Large commercial trucks require more space to navigate turns than passenger vehicles, creating dangerous blind spots and paths that can trap unsuspecting motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. In Kansas City, where trucks must maneuver through tight intersections, construction zones, and heavy urban traffic, wide-turn accidents are a persistent threat. If you were injured in a wide-turn truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation in a Kansas City truck accident lawsuit for your damages and to hold the negligent parties accountable.
How Do Wide-Turn Truck Accidents Happen?
Wide-turn truck accidents occur when commercial drivers fail to account for their vehicle’s turning requirements and safety protocols. When truckers neglect these proper precautions, they can collide with nearby cars, pedestrians, or even stationary structures.
Poor signaling practices contribute to many of these crashes. When truck drivers fail to properly signal their intended turns, other motorists can’t anticipate the truck’s movements and may unknowingly position themselves in the vehicle’s turning path. Without adequate warning, cars can become trapped as the massive trailer swings wide.
Trucks and commercial vehicles have large blind spots around their perimeter, and drivers must check their mirrors and the surrounding areas before executing any turn. When they skip these essential safety checks, smaller vehicles hidden in blind spots risk being crushed by the trailer.
Other factors that lead to wide-turn accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Unfamiliarity with local roads
- Inadequate driver training
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Distracted truck driving
- Excessive speed while turning
- Failure to use proper turning lanes
Common Injuries in Wide-Turn Collisions
When trucks improperly execute wide turns, those caught in their path face severe consequences. Smaller cars may become pinned or compressed between the truck and fixed objects, or be dragged under the trailer as it completes its turn. The force involved in these accidents frequently causes life-altering and sometimes fatal injuries.
Common injuries from wide-turn truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures
- Crushed limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Severe lacerations and road rash
- Psychological trauma
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Determining Fault in Wide Turn Truck Accidents
If you were injured in a wide-turn truck accident, you may be facing severe physical pain, emotional distress, and financial hardships. These challenges may seem insurmountable, but you have the right to hold the at-fault parties accountable for the full extent of these losses. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process and determine who exactly is responsible for the collision.
Your lawyer will begin by analyzing the accident scene, reviewing traffic camera footage, and interviewing witnesses to reconstruct exactly how the collision occurred. They may enlist the help of industry experts to help piece together what happened. Beyond examining the driver’s actions, your personal injury lawsuit attorney in Kansas City will also request documents from the trucking company to determine if inadequate training, poor hiring practices, or violations of federal safety regulations contributed to your accident.
Secure the Compensation You Deserve with Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe
When massive commercial vehicles make improper turns, innocent drivers and pedestrians pay the price. Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe holds trucking companies and drivers accountable for wide-turn accidents throughout Kansas City. Our attorneys thoroughly investigate these incidents, examining driver training records, vehicle maintenance logs, and company safety policies to build compelling cases. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 today for a free consultation and let us start fighting for the compensation you deserve.