What Is a Wide Turn, and Why Do Trucks Make Them?

A wide turn happens when a truck crosses into a different lane to complete a turn—usually swinging left before turning right, or vice versa. This maneuver is necessary due to the size of commercial vehicles.

Key reasons trucks must make wide turns:

• A fully loaded semi can be up to 70 feet long and weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
• Tight turns are physically impossible for trucks without cutting into adjacent lanes.
• Turning improperly risks jackknifing, hitting curbs, or flipping the trailer.

Wide turns aren’t inherently negligent, but poor execution is—and that’s where accidents happen.

Common Accidents Caused by Wide Turns

A wide turn can go wrong in many ways. These accidents often occur at intersections or in heavy traffic, where surrounding vehicles have little room to react.

Types of wide turn-related crashes include:

• Head-on collisions – The truck swings into oncoming traffic while turning.
• Sideswipes – The trailer crosses into an adjacent lane and clips another vehicle.
• Pinning accidents – Smaller vehicles get trapped between the trailer and curb or a barrier.
• Rollover crashes – The truck flips during a sharp or fast turn, often due to unbalanced loads.
• Fire or explosion – If the truck was carrying hazardous cargo, a rollover can trigger a spill or fire.

These crashes often lead to serious injury or even death due to the truck’s size and weight, even at low speeds.

What Causes Wide Turn Accidents?

Every wide turn crash should be investigated to determine what went wrong. Common contributing factors include:

• Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers
• Failure to signal before making the turn
• Driver fatigue or drowsiness
• Distracted or reckless driving
• Turning too quickly or at the wrong angle
• Poor visibility or bad weather conditions
• Unfamiliarity with the road or traffic pattern
• Improperly marked or confusing intersections
• Vehicle malfunctions, especially brakes or tires

In some cases, the truck swings left to make a right turn without signaling, confusing the driver behind them. That driver may try to pass—only to get caught in the truck’s blind spot and struck during the turn.

Who Is at Fault for a Wide Turn Truck Accident?

Proving fault requires careful investigation and legal experience. Multiple parties may be liable:

• The truck driver – for making the turn improperly, failing to check blind spots, or ignoring traffic.
• The trucking company – if it failed to train or screen the driver properly or set unreasonable schedules.
• The cargo loader or shipping company – if unbalanced or unsecured loads made the truck harder to turn safely.
• A government entity or contractor – if improper signage or road conditions contributed to the crash.

Truck accident cases are rarely straightforward. You need a legal team that knows how to dig deep and expose negligence at every level.

Evidence We Use to Prove Your Case

Our attorneys at LawyerPower move fast to secure and preserve evidence that can make or break your claim. We collect:

• Police crash reports – detailing the scene and officer observations
• Driver logs – to identify rest violations or fatigue
• Toxicology tests – to check for alcohol or drug use
• Medical records – to determine if the driver was fit to operate
• Driving records and employment history
• Witness statements
• Surveillance or traffic cam footage
• Truck black box data
• Photos and measurements from the crash scene

We may also send investigators to document skid marks, impact angles, or vehicle damage. This helps determine whether the truck driver committed a wide-turn violation and whether employer liability exists.

Truck Driver vs. Trucking Company Liability

If the driver is an employee, the trucking company can be held liable for their negligence. We evaluate the driver’s working relationship based on:

• Who controls the route, schedule, and loading procedures
• Whether the truck is company-owned
• How the driver is paid (by job vs. hourly)
• Whether the driver is required to follow an employee manual

Even if the company claims the driver is an “independent contractor,” we may still prove employer liability if the company controls the work details.

In addition, the company may be directly liable if they:

• Failed to check the driver’s background
• Ignored medical fitness or drug test results
• Set unreasonable delivery deadlines that pushed drivers to cut corners
• Neglected required truck inspections and maintenance

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

If you were injured in a wide turn truck accident, we can pursue compensation for:

• Medical bills – including surgeries, hospital stays, therapy, and long-term care
• Lost wages – from missed work or long-term disability
• Pain and suffering – for physical and emotional trauma
• Property damage – including vehicle repair or replacement
• Loss of earning capacity – if your injuries prevent you from returning to your career
• Wrongful death damages – in fatal crash cases

Our team will work with medical experts, financial analysts, and life care planners to fully document your damages and ensure your claim reflects the true cost of what you’ve endured.

Why You Need a Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer

Wide turn truck accidents are high-stakes, high-liability cases. The trucking company’s legal team and insurers will fight to minimize their exposure. You need someone who fights harder.

At LawyerPower Office of Mark Farbman, we will:

• Investigate your accident thoroughly
• Preserve critical evidence before it disappears
• Handle all negotiations with insurers
• Advise you on fair settlement value
• Take your case to trial if necessary

We handle all truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis—you don’t pay us unless we win.

Get a Free Consultation Today

If you’ve been hit by a truck making a wide turn, don’t wait. Evidence disappears quickly, and trucking companies act fast to protect themselves.

Call the LawyerPower Office of Mark Farbman today at (704) 542-1555 or contact us online for your free, no-obligation consultation.