Truck accidents caused by wide turns can lead to serious, long-term harm for everyone involved. If you have been injured in such an accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim. The skilled Massachusetts truck accident attorneys at Barry Feinstein & Affiliates, P.C. pride themselves on holding negligent truck drivers and, in some cases, trucking companies accountable for the harm that they cause.Truck drivers must be very careful when making a turn, due to the sheer size and length of their vehicles. A wide turn takes place when a driver’s vehicle spills into another lane while turning. In many cases, the truck driver does not even realize the turn is too wide. For instance, when making a left turn, the back of the truck could swing around the center of the intersection as opposed to staying in the left lane, thereby causing an accident. A wide turn can sometimes be unavoidable, but in those cases, the truck driver should be extremely cautious and make sure the turn will not injure a pedestrian or another driver. Common causes of wide turn accidents include but are not limited to:
- The truck driver failing to check a blind spot properly;
- The driver being under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- Excessive speeding;
- Driver inexperience;
- Texting behind the wheel; or
- Driver fatigue.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately one-third of all accidents between large trucks and passenger vehicles take place in the no-zone. The no-zone refers to the blind spots where cars disappear from the view of the truck driver. When a truck is turning left or right, the driver may not be able to see cars directly behind or beside them, and the traffic pathway can be partially or wholly obstructed.
Massachusetts law generally provides that a driver is responsible for any injuries caused as a result of his or her hazardous behavior behind the wheel. In short, a negligent driver would be liable for any accident and resulting injuries. A truck driver is deemed negligent when he or she engages in conduct that violates what is known as the “duty of care” to others on the road. The duty of care requires drivers to refrain from unsafe actions on the road that could lead to an accident. If a truck driver\’s violation of the duty of care was a direct cause of your accident and resulting harm, that driver will most likely be liable.
The negligent truck driver is not the only party that may be liable in the event of a wide turn crash. The driver’s employer may be on the hook as well if the driver was acting within the scope of his or her job duties at the time of the crash (such as by making a delivery for the employer).
If you were injured or someone close to you was killed in a wide turn truck accident, we may be able to help. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates P.C. , our seasoned Massachusetts auto accident attorneys want to help you receive compensation for your truck accident injuries. We have a strong track record of success in these sorts of cases, as well as a solid reputation in the legal community and over 25 years of experience. Contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-262-9200 or reach us through our website.
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