Why are "left turn" truck accidents so common on Virginia roads?

 Posted on June 29, 2011 in Traffic Accidents

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 703-591-0067 to get help from an experienced Fairfax truck accident attorney.