When a semi-truck makes a wide turn, it can feel like it comes out of nowhere. One moment, you’re driving safely in your lane—suddenly, a wide-turning truck sideswipes you or forces you off the road. These types of collisions can cause serious injuries, vehicle damage, and lots of confusion about who’s really at fault.

In Michigan, 15,088 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes occurred in 2023, resulting in 103 fatalities and 3,677 injuries. These numbers show how common and devastating truck-related crashes are across the state.

Our Michigan truck accident lawyers know that wide-turn crashes aren’t always straightforward. Here’s what causes these wide-turn crashes, how fault is determined, and what legal options you may have, even if you were partly to blame.

Why Do Trucks Make Wide Turns?

Commercial trucks aren’t built like passenger cars. With trailers often measuring up to 53 feet long, these vehicles need more space to maneuver, especially on tight city streets or two-lane roads. Right turns are especially tricky. To avoid clipping a curb, hitting a light post, or damaging the trailer, a truck driver may swing left before turning right.

To make wide turns, truck drivers may:

  • Occupy two lanes or cross into adjacent ones
  • Turn right from the left lane
  • Block traffic while waiting for enough space to complete the turn

While these techniques are sometimes necessary, they can also create serious hazards for nearby drivers, especially if the trucker doesn’t signal properly, misjudges the turn, or ignores traffic conditions.

How Wide-Turn Truck Crashes Happen

Some of the most common wide-turn crash scenarios include:

  • Right-hook accidents, where a truck turns right into a vehicle in the right-hand lane
  • Swing-out collisions, where the truck swings left before turning right and hits a passing car
  • Rear-end crashes, when a truck slows or stops to begin a wide turn, and another vehicle can’t stop in time
  • Encroachment accidents, where the trailer crosses into oncoming traffic while turning

Because trucks are so large and less agile than smaller vehicles, even a slight miscalculation can result in devastating injuries and costly damage. Fault isn’t always clear-cut in wide-turn accidents. Our legal team can thoroughly investigate what happened and help protect your rights.

Determining Fault in a Wide-Turn Crash

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), about 14% of large-truck crashes occur due to inadequate surveillance, meaning the truck driver didn’t check their mirrors or blind spots properly before turning or changing lanes. These oversights can turn a routine maneuver into a dangerous collision.

When a wide-turn crash happens, questions that help to determine fault include:

  • Did the driver use proper signals and mirrors?
  • Was the truck turning from the correct lane?
  • Did the driver have adequate training and licensing?
  • Were traffic laws or safety regulations violated?
  • Did the truck’s blind spot play a role?
  • Did the other driver contribute by trying to pass unsafely?

Police reports, dashcam footage, and eyewitness testimony can all help build your case. In many situations, liability may be shared among multiple parties, including the trucking company, especially if the driver wasn’t properly trained.

Not sure who’s responsible? Trust Fieger Law to build a strong case and pursue every party responsible for your injuries.

Michigan’s Comparative Fault Law: What if You’re Partly to Blame?

Even if you were partially at fault for the crash, you may still be able to recover compensation under Michigan’s comparative fault rule. In Michigan, your compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault, as long as your portion of fault is at or under 50%. For instance, if you’re found 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your total damages.

Insurance companies may attempt to minimize your claim by shifting blame. Our attorneys are prepared to challenge those tactics. Talk to our Michigan truck accident lawyers to find out what your case is worth, even if you think you were partially at fault.

Contact Fieger Law Today

Wide-turn truck crashes can be confusing, painful, and overwhelming. But you don’t have to manage the legal process alone. We have a long track record of standing up to powerful trucking companies and helping crash victims recover maximum compensation.

We can help you pursue payment for your medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering, so you can focus on healing and moving forward.

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our skilled Michigan truck accident lawyers to discuss your legal options.