turning radius.

Many wide turn crashes are the result of several of these factors working in concert. Contact our Roanoke truck accident lawyer today.

Why Do Trucks Need to Make Wide Turns?

Trucks need to take wide turns as a result of their considerable length. Turns to the right are particularly challenging, as they involve a more acute angle in countries like the U.S. where motorists drive on the right.

What Are Some Injuries That Could Result from a Wide Turn Accident?

The size and weight of a commercial truck relative to other road users mean that it can do serious damage in the event of a collision. Victims are often left with severe injuries like the following:

• Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries – The sudden jolt of an impact can strain or tear muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• Lacerations and Contusions – Broken glass, metal debris, and blunt force trauma can cause deep cuts, bruises, and abrasions.
• Bone Fractures – The force of a collision can crack or snap bones, especially in high-impact areas like the arms, legs, or ribs.
• Crush Injuries – Smaller vehicles or pedestrians caught in the truck’s path may suffer severe crush injuries due to the truck’s size and weight.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – The violent impact of a collision can cause severe head trauma, leading to long-term cognitive or physical impairments.
• Internal Injuries – The sheer force of a wide turn collision can damage internal organs, leading to life-threatening conditions such as internal bleeding.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – High impact can damage the spine, resulting in partial or complete paralysis.

Furthermore, survivors of wide turn accidents may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety following the incident.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Wide Turn Truck Accident in Virginia?

The complex nature of the trucking industry means that many different parties can potentially be liable for a given wide turn truck accident in Virginia. These include the following:

• The Truck Driver – A driver is likely the party most directly responsible for the wide turn accident, as they are the ones who should be operating their vehicle safely.
• The Trucking Company – The company the driver works for could be to blame for inadequate driver training, poor hiring practices, or pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic schedules that lead to unsafe driving behaviors.
• Cargo Loaders – If improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo affected the truck’s maneuverability during the turn, the individuals or company responsible for loading the truck may share liability.
• The Cargo Owners – Cargo owners may be liable if they provided inaccurate weight or loading instructions that made the truck unusually hard to handle.
• Truck Mechanics or Maintenance Providers – Faulty maintenance of brakes, tires, or steering systems could implicate the truck’s mechanics or maintenance crew.
• Component Manufacturers – Defects in critical components like turn signals, brakes, or tires could hold manufacturers liable for contributing to the crash.

In many cases, several of these parties share fault for the accident, complicating a resulting injury claim but potentially making more compensation available to the victim.

Can You Recover Compensation in a Virginia Wide Turn Trucking Accident?

If someone else was to blame for the wide turn truck accident that injured you, they could be responsible for compensating you. Your recovery could include money for your:

• Medical care and treatment
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Damaged property, including repairing or replacing your vehicle

Contact a Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer

Don’t face the aftermath of a wide turn truck accident alone. Instead, get help from an experienced legal team with a century of combined experience holding at-fault parties responsible for their negligence. Contact Lichtenstein Law Group PLC today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a wide turn truck accident lawyer in Virginia, and let’s discuss your case together.