Truck Accident Attorneys Fighting for Clients Throughout California
Imagine you’re on the way to work when, suddenly, you find yourself to the right of a massive truck in a left-turn lane. As the light turns green, the truck angles to make its turn, but the trailer swings outward and instantly rams into your vehicle.
Wide-turn accidents can happen in the blink of an eye due to tight roadways, driver miscalculation, and more. The wide-turn truck accident attorneys in California from BD&J can help you learn whether you have a legal case after an accident.
Call 855-906-3699 or complete our online form to connect with a BD&J team member!
Key Takeaways
- Wide-turn truck accidents can happen when a truck attempts a right or left turn and crushes or impacts a smaller passenger vehicle to its side.
- Right wide-turn accidents can happen more frequently, because these turns often tend to be tighter than left turns.
- Blind spots, improper positioning, and even failing to use turn signals can be a couple of the factors in a wide-turn accident.
- Injured drivers, passengers, and other bicyclists can file a legal claim with a wide-turn truck accident attorney to attempt to recover damages after an accident.
Why Do Wide-Turn Accidents Happen?
Wide-turn truck accidents can happen for various reasons, including:
Distracted Driving
A truck driver may be looking at their GPS, phone, or even eating while driving, which may distract them from ensuring they have enough space to angle out for a turn. Driving distracted can also keep them from thoroughly checking their blind spots, which can be especially serious in a turning accident where another vehicle or bicyclist is squeezed into the lane beside them.
Mispositioning
When turning, a large commercial truck must angle itself. This often means crossing partially to the other lane, which can often look like the truck itself is switching lanes. Because of this, cars will often get into the lane the truck was originally in to complete their own turn or to get ahead, which is when an accident often happens.
By California law (CA Veh Code § 22108), any vehicle intending to make a turn should signal left or right during the last 100 feet before turning.
Lack of Driver Training
A driver who isn’t well-trained in safe turning protocols, hours-of-service regulations, and even how to navigate narrow roads may ultimately cause an accident. An early 2026 report by CalMatters noted there were at least 184 California trucking schools with no state regulations, meaning the information and training these schools provide to their trucker students was not approved or certified by the state.
Are Trucks Legally Allowed to Make Wide Turns?
Yes, trucks are legally allowed to make wide turns on the road because of their large size and turning radius. However, it is expected truck operators take the proper steps to do so, such as:
- Signaling their intent to turn
- Checking their mirrors
- Checking their blind spots
- Keeping an eye out at an intersection for any traffic or crossing pedestrians
- Make the turn slowly and while paying attention to traffic around them
Large Truck Accidents Mean Significant Injuries
Wide turn accidents can lead to a variety of serious injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Lacerations
- Spine injuries
In some cases, the crushing weight of a large truck can cause fatal injuries that result in the wrongful deaths of a driver or their passengers. When this happens, a California wrongful death attorney can help loved ones file a legal claim for accountability.
How To Treat Your Injuries After a Wide-Turn Accident
After a wide-turn accident, you’re no doubt left dealing with injuries. Treating these injuries can be done with the following steps:
- Seek immediate medical attention. – Even if you don’t feel any symptoms of injuries, it’s essential you seek immediate medical attention after your accident.
- Don’t delay or stop treatments. – Delaying or stopping medical treatments can further aggravate your injuries, as well as affect your accident claim.
- Avoid overexertion. – Do not attempt to do any serious exercise or lifting while recovering from injuries, as this can further aggravate them.
- Do not attempt to go back to work if advised not to. – Going to work against a provider’s orders can get in the way of your injury healing, especially if your position requires a lot of physical movement.
- Speak to a wide-turn accident lawyer. – Paying for medical treatments and making up for time away from work is easier when a dedicated attorney is handling your case, so book your consultation to talk to a California wide-turn truck accident lawyer now.
Did you or a loved one suffer serious injuries in a wide-turn truck accident? Contact us now to learn more about presenting a lawsuit.
Why Injured Drivers and Passengers Call BD&J After a Wide-Turn Accident
We at BD&J fight for our clients throughout California to get them the compensation they deserve after suffering from an accident caused by the recklessness or negligence of another party. Since our establishment in 2007, our team of attorneys has achieved outstanding case results against trucking companies, insurance companies, and other big legal teams.
We won’t turn our back on your case when the going gets tough, and work on a contingency fee basis so there are no attorney fees until we win*. Built on a foundation of client commitment, advocacy, and tenacity in the courtroom, BD&J is the law firm you can call after a wide-turn accident or any other truck accident.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wide-Turn Truck Accidents
How Long Do I Have to File My Wide-Turn Accident Claim?
You have 2 years from the date of your accident to file a claim. If the claim is against a government agency, such as for improper or flawed road design, then you have 6 months from the date of the accident.
Who Could Be Responsible for My Accident?
A couple of responsible parties can include the truck driver, the trucking company, a truck part manufacturer, or even the local city government for lack of road signs or a flaw in the road design that led to the accident.
What Are a Truck’s No Zones?
A truck’s no zones are their blind spots, and when a smaller vehicle is in these zones, the truck driver can’t see them. These no zones are the 20 feet stretch in front of a truck’s bumper, the area that spans 30 feet or more (depending on length of the truck) behind the truck, the truck driver’s side starting at the side mirror, and the truck passenger’s side starting at the side mirror.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Wasn’t Wearing a Seat Belt During My Accident?
Yes, because California recognizes comparative negligence. Through comparative negligence, an injured person can recover partial compensation for their injuries in an accident where they had some fault.
What if an Insurance Company Denies My Claim Because of Fault?
Insurance companies will often try to take your statement and use your words and other evidence against you to put full liability on you after an accident. If your insurance claim is denied due to fault, you’ll want to consult with a wide-turn accident injury lawyer as soon as you can.
What if the Truck Driver Says They Didn’t See Me?
If the truck driver says they didn’t see you, do not apologize. Instead, take note of their words, as this can be an admission of guilt on their part.
Is There Anything I Should Avoid Telling a Truck Driver After an Accident?
While it’s often second-nature to apologize after an accident, you’ll want to avoid saying “I’m sorry”, or “It was on me” to a truck driver after a wide-turn accident. Remain neutral while exchanging information and reporting the accident.
How Much Does It Cost to Work with a Wide-Turn Truck Accident Lawyer?
The BD&J wide-turn truck accident lawyers work under a contingency fee basis, which means all case costs are advanced to you, and final attorney fees are recovered from the settlement amount after a case is resolved.
How Can BD&J Help Me Prove My Claim?
BD&J can preserve and collect vital evidence like the black box data from a truck, employer logs, medical documentation, police reports, accident reconstruction imaging, and expert witness testimony to help show your injuries and how the accident developed.
Does the BD&J Law Firm Offer Free Consultations?
Absolutely! You can connect with one of our members 24/7 to book your free initial consultation with an attorney.
Injured in a Wide-Turn Accident?
BD&J is Here to Help You Get The Compensation You Deserve.
If you were involved in a wide-turn truck and suffered painful injuries thanks to the negligent or reckless acts of a truck driver, you may have the opportunity to file a legal claim. The BD&J law firm can advise you on the next steps to take. Call us now or complete our online form to talk to a team member!
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