Typically swinging turn accidents take place when a large truck moves to the left before making a right turn. There could be other vehicles in the path of the truck as it is making its outward swing to make its turn that is in danger of the big rig striking them unless the drivers observe the traffic surrounding them and are able to react in time to escape being hit. Depending on the speed of the truck at impact and due to how large a semi-trailer truck is, this type of accident can potentially be catastrophic for occupants inside smaller vehicles that are struck by a large truck. If you or a loved one was involved in a swinging turn accident and were injured, then you might want to consider calling an experienced swinging turn truck accident lawyer at Pinder Plotkin in Maryland to determine whether or not you have a personal injury claim that is viable to file.

Other vehicles that are in a truck’s path may be crushed or sideswiped which can have severe results due to the huge disparity in the weight and size of the vehicles that are involved in the accident. Truckers need to ensure that they exercise a very high degree of care and caution whenever they are making a turn. They may have limited ability to see smaller vehicles, either parked on a street or in traffic, due to the numerous blind spots that large vehicles have. Commercial trucks normally have schedules they need to keep and deliveries to make, ad they may not be in a place where it is easy to execute a swinging turn. So sometimes safety is outweighed by expediency. This can all be researched and determined following a truck accident in order to determine whether or not a truck driver should be held liable for damages that have been caused by the accident.

Examples Where A Driver Was Negligent in a Swinging Turn Accident

There are safer ways for truckers to make right turns. Moving over to the right lane as the truck is approaching an interaction before it swings out to make the turn will discourage other vehicles from trying to pass on the right and prevent them from getting hit. Also, taking a bit of extra time to let all of the vehicles that are in the truck’s path clear an interaction often can mean the difference between safely turning and causing a catastrophic accident. There are numerous reasons that might explain why a swinging turn was negligently performed by a trucker, including the following:   

• Failing to account for the vehicles that are in the turn’s path
• Failing to stop and wait for traffic to pass
• Failing to properly signal for the turn
• Failing to make sure that the signals and brake lights are working properly
• Having an overloaded trailer, which makes it more difficult to steer safely
• Distracted driving
• Driver fatigue
• Poor driver training
• Driving under the influence

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that involved a truck making a swing turn where all of the proper precautions were not taken by the trucker, you might have grounds for seeking compensation for the damages that you suffered as a result of the collision.

What Parties Can Be Named in Swinging Turn Truck Accidents?

Along with the truck driver that was involved in the accident, you also might have a potential claim against the company owning the truck or the employer of the truck driver. Trucking companies are required to properly supervise and train their truck drivers. Failing to uphold this duty can cause a company to held liable for the negligence of the driver. Were the drivers of a company properly trained? Did they test the drivers on a regular basis for alcohol and/or drug abuse? Did the company exercise due diligence in monitoring compliance of the driver with federal requirements? It is necessary to do a thorough investigation of the accident as well as the conditions that led up to it to determine whether or not any other factors might have contributed to the inability of the driver to execute a wide turn safely, which caused your injuries.

Since insurance companies attempt to deny driver and company liability routinely, it is essential to ensure that anyone who was injured as the result of a big rig accident has outstanding legal representation in order to assist them with pursuing a personal injury claim. Following a collision, powerful and large trucking insurance companies will normally try to place blame on the injured victim for the accident or give a low-ball settlement offer to make the problem disappear without having to compensate the victim fully for the hardships they have suffered. People who are harmed in a vehicle collision might sustain emotion and physical pain, property damage, and financial stress due to missing time from work and medical bills. That is why it is so important for accident victims to consult with experienced attorneys who will represent their interests in order to have a good chance of winning fair and just compensation for the damages they have suffered.

Contact a Maryland Truck Accident Attorney

If you were involved in a swinging turn truck accident in Maryland or any type of motor vehicle crash, the skilled and experienced lawyers at Pinder Plotkin are available to help you create a plan to pursue a claim that is based on your individual needs and circumstances. Call our law firm today to get a free case evaluation scheduled so that we can discuss your claim and its potential success.