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Large trucks frequently need to make wide turns at intersections. Due to their size, tractor-trailers, box trucks, garbage trucks and other large commercial trucks often cannot make turns in a single lane like ordinary cars, pickups and SUVs. Unfortunately, wide turns often result in collisions with other vehicles. In this article, Fort Myers accident lawyer Randall L. Spivey explains why.

Why Wide Turns Frequently Lead to Truck Accidents

There are several reasons why wide turns frequently lead to truck accidents. While car, pickup and SUV drivers may occasionally be responsible, in the vast majority of cases, the truck driver is responsible for causing the crash. Consider these common causes of wide turn truck accidents:

• The truck driver fails to check his or her blind spot before turning
• The truck driver fails to signal before completing a wide turn
• The truck driver swings left before turning right, leaving other drivers with nowhere to go
• The truck driver fails to make a wide enough turn, clipping a vehicle in the right-hand turning lane
• The truck driver attempts to back up after failing to make a wide enough turn, colliding with one or more other vehicles in the intersection

As you can see, the truck driver is likely to be responsible for causing the collision in each of these scenarios. Practically speaking, this means that anyone who is injured in the collision will most likely have a claim against the truck driver’s employer. Under Florida law, employers are legally responsible for their employees’ negligence “within the scope of their employment,” so trucking companies, big-box retailers, garbage collection companies and other businesses may be held liable for their drivers’ mistakes, in many cases.

Truck Driver Negligence Is Not the Only Possible Factor

In some cases, it won’t be an issue with how the truck is driven that causes an accident. Rather, it will be an issue with the truck itself.

For example, let’s say that a truck driver thought he or she signaled before making a wide turn, but the truck’s indicator lights didn’t turn on. In this situation, rather than the trucker being responsible, another party may be responsible instead. Maybe the truck’s electrical system was defective. Or, maybe the trucking company failed to replace a burned-out bulb. In either scenario, accident victims would still be entitled to financial compensation, but their claims would be based on issues other than driver negligence.

Due to the various potential factors involved in wide turn accidents, it is extremely important that victims hire an experienced Fort Myers accident lawyer to conduct a thorough investigation. Once a lawyer conducts an investigation, he or she will be able to determine the cause of the accident and identify the company (or companies) that are liable for the victims’ injuries.

Discuss Your Case with Fort Myers Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey

If you have been injured in a wide turn accident, Fort Myers accident lawyer Randall L. Spivey can help you seek the financial compensation you deserve. Call Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 888-477-4839 or contact us online for a free consultation.