Wide-Turn Trucking Accidents are Common in Wisconsin
Most drivers understand that a semi-truck or other large truck requires much more space to compete a turn than does the driver of a car. This is because of the truck’s size, weight and center of gravity.
Many trucking accidents occur in Wisconsin when a truck driver is in the process of making a wide right-hand turn or wide left-hand turn. Often under these circumstances it is the truck driver who is at fault. There may, however, be times when the driver of the car is at fault or the accident is the combination of the negligence of both the Wisconsin semi-truck driver and the driver of the car.
If you have been involved in a Wisconsin semi-truck accident, it is important to contact an experienced trucking attorney as soon as possible. We will review your case at no cost and provide you with our analysis as to who is at fault for the accident. Depending upon the nature of the accident and your injuries, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation for past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, past medical bills, future medical bills, past loss of wages, future loss of earning capacity and property damage.
Wide Right-Hand Turn Trucking Accidents in Wisconsin
Many Wisconsin drivers are severely injured when the driver of a semi-truck negligently makes wide right-hand turn. Before making any turn, the truck driver must know the length of the trailer he or she is pulling Most semi-truck trailers we see on the road are 53 feet long. Due to the length of the trailer, the rear tires on the trailer do not follow the same path as the front tires. This is common referred to as off-tracking. As a general rule, the larger the trailer, the more off-track the rear tires are.
There are strict rules that a semi-truck driver in Wisconsin must follow. If the truck driver does not follow these rules, he or she may be liable for any injuries they cause. Because of the off-tracking we described above, it is imperative that a truck driver observe the rear tires on the trailer every 7 – 10 seconds. The truck driver needs to watch the trailer tires in the convex mirror on the truck. The rear trailer tires cannot be properly observed in the regular outside mirror.
To allow for the off-tracking of the rear tires on a semi-truck, the truck driver needs to pull forward enough before making his or her turn so that the rear tires do not hit the curb or anything else in its path. This is called “squaring off the tires.”
Pulling far enough forward in the right-hand lane before beginning the right-hand turn allows the truck driver to block cars that may be trying to squeeze by on the inside of the right-hand turning truck. Truck drivers are taught to intentionally block the right-hand lane with the trailer to prevent a right-hand turn accident occurring when a car tries to squeeze by in the right lane.
A truck driver should never make a right-hand turn from his left lane of travel. Similarly, a truck driver should not swing wide to its left while in the process of making a right-hand turn. Turning right from the left lane or swinging wide to the left opens up the right-hand lane thereby inviting cars to try to pass the truck on its right. The driver of a car may also believe the truck driver is turning to the left when seeing the truck swing left before turning right. This is why in addition to turning right from the right-hand lane of travel, a truck driver must engage the right turn signal in adequate time to alert drivers to his intention.
If a truck driver does not follow these rules, he or she may be found negligent and the driver and/or trucking company may be required to pay anyone injured because of that accident a significant amount of money in terms of a settlement or verdict.
If you have been injured anywhere in Wisconsin by a truck driver making an improper turn, please give us a call at 414-273-7400 or use our Contact Form. We will be happy to discuss your case with you and all information you provide will remain confidential.
Wide Left-Hand Turn Trucking Accidents in Wisconsin
Many people in Wisconsin are injured each year when a semi-truck driver makes an improper left-hand turn. The mistake truck drivers often make is focusing just on what is ahead of them and not regularly checking the rear tires on the trailer they are pulling.
As a general rule, when a Wisconsin semi-truck driver is making a left turn, the driver must proceed straight out into the intersection and then turn to the left. The driver’s left turn signal of course should be engaged. The driver should not swing to the right before initiating the left-hand turn. This can be a hazard to vehicles to the right of the truck and can also give drivers the impression that the driver intends to turn right rather than left.
If you have been injured anywhere in Wisconsin by a truck driver making an improper turn, please give us a call at 414-273-7400 or use our Contact Form. We will be happy to discuss your case with you and all information you provide will remain confidential.
Navigating Curves With an 18-Wheeler
Wisconsin trucking accidents occur when truck drivers do not properly maneuver their 18-wheeler through curves. This is especially true on rural roads in Wisconsin where there is only one lane in each direction.
When driving through curvy or winding roads, a truck needs to stay on the outside of the lane so the trailer does not enter the oncoming lane of travel. Just as when making turns, the truck driver should frequently check the rear trailer tires to make sure they are not entering the oncoming lane of travel. Failure to do so can result in catastrophic injuries to the driver and occupants of an oncoming car.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because the driver of a large truck wrongfully entered your lane of travel, we invite you to give us a call at 414-273-7400 or use our Contact Form. There is never a charge to speak with us and we leave it up to each caller to decide whether he or she wishes to retain us. Most people who contact us do end up hiring us to handle their truck or car accident case but we never pressure anyone into retaining us. It is important that every client feel completely comfortable with the lawyer he or she hires to handle their injury claim.