Many people think of
truck accidents
as high-speed affairs that only happen on highways or busy on-ramps.
But the truth is, many fatal semi accidents in Virginia occur when a truck
is going 45 mph or less.
Intersection accidents are a major contributor to the over 100 annual
deaths caused by tractor-trailers in Virginia. Many of these are “left
accidents,” which cause injury and even death as a tractor-trailer
attempts to make a left-hand turn on a city street.
So how can a simple left turn can cause a deadly semi crash?
-
Cross traffic. When a truck turns left, it must cross the oncoming lanes of traffic,
a bike lane and a crosswalk-any one of which can result in casualties
if the driver isn’t paying attention. -
Visibility. The left side of a semi has an extended blind spot. If a car has inched
into the lane next to a turning semi, the truck driver may not see him
in time to avoid a collision. -
Wide berth. Trucks usually need more space to maneuver than other vehicles, and this
is especially true during turns. If a truck doesn’t have enough room
to complete a turn, he may go over a curb or into the opposite traffic
lane (and sometimes into a pedestrian or driver).
If you or someone you love has been injured in a semi accident,
call Shevlin Smith today
at 703-721-4233 to get help from an experienced Fairfax truck accident attorney.