If you suffered injuries in a wide-turn truck accident in Huntsville, get legal help from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., right away. Our wide-turn truck accident lawyers can handle all the legal work in your case, from investigating the collision and identifying who is liable for your injuries to filing insurance claims and negotiating with insurance companies for maximum compensation. If necessary, we can take your case to trial to fight for your best interests in court.
Call us now or complete our online contact form to set up a free consultation with a wide-turn truck accident lawyer at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.
Hurt in a Wide-Turn Truck Crash? Our Lawyers Are Ready to Help
Our wide-turn truck accident law firm has nearly 60 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured people in Huntsville and across North Alabama. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients through verdicts and settlements. Super Lawyers has rated us as one of the Top 50 personal injury law firms in Alabama.
Truck accidents are a particular focus area at our firm, giving us in-depth insights and knowledge we can use to help you. Most importantly, we’re proud of the results we’ve obtained on behalf of our clients. Here’s what one client said about their experience with our firm:
“I got hit by a truck, he was texting and driving in the rain it forced me to have a third back surgery. Joe King came out to my house the day after I talked with him on a Sunday morning, he worked diligently to make sure I was ok and I had everything that I needed. Kept in contact with me and tried to keep me updated on the progress of what turned out to be a complicated lawsuit. Joe King and his staff worked quickly and thoroughly to get my case resolved, I’d recommend him and the firm to anyone who needs an amazing attorney, hopefully I’ll never need an attorney again but if I do Joe King will be my first call.” -R.D.
What Is a Wide-Turn Truck Accident?
A wide-turn truck accident occurs when a large commercial truck swings wide to the left before making a right turn or vice-versa. The maneuver, often necessary due to the truck’s size and large turning radius, can create a hazardous situation for other road users.
Unlike typical truck accidents, which might involve rear-end collisions or lane changes, wide-turn accidents specifically result from the unique challenges of navigating large vehicles. Tractor-trailers and other large trucks require more space to complete turns safely, often encroaching into adjacent lanes and cutting off other vehicles.
Common Causes of Wide-Turn Truck Accidents
Wide-turn truck accidents in Huntsville happen for many reasons, including:
- Failure to check blind spots – Truck drivers often have significant blind spots, especially on the sides and to the rear. Truckers who fail to check these areas before making a wide turn can collide with nearby vehicles.
- Improper signaling – Truck drivers who neglect to use turn signals or signal too late leave other drivers unaware of the truck’s intentions, increasing the risk of crashes.
- Inadequate training – Truckers who lack proper training may not fully understand how to execute wide turns safely or account for nearby vehicles.
- Distracted driving – Texting, eating, or other distractions can prevent a driver from focusing on their surroundings, leading to poor execution of a wide turn.
- Excessive speed – Turning too quickly without accounting for the truck’s size and weight can cause a truck’s trailer to swing wide and collide with other vehicles.
Liability for Truck Accidents Involving Wide Turns
One crucial job of a wide-turn truck accident lawyer is to identify everyone who played a role in causing the crash and your resulting injuries. Fault for a wide-turn truck accident is based on negligence, meaning the liable party did not take reasonable steps to prevent the collision.
Depending on how the collision happened, the liable parties for a wide-turn truck accident could include the following examples:
- The truck driver – The truck driver is often liable for wide-turn accidents if their negligence (failing to check blind spots, improperly signaling, or executing the turn unsafely, for example) caused the crash.
- The trucking company – Trucking companies or other employers may be responsible for wide-turn accidents if they failed to provide adequate training, pushed drivers to meet unsafe deadlines, or neglected vehicle maintenance. If the trucker was an employee (not an independent contractor), the company would be vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence.
- Maintenance providers – If poor maintenance, such as malfunctioning brakes or improperly aligned mirrors, contributed to a wide-turn truck accident, the company or contractors responsible for vehicle upkeep could be liable.
- Truck manufacturer – Defects in the truck’s design, such as faulty mirrors or steering mechanisms, can make truck or parts manufacturers liable for a wide-turn accident if the defect contributed to the collision.
Seeking Compensation After a Wide-Turn Truck Accident in Huntsville
The key to maximizing your compensation for a wide-turn accident is to have a capable attorney who can accurately assess your losses from the crash. With the right legal support, your compensation could include money for:
- Current and future medical expenses related to the crash
- Lost income while you heal and are unable to work
- Reduced future earnings due to an accident-related disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- The cost to repair or replace your car or other damaged property
What Should I Do If I Was Injured in a Wide-Turn Truck Accident?
Prompt action is crucial to protect your right to compensation after a wide-turn truck accident in Huntsville. Here’s what to do after the crash once you’ve called 911 and sought medical attention:
- Follow your doctor’s orders and attend all follow-up appointments.
- Save your medical bills, receipts, and other proof of your financial losses from the wreck.
- Obtain copies of your medical records and save them for later use.
- Don’t discuss your case with anyone other than your lawyer. Be particularly careful about your social media posts, as insurers can easily find them and use them against you.
- Don’t give any recorded statements to the insurance company without talking to a lawyer first.
- Talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.
How Our Huntsville Wide-Turn Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
When you choose Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., to represent you after a wide-turn truck accident in Huntsville, we’ll take on your legal burdens and simplify your life. While you rest and heal, we’ll investigate the crash and identify all the potentially liable parties. Then, we can file insurance claims for you and begin settlement negotiations, all while preparing your case for a possible trial. If the insurers won’t play ball, we’ll vigorously fight for your interests in court.
Don’t wait to talk to our attorneys about your wide-turn truck accident case. Call now or reach out online for a free case review.
