Truck Accident Lawyer
Elizabethtown, KY

Semis and large trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles that occupy Elizabethtown’s roadways. The aftermath of a truck accident can leave victims in excruciating pain; they may have to endure weeks or months of painful physical therapy, all the while watching medical bills pile up as they’re unable to work.

The Elizabethtown personal injury lawyers at Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers are very familiar with truck accidents. We can help you get the financial compensation you deserve so that your focus can be on what matters most—your recovery and your family. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a truck accident, you need a lawyer you can trust.

Contact our legal team at Hughes & Coleman today at 800-800-4600.

Due to their massive size and length, large trucks and semis require additional space to execute turns. They are unable to make the same maneuvers as a standard-size vehicle. Their wide-turn radius makes it difficult—if not impossible—to fit within certain local streets and intersections. When making a turn, trucks often need to cross over into adjacent lanes of traffic.

For example, if a semi is about to make a right turn, the driver may need to start from the far left lane and cross over into the right lane. When making a left turn, the driver may need to swing over into the right lane beforehand. On a narrow or two-lane road, such maneuvers may call for swinging over into the oncoming lane of traffic.

A truck driver who poorly executes a wide turn and causes an accident should be held responsible for his or her actions. If you have been involved in a wide-turn accident, an experienced trucking accident lawyer at Hughes & Coleman is ready to help you during this difficult time. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation or fill out the online form.

Drivers of commercial vehicles are required to take training courses, pass tests, and receive certification to ensure that they know how to operate these large vehicles safely. Part of this training covers how to complete wide turns even in challenging situations. An illegal maneuver or simply poor judgment can cause an accident and serious injuries to motorists caught in the path of the turn.

The following are some common scenarios that lead to wide-turn accidents:

• Swinging into traffic. For example, a driver attempting to make a right turn may go too far to the left and strike an oncoming vehicle. A driver might swing wide when it is unnecessary to do so or swing into oncoming traffic.
• Blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots to the side, front, and rear. A truck driver needs to carefully check his surroundings before turning. Failure to do so could result in the driver striking a vehicle in the adjacent lane and causing a terrible accident.
• Driver error. A driver can simply miscalculate how much of the roadway is needed to navigate the turn. Often, wide-turn accidents can be chalked up to driver error, but this does not discount liability. Trucking companies are required to have insurance so that when mistakes are made and accidents occur, the victims will be compensated for their injuries.
• Turn signals. Truck drivers should use their turn signals at least 100 feet in advance of a turn. This informs surrounding vehicles of their intent to turn, giving other drivers enough time to move out of the way and stay clear of the truck’s blind spots.
• Distracted driving. This includes things like talking on the phone, texting, eating, grooming, and inputting GPS coordinates. When a driver is performing these tasks, his or her attention is not fully on driving. This may cause them to fail to use proper technique when executing the turn or to miss vehicles that are in their blind spots.

Due to a truck’s immense size, it can cause traumatic injuries even when impact is made at a slow speed. Victims who are hit head-on, T-boned, crushed between the truck and another vehicle, or caught in an override or underride wreck can sustain life-altering injuries.

Victims of truck accidents may suffer any of the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Shattered or broken bones
• Neck and back injuries
• Paralysis
• Deep lacerations and cuts
• Amputations
• Internal organ damage
• Death

At Hughes & Coleman, we pride ourselves on being professional, knowledgeable, skilled, and empathetic. We care about the members of the Elizabethtown community and each of our clients. We are experienced in truck accident cases and have aided many clients in receiving maximum compensation.

In trucking accident cases, there may be a number of parties that are liable for the accident, from whom you could receive financial compensation. As your attorneys, we will gather evidence from all parties involved in the crash. We will also thoroughly investigate what caused the accident. This may involve hiring expert witnesses including accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and driving instructors. After determining the cause of the accident and who was negligent, we can pursue compensation for your injuries.

You may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Medications
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Loss of companionship
• Therapy