Wide Right Turn Accidents: How Lawyers Help Victims

If you’ve been injured in a wide right turn truck accident, you’re not alone. These crashes, often caused by driver error or improper turns, leave victims with severe injuries and mounting bills. At Metier Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon fight to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Over the last decade, truck accidents causing injuries have steadily increased across the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports a troubling rise in fatal truck crashes, with wide right turn accidents standing out as particularly dangerous for passenger vehicles.

"Right turn truck accidents are some of the most devastating cases we handle," says Mike Chaloupka, Managing Partner of Metier Law Firm. "The size disparity between commercial trucks and passenger cars often leads to catastrophic injuries. Understanding these accidents’ unique mechanics is key to winning your case."

What Are Wide Right Turn Truck Accidents?

When a semi-truck makes a right turn, the physics differ vastly from a passenger vehicle. A commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and stretch 75 feet long, requiring specialized turning techniques. Poor execution creates hazards like “squeeze play” crashes, where cars get crushed trying to pass on the right.

Why Button Hook Turns Are Safer

Truck drivers use two main methods for right turns: button hook and jug handle. The button hook turn is the safer, recommended approach:

• The driver starts in the rightmost lane.
• They keep the truck’s wheels close to the curb during the approach.
• The turn begins tight to the curb, only swinging wide after to accommodate the trailer.

This signals intent clearly to other drivers and blocks cars from sneaking past on the right—a frequent cause of devastating collisions. Professional drivers are trained on button hook turns as the industry safety standard.

Unsure if a truck driver’s error caused your crash? Call Metier Law Firm at 866-377-3800 for a free case review.

Dangers of Jug Handle Turns

By contrast, the jug handle turn is far riskier and a common factor in cases our truck accident lawyers see:

• The driver swings wide left before turning right, forming a jug handle arc.
• This moves the truck into oncoming traffic or adjacent lanes.
• Other drivers misread this as a left turn or lane change, positioning themselves in the truck’s path.

Jug handle turns increase risks of side-impact crashes, head-on collisions, and squeeze plays, especially in busy areas across Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon.

What Is a Squeeze Play Accident?

A “squeeze play” happens when a truck leaves too much space from the curb during a wide right turn, misleading drivers into passing on the right—only to be crushed as the trailer swings. Common causes include:

• No turn signals.
• Cars in the truck’s extensive right-side blind spots.
• Inadequate driver training.
• Failure to clear intersections.
• Low visibility in bad weather or at night.

These preventable errors devastate victims, and our truck crash attorneys at Metier Law Firm see them too often.

Who’s Liable in a Truck Accident?

If you’ve been hurt in a wide right turn truck crash, determining liability is critical for your claim. It’s not always just the driver—cases can get complex.

Potential Liable Parties

• The Truck Driver: Liable for failing to signal, missing blind spots, improper turns, or driving distracted, fatigued, or impaired.
• The Trucking Company: Responsible if they overloaded the truck, skimped on training, neglected maintenance, hired unqualified drivers, or pushed Hours of Service violations.
• Third Parties: Parts manufacturers (e.g., defective brakes), cargo loaders, or government agencies (poor road design) may share blame.

Our truck accident lawyers in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon dig deep to pinpoint every liable party.

Factors That Increase Wide Right Turn Truck Accident Risks

Driver Inexperience

The trucking industry faces a driver shortage—80,000 last year, per CNBC, projected to hit 160,000 by 2030 (American Trucking Associations). Companies rush hires, cutting training. New drivers struggle with wide right turns due to:

• Limited practice at varied intersections.
• Poor grasp of turning radius physics.
• Weak situational awareness.

We scrutinize training records to prove inexperience in your case.

Impaired Driving

FMCSA’s 2021 data showed 56,000+ drug/alcohol violations—29,500 marijuana, 7,940 cocaine, 1,203 alcohol (BAC 0.04%+). Fatigue (18 hours awake = 0.08 BAC) is just as bad. Impairment slows reactions, skews depth perception, and clouds judgment—disastrous for right turns.

Unfamiliar Routes & Distractions

New roads distract drivers from safety steps like curb-hugging. Cell phones, dispatch devices, or eating further split focus. Texting ups crash risk 23 times (FMCSA).

Common Questions from Truck Accident Victims

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

In Colorado and Washington, it’s 3 years (CRS 13-80-101; RCW 4.16.080). Wyoming gives 4 (W.S. 1-3-105), Oregon 2 (ORS 12.110). Don’t wait—evidence fades.

What Compensation Can I Get?

Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Our lawyers maximize your recovery.

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Yes. Trucking companies fight hard; we level the field with investigation and expertise.

Injured? Contact our truck accident lawyers today at 866-377-3800 to start your claim.

Recovering Damages After a Truck Accident

Victims of wide right turn crashes may claim:

• Medical costs (now and future).
• Lost income and earning capacity.
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
• Rehabilitation, scarring, or quality-of-life losses.

Time’s limited by state statutes—act fast.

How We Help Truck Accident Victims

Thorough Investigation

We:

• Gather all evidence, including police reports, witness statements, driver logs, and maintenance records, telematics data, cargo loading procedures and more.
• Look for all possible factors in the accident, from every angle possible.
• Consult accident reconstruction experts.

Expert Negotiation

Insurers lowball victims with tactics like quick offers or blame-shifting. Our decades of experience counter this, valuing your claim with medical and economic experts.

Litigation Expertise

If talks fail, we litigate—mastering FMCSA rules, presenting evidence, and persuading juries. Our trial-ready approach often forces better settlements.

Choose Metier Law Firm

For truck accident victims in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, or Oregon, Metier Law Firm offers proven results and personalized care. Call 866-377-3800 or visit www.metierlaw.com for a free consultation. Don’t let medical bills overwhelm you—our truck accident lawyers are here to fight for justice.