Wide Turns

Truck Accident Lawyers Advocating for Victims in Wheaton and Schaumburg

Drivers of large trucks must take great care when making a wide turn, including looking out for blind spots, since the truck can impinge on the rights of others on the road. When a truck collides with another vehicle, the consequences can be devastating. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, it is important to reach out to a Wheaton or Schaumburg truck accident lawyer who can assess the merits of your case. At Therman Law Offices, we can investigate your accident and come up with a legal strategy accordingly. We are here to resolve your questions and make sure that your voice is heard at every step of the way.

Accidents Caused by Wide Turns May Lead to Trucker Liability

All truck drivers are required to operate their vehicles in a safe and careful manner in order not to injure others on the road. Moreover, truck drivers are required to adhere to additional rules and regulations beyond those that ordinary drivers follow. Truckers must be very careful when making turns on the road. Due to a truck’s size, weight, and large turning radius, drivers must have the skill and experience to make turns safely. A wide turn occurs when a truck spills into other lanes while making a turn. For instance, when making a left turn, if the driver crosses the center of the intersection instead of staying in the left lane, the turn would be considered wide. In some cases, if a truck makes a wide turn, the initial swing that the truck makes can leave the cab of the semi in a separate lane of traffic from where it started, potentially causing a side-impact accident.

If you have been injured in a truck accident that was caused by a dangerous wide turn, your attorney may be able to recover compensation through a negligence claim. Negligence is a specific legal principle that holds people and entities accountable for causing accidents by failing to use the appropriate level of care in the given situation. While the standard of care varies depending on the situation, truck drivers are expected to drive as a reasonably prudent truck driver would have driven in the same or a similar situation. A negligence claim based on a truck accident starts by showing that this duty of care existed. The next step is to demonstrate that the truck driver breached the duty of care by making an improper wide turn. Lastly, a plaintiff would need to show that the truck driver’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the accident and the resulting harm. Once each of these points is established, a plaintiff will be able to recover compensation for their injuries.

In some cases, the truck driver’s employer may be liable for the truck driver’s negligence under the doctrine of vicarious liability. Put another way, under this doctrine, an employer can be held liable for the careless actions or omissions of an employee. To establish vicarious liability, a plaintiff would need to show that the driver was the defendant’s employee and was acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred. In some cases, a trucking company may label a driver as an independent contractor to try to escape liability, but an experienced lawyer nevertheless may be able to establish liability if it can be shown that this label was merely a pretext to avoid responsibility for an accident.

Contact a Knowledgeable Truck Crash Attorney in Wheaton or Schaumburg

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a truck making a wide turn, you should speak to a diligent truck crash lawyer immediately. At Therman Law Offices, we are dedicated to holding negligent truck drivers accountable for the harm that they cause. With years of experience, you can trust that our attorneys will fight for your rights following a jackknife accident or another type of crash and identify each party that may be at fault. We proudly serve victims in cities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Westmont, Oakbrook Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Lisle, Darien, and Bolingbrook. For a free evaluation of your case, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.