By design, commercial trucks must make wide turns. However, the consequences can be devastating if a trucker does not execute a turn safely. Wide-turn collisions can lead to severe injuries that leave victims with substantial medical bills and other financial losses.
If you’re struggling in the aftermath of a wide-turn truck accident in New Braunfels, an experienced Central Texas injury lawyer is critical to securing justice. The wide-turn truck accident attorneys with Burch Law Firm have fought tirelessly for our clients’ rights for over 25 years, obtaining millions of dollars in settlements and judgments to restore their financial security and move forward.
Let us help you pursue the money you need for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Ready to get started on your claim? Contact our experienced truck accident lawyer today for a free consultation with a skilled wide-turn truck accident lawyer in New Braunfels.
What are the Causes of Wide Turn Accidents?
Commercial trucks are much larger and longer than typical passenger vehicles. This size difference means trucks require a wider turning radius to navigate corners safely. That also makes them prone to accidents caused by:
- Limited visibility – Commercial trucks have large blind spots on all sides. Truck drivers may have difficulty spotting vehicles or pedestrians in these areas.
- Failure to use turn signals – Truck drivers must use turn signals to communicate their intention to turn. Failure to signal leaves nearby drivers unable to anticipate the truck’s movement, potentially putting them in harm’s way.
- Misjudgment of turning radius – Despite their specialized training, truck drivers may misjudge the amount of space needed to complete a turn. This problem is especially prevalent in urban environments where tight streets and intersections are common.
- Driver training and experience – Maneuvering a truck safely takes experience. Newer truck drivers might struggle to make wide turns without encroaching on adjacent lanes and endangering nearby road users.
- Roadway layout – Narrow roads, tight corners, and intersections with limited turning space can exacerbate the challenges of making wide turns in a commercial truck.
- Speed – Trucks need to slow down to make a safe turn. Turning too quickly could easily cause a crash if the driver overcorrects or doesn’t see another car in a nearby lane.
- Distracted driving – Truck drivers must pay careful attention to their surroundings. When they don’t, they might overreact at the last second, taking a turn they don’t have the space for.
- Weather conditions – Poor weather conditions like rain, snow, or fog can reduce visibility and make it more challenging for truck drivers to see nearby vehicles and obstacles.
Establishing Liability in Wide-Turn Truck Crashes
To recover compensation for a wide-turn truck accident, you must establish that someone acted negligently and is responsible for the harm you suffered. Your lawyer can build a strong case by gathering evidence from the accident scene, reviewing your medical records and the police accident report, taking witness statements, and consulting accident reconstruction experts.
Truck Wide-Right-Turn Accident
Right turns present particular challenges for trucks. Right turns are frequently sharper than left turns, where trucks have more space because of the oncoming traffic lanes. The Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook instructs truckers to take the following steps to prevent right-turn crashes:
- Signal their intention to turn early and throughout the turn.
- Turn slowly.
- Keep both hands on the steering wheel while completing the turn.
- Turn wide when completing the maneuver, keeping the rear of the truck close to the curb to prevent other drivers from trying to pass the truck on the right.
- Avoid steering wide to the left when starting the turn. Other motorists may mistakenly think the truck is turning left and attempt to pass it on the right.
- If the truck driver must cross into the oncoming traffic lane, they must watch for vehicles coming head-on from the opposite direction.
If the driver does not follow these guidelines, the fault for a truck wide-right-turn accident might lie with them.
Truck Wide-Left-Turn Accident
Most truck wide-left-turn accidents occur at intersections. Recommendations for safe left turns include:
- Begin left turns at the center of the intersection. Turning too soon could cause the left side of the truck to hit another vehicle.
- Start the turn from the right lane if there are two turning lanes. Starting from the inside lane could cause a collision if the truck must swing to the right to complete the turn.
- Signal the intention to turn left early.
If a truck driver misjudges the width of the turn, crosses into oncoming traffic, and collides with a vehicle in the oncoming lane, they could bear liability for their negligent actions.
Seeking Compensation After Wide-Turn Truck Incidents
A proven New Braunfels wide-turn truck accident lawyer will investigate the cause of the collision and build a claim demanding full and fair compensation from the at-fault party(s). In Texas, you can seek compensation for the following accident-related losses:
- Medical expenses – Doctor’s bills, surgery costs, rehabilitation expenses, prescription costs, etc.
- Lost wages – Recovery for lost income if you missed work due to your injuries
- Lost future income – Missed earnings if you cannot work due to a long-term disability
- Pain and suffering – Emotional distress, loss of consortium, temporary or permanent pain, lost quality of life, and damage to your reputation
Consult a Wide-Turn Truck Accident Attorney in New Braunfels
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident in Central Texas, you have the power to stand up for your rights and seek justice. By consulting a New Braunfels wide-turn truck accident attorney at Burch Law Firm, you’re taking the first step toward holding the responsible party(s) accountable and securing the compensation you need and deserve. Contact Burch Law Firm today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer.
