Tractor trailers and other kinds of commercial trucks are more likely to cause an accident due to their size. Most of the time, it's extremely dangerous to drive a tractor trailer even if the person has experience. Not being able to drive safely can lead to fatal injuries for the other drivers.
Wide turns are one of the most common truck accidents in Nashville. These crashes can even result in death, whether it's because of a vehicle malfunction or a negligent truck driver.
There are a few ways to avoid accidents involving semi-trucks. Even if they can't guarantee the driver's safety, they can make these incidents less likely. Here's everything to know about accidents involving large commercial vehicles and how to avoid them.
What's a Wide Turn?
These are maneuvers that truck drivers must do when they want to turn safely. Due to the large size of a commercial truck, drivers need extra space before completing the maneuver.
Most of the time, a turning truck would need to swing to the opposite side as they make the turn. This allows the driver of a passenger vehicle to behave accordingly and avoid an accident.
How Can a Wide Turn Cause an Accident?
Wide turn accidents happen when either the passenger car or truck driver behaves negligently. Sometimes, for example, the truck driver doesn't swing to the other side before turning, which leads the car driver to believe they can pass it; this can cause them to get trapped or crushed once the truck turns.
These accidents aren't always because of truck driver negligence, though. If the car driver is driving too close to the truck or isn't following basic safety guidelines, they're more likely to get into an accident.
What Injuries Can Wide Turn Accidents Cause?
Truck accidents often cause severe injuries, as they usually involve a smaller vehicle crashing into a bigger one. These include:
Traumatic brain injuries
Head, shoulder, or back injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Lacerations, bruises, or small cuts
Amputations
Death
Are Truck Drivers Liable for a Truck Accident?
It depends on the circumstances of the accident. Even though a commercial driver is more likely to be at fault for an accident, a victim could also sue the trucking company or manufacturer if the incident was caused by poor maintenance.
The first thing an insurance company will do when determining liability is to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the accident. If the commercial vehicle driver was trying to make a risky right or left turn, for example, they could be held liable if they got hit by oncoming traffic. All drivers should get proper training from their company, and it's their responsibility to follow these guidelines all the time.
On the other hand, if the person was driving while fatigued, they could get sued.
As mentioned above, these accidents aren't always because of negligent drivers. If the trucking company didn't take enough measures to provide maintenance to the vehicle or failed to secure loads correctly, the blame can fall onto it.
Instances Where the Passenger Vehicles Are at Fault
Car drivers can also be held liable for an accident if they were not behaving properly while on the road. Driving too close to a truck, for example, can cause an accident even if the truck driver was following all safety guidelines.
Tennessee works under a modified comparative negligence rule, which states that the victim's compensation will depend on their percentage of fault; the higher it is, the less likely they are of getting a decent amount of money.
However, if the victim is found to be 50% at fault for the accident (or higher), they will not be eligible for compensation. The best thing to do in these cases is to talk to a truck accident attorney in Nashville TN to evaluate all possible scenarios.
How Can Someone Prevent Wide Turn Accidents in Tennessee?
Even though there's no way to ensure that all truck drivers behave as they should while on the road, there are some tips other people can follow to be safer while they're around such large vehicles:
Trying not to pass the truck from the right side
Avoiding the truck's blind spots
Not driving between two vehicles
Avoiding the road while fatigued
Adjusting the vehicle's blind spots
Not pulling forward at the curb
To summarize, the best way to avoid a truck accident is to not drive close to these vehicles. The more distance the driver has from a truck, the less likely they are of getting injured even if the other driver is negligent. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can help with other questions like, What can you do to avoid Underride Accidents in TN?
What Can People Do If They Get Involved in a Truck Accident in Nashville, TN?
Truck accidents often lead to devastating consequences, but victims don't have to go through them alone. If the accident wasn't the victim's fault, they could be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party.
Those who got injured because of a truck accident and can move should do the following:
Call 911 to get the police and emergency responders to the scene.
Take pictures and videos of the scene.
Get the contact information of the truck driver and any potential witnesses.
See a doctor to get any superficial injuries treated.
Then, the victim should seek legal advice from a professional to file a claim against the truck driver. This will allow them to get compensated and cover their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Why Getting Legal Help After an Accident Is So Important
Most of the time, truck accidents are hard to navigate. Even if the accident wasn't the victim's fault, the other party may try to argue they were driving safely to avoid paying the full compensation amount.
In these cases, getting help from a lawyer can ensure the victim fights for their rights and gets the compensation they deserve. The team at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys has former insurance company workers on their side, which means they know all the tricks these companies tend to use to avoid paying compensation. They can help with questions like, What can you do to avoid Jackknife Accidents in TN?
These professional attorneys have the experience to help victims file a solid case that earns them the money they need to get treatment and move on with their lives. Those who got involved in a wide turn accident must seek legal help immediately, and the people at Schuerger Shunnarah offer a free case evaluation to make things easier.