Wide Turn Truck Accident Attorneys in Maryland

Truck accidents are among the most devastating events on Maryland roadways. The aftermath can be devastating. These accidents often result in severe injuries, substantial property damage, and overwhelming medical expenses. At Zirkin & Schmerling, our experienced wide turn truck accident attorneys in Maryland understand the complexities of truck accident claims and are dedicated to helping victims recover the compensation they deserve. Contact us today at 410-753-4611.

Truck accidents are among the most complex personal injury cases due to the multiple parties that may be liable. As specialized Maryland truck accident lawyers, our law office has extensive experience with accidents involving commercial vehicles, including tractor trailers and dump trucks. When a motor vehicle accident involves a commercial truck, the resulting injuries are often catastrophic, requiring specialized legal knowledge to pursue fair compensation.

As specialized truck accident lawyers, we have extensive knowledge. Our Maryland wide turn truck accident attorneys will:

Conduct thorough investigations to determine all liable parties
Gather critical evidence, including trucking company records
Work with accident reconstruction experts to prove liability
Handle communications with the insurance company and insurance adjusters
Calculate the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses
Negotiate aggressively for fair settlements
Take your case to trial if necessary to secure proper compensation

The insurance adjuster representing the trucking company is not working in your best interest. Don’t let the trucking industry’s powerful legal teams intimidate you. Our law office of truck accident lawyers has the resources to level the playing field in truck accident cases. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Maryland truck accident lawyer who understands the complexities of truck accident claims.

Why Trucks Need To Make Wide Turns

Commercial trucks, particularly tractor trailers and other large trucks, require significantly more space to maneuver than cars or SUVs. When a commercial truck driver needs to make a right turn, they often must swing wide to the left before turning right. This maneuver is necessary because:

The typical tractor-trailer is approximately 70-80 feet long.
The trailer cannot follow the exact path of the cab due to fixed rear axles.
Without a wide turn, the trailer would “off-track” and potentially hit curbs or nearby vehicles.
The commercial driver’s license (CDL) training specifically addresses these maneuvers as required skills.

Commercial drivers who operate tractor-trailers must complete specialized training to execute these turns safely. The physics involved in moving such massive vehicles means that even a correctly maintained truck requires careful handling during turns. When drivers fail to follow proper wide turn procedures, truck collisions with other cars become much more likely.

The trucking industry has specific protocols for executing turns safely, especially in urban environments where traffic lights and intersections present additional challenges. A commercial driver must be acutely aware of the truck’s speed and position relative to other cars during these maneuvers.

Why Truck Wide Turns Are Dangerous

Wide turn truck accidents represent one of the most common types of truck accidents that occur on Maryland roads. When a commercial truck makes a wide turn, several dangerous scenarios can develop:

Blind Spot Entrapment: Large trucks have extensive blind spots that shift during turns, making smaller vehicles virtually invisible to the truck driver.
Squeeze Play Accidents: A passenger vehicle caught between the turning truck and the curb may be crushed as the trailer swings through the turn. These accidents involving trucks often result in severe injuries to occupants of the passenger vehicle.
Miscommunication: Other drivers may misinterpret a truck’s wide left swing as an intended left turn, especially at a traffic light where turn signals might be confusing.
Improper Execution: If a driver failed to correctly judge distances or the truck’s turning radius, the truck involved may strike other cars, pedestrians, or fixed objects.

When an accident occurs during a wide turn, the speed of the truck often determines the severity of the crash. Even at relatively low speeds, the massive weight differential between a commercial truck and cars creates tremendous destructive force. The trailer can swing unpredictably, endangering all vehicles in proximity.

How This Danger Increases at Night

The risks associated with wide turn truck accidents are amplified during nighttime driving:

Reduced Visibility: Portions of the truck may remain difficult to see in darkness, especially for drivers unfamiliar with truck blind spots.
Fatigue Factors: Driver fatigue often peaks during nighttime hours, affecting both truck drivers and operators of cars or SUVs.
Lighting Confusion: Multiple light sources can make it difficult to distinguish a truck’s signals, particularly at complex intersections with traffic signals.

Statistics show that while only about 25% of truck travel occurs at night, approximately 40% of fatal truck crashes happen after dark. This disproportionate risk highlights the particular dangers of nighttime wide turn truck accidents.

Driver Fatigue Causes Wide Turn Truck Accidents

Driver fatigue represents one of the most significant risk factors in wide turn truck accidents. Commercial truck drivers often face demanding schedules and long hours behind the wheel. Fatigue affects a driver’s performance in several critical ways:

Impaired Judgment: A fatigued truck driver may misjudge the space needed for a turn or fail to notice other cars.
Slowed Reaction Time: When operating on insufficient rest, a driver’s ability to respond to unexpected situations decreases dramatically.
Reduced Awareness: Fatigue diminishes awareness of surroundings and blind spots, critical factors when executing complex turning maneuvers.

Federal regulations limit the hours a commercial driver can operate without rest. When violations occur and cause accidents, both the driver and trucking company may be held liable. In truck accident cases involving fatigue, our attorneys examine logbooks and electronic records to identify hours-of-service violations.

Trucking companies that push drivers beyond safe limits may be equally responsible for accidents that result. These companies have a duty to ensure their employees are sufficiently rested to operate tractor-trailers safely.

Overload and Improperly Loaded Cargo

Cargo loading issues significantly impact wide turn safety. Several cargo-related problems can contribute to accidents:

Weight Distribution: Improperly balanced loads shift the truck’s center of gravity, making turns more difficult to control.
Overloading: Exceeding a truck’s maximum weight rating affects maneuverability and can lead to brake failure accidents when the truck attempts to slow before a turn.
Unsecured Loads: Cargo that shifts during a turn can cause jackknifing or rollovers, particularly dangerous during wide turns in urban areas.

Multiple parties may share responsibility for proper loading:

The loader who places and secures the cargo
The truck driver who must inspect the load
The trucking company responsible for policies and training
Manufacturing companies that produce securement systems that may have a manufacturing defect

Overloaded trucks require greater stopping distances and are more difficult to maneuver, especially during complex wide turn maneuvers. When a truck crashes due to improper loading, identifying all at-fault parties becomes a critical part of the legal process.

Catastrophic Injuries After Wide Turn Truck Accidents

The size disparity between a dump truck or other commercial vehicle and a passenger car makes these accidents particularly dangerous, with the smaller car’s occupants bearing the brunt of the impact. Wide turn truck accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries due to the tremendous force involved when a commercial truck collides with a smaller vehicle. Common injuries from these accidents include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries: From concussions to severe brain damage
Spinal Cord Injuries: Potentially resulting in permanent paralysis
Broken Bones: Often requiring surgical intervention and extended rehabilitation
Internal Injuries: Life-threatening damage that may not be immediately apparent when the accident occurs

These injuries often occur when smaller cars are caught between the turning truck and fixed objects, with occupants experiencing crushing forces that the human body simply cannot withstand.

The Long-Term Effects

The aftermath of a wide turn truck accident extends far beyond the initial trauma. Truck accident victims often face:

Ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation for life-altering injuries
Psychological trauma requiring professional intervention
Lost career opportunities due to permanent disabilities
Reduced quality of life and relationship challenges

Life-changing injuries from truck collisions may require lifelong medical care and significantly impact a victim’s ability to work and enjoy life. Our truck accident attorneys work with medical experts to calculate the true lifetime cost of these injuries for fair compensation.

The economic impact of severe injuries that occur in truck accidents can be overwhelming. Medical costs continue to accumulate long after the initial hospitalization, making it crucial to secure compensation that accounts for future needs.

What You Should Do Immediately Following a Wide Turn Truck Accident

After a wide turn truck accident, take these crucial steps to protect your legal rights and health:

Prioritize Safety: Move to a safe location if possible and activate hazard lights to prevent secondary collisions with other cars.
Call 911: Report the accident and request emergency medical services. Ensure police create an official report documenting how the accident occurred.
Seek Medical Attention: Get evaluated even if injuries seem minor. Many serious injuries don’t show symptoms immediately after a motor vehicle accident.
Document the Scene: Take photographs of all vehicles involved, the truck’s position, and the surrounding area. Note any relevant traffic signs or traffic signal configurations.
Gather Information: Collect the truck driver’s information, trucking company details, and witness contacts. Note the commercial driver’s license number and any identifying information on the truck.
Be Cautious in Communications: Be careful when communicating with the trucking company’s insurance company. Avoid admitting fault or giving recorded statements to any insurance representative who contacts you.
Contact a Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer: Reach out to an experienced truck accident attorney promptly. The sooner you engage legal representation, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence.

Remember that trucking companies often dispatch investigation teams to accident scenes within hours to minimize their liability. Having experienced Maryland truck accident lawyers on your side quickly helps protect your rights.

Trucking Company Liability in a Wide Turn Accident

Liability often extends beyond the truck driver to include the trucking company:

Vicarious Liability

Companies are generally responsible for employee actions under the “respondeat superior” doctrine.
Applies when the driver was acting within the employment scope when the accident occurred

Negligent Hiring and Retention

Failure to verify proper CDL credentials or driving history
Hiring or retaining drivers with poor safety records or previous truck crashes
Inadequate background checks for those who operate commercial vehicles

Inadequate Training

Insufficient training on wide turn techniques and urban driving challenges
Failure to educate about blind spots and interacting safely with other vehicles
Lack of regular safety refresher courses for commercial drivers

Hours-of-Service Violations

Creating unrealistic schedules that promote fatigue
Not monitoring compliance with rest requirements
Encouraging drivers to falsify logbooks to meet delivery deadlines

Improper Maintenance

Neglecting regular maintenance can lead to brake failure accidents.
Ignoring tire wear and steering mechanism issues
Failure to ensure trucks are properly maintained according to federal regulations
Not addressing known mechanical issues that could contribute to accidents

The trucking company’s insurance company typically becomes involved immediately after an accident, often dispatching investigators to the scene. Having your own legal representation ensures your interests are protected against these well-resourced opponents.

Trucking Company Records as Evidence

Key trucking company records that serve as evidence in truck accident claims against the insurance company include:

Driver Qualification Files

Driving history and license verification
Training certifications and testing results
Medical qualification records required for commercial drivers

Hours of Service Records

Electronic logging device data showing driver activity
Delivery schedules and actual arrival times
Supporting documentation such as fuel receipts and toll records

Maintenance Records

Scheduled maintenance documentation for the truck involved
Pre-trip inspection reports required by federal regulations
Records of past mechanical issues, especially related to steering or brakes

Telematics Data

GPS tracking information showing the truck’s location and movements
Speed data recording the speed of the truck leading up to the accident
Hard braking events that may indicate prior control problems

Our truck accident attorneys know how to act quickly to preserve these vital records before they’re destroyed or altered. This evidence often proves crucial in establishing liability in complex truck accident cases involving commercial vehicles.

How Truck Drivers Can Avoid Wide Turn Truck Accidents

Professional training can help prevent truck accidents related to wide turns. Professional truck drivers should follow these safety practices:

Proper Planning

Plan routes to avoid difficult turns when possible.
Allow extra time for challenging areas with heavy pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Study maps to identify potential problem intersections in advance.

Execution Techniques

Position the truck properly before beginning the turn.
Maintain appropriate speed—turns should be executed slowly.
Use mirrors continuously throughout the process to monitor other vehicles.
Ensure the truck is properly maintained, especially steering components.

Communication

Activate turn signals well in advance, particularly at traffic signal intersections.
Use hazard lights when appropriate for extra visibility.
Make eye contact with other drivers when possible.
Never assume other motorists understand wide turn maneuvers.

When a driver does not follow these established safety protocols and an accident occurs, the driver and their employer may be held liable for resulting injuries and damages.

Ways Other Drivers Can Protect Themselves From a Wide Turn Truck Accident

Motorists can reduce their risk by:

Recognizing Warning Signs

Activated turn signals on large trucks
The truck is positioned wider than normal before an intersection.
The truck was swinging in the opposite direction of the anticipated turn.
Unusual slowing or positioning around traffic signals

Positioning Safely

Never squeeze between a turning truck and the curb.
Avoid truck blind spots, particularly on the right side, where wide turn truck accidents commonly occur.
Give trucks extra space at intersections and be patient when they need multiple lanes.

General Awareness

Pay attention to wide turn warning signs on commercial vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night and in bad weather when visibility is reduced.
Never pass a truck that appears to be preparing for a turn.
Remember that the truck’s trailer follows a different path than the cab.

These precautions are especially important in urban environments where traffic signals, pedestrians, and multiple vehicles create complex driving situations. Understanding how large trucks maneuver can help prevent you from becoming a truck accident victim.

Our Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys Will Fight for Maximum Compensation

Wide turn truck accidents in Maryland can have devastating consequences. When these accidents occur due to negligence, victims have the right to seek compensation through personal injury claims against all responsible parties. Potential compensation includes:

Medical expenses and hospital bills
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering from injuries sustained
Property damage to your vehicle

At Zirkin & Schmerling, our Maryland truck accident lawyers have the experience to handle complex truck accident cases. Our truck accident lawyers fight tirelessly for victims. We stand up to large trucking companies and their insurers, fighting tirelessly for your rights. Our attorneys understand the nuances of truck accident claims and work diligently to identify all at-fault parties.If you’ve been injured in a wide turn truck accident, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact Zirkin & Schmerling today at 410-753-4611 for a free consultation with our dedicated truck accident attorneys. Our truck accident lawyers serve clients throughout Maryland and work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.