Michigan Wide-Turn & Right-Turn Squeeze Truck Accident Lawyers
To make a tight right turn, a semi often swings left first — and a driver who fails to check the blind spot can crush a car, motorcyclist, or cyclist caught on the right. When a wide turn goes wrong, 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH holds the driver and carrier accountable.
Detroit & Michigan Wide-Turn Truck Accident Attorneys
At 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH, Michigan trial attorney Solomon Radner and our team represent people injured in wide-turn and right-turn squeeze crashes with commercial trucks across Metro Detroit and throughout Michigan. Because a tractor-trailer needs extra room to complete a right turn, drivers often swing wide to the left first — and when they fail to check their mirrors, they can trap and crush anyone traveling in the lane to their right.
These crashes frequently injure drivers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists who had no way to anticipate the truck’s movement. Our Michigan truck accident practice knows how to use the truck’s cameras, telematics, and the driver’s training records, along with intersection video and witness accounts, to prove the driver turned unsafely. Below is how right-turn squeeze crashes happen, who is responsible, and how a Michigan claim works.
Related truck accident cases: Rear-End Truck Accidents · Jackknife Accidents · Head-On Collisions
What Is a Wide-Turn (Right-Turn Squeeze) Truck Accident?
A wide-turn or “right-turn squeeze” accident happens because a tractor-trailer needs extra room to complete a right turn. The driver swings the cab left first, then turns right — and a vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle traveling in the lane to the truck’s right can be trapped, sideswiped, or run over as the trailer sweeps around.
What causes wide-turn truck accidents?
These crashes usually come down to a driver who turned without making sure the space beside the trailer was clear:
- Failure to check mirrors and blind spots before swinging wide.
- No turn signal, or one given too late to warn nearby drivers.
- Misjudging the trailer’s path and the room it needs.
- Turning from the wrong lane or cutting the corner too sharply.
- Inadequate training on how to make a safe right turn in a large rig.
Drivers are trained to make these turns safely, so a right-turn squeeze almost always points to driver or trucking-company error.
Why wide-turn crashes are so dangerous
Victims rarely see it coming — the truck looks like it is going straight or turning left, so they proceed as expected and are caught as the trailer comes around. Motorcyclists and bicyclists are especially vulnerable, since they are smaller, harder to see, and have far less protection than someone in a car.
Common injuries in wide-turn truck accidents
The injuries we see in these cases are frequently life-altering: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, multiple fractures, internal organ damage and bleeding, severe lacerations and burns, and, far too often, fatal injuries that give rise to a wrongful death claim. Injuries this serious bring lasting medical needs, time away from work, and real financial strain.
A right-turn squeeze can happen in an instant: the truck appears to be moving left or going straight, you proceed as expected, and suddenly the trailer swings into your lane. Crashes like these often cause serious injuries, especially for motorcyclists and cyclists, and they leave victims facing medical bills and lost income through no fault of their own.
The trucking company will often argue you were in the driver’s blind spot or tried to pass improperly. We know how to counter those defenses with hard evidence, so the blame stays where it belongs.
How a Michigan Wide-Turn Truck Accident Claim Works
Most Michigan wide-turn truck accident claims follow the same stages:
- Get medical care first. Your health comes first, and your treatment records also document the injuries at the center of your claim.
- We preserve the evidence fast. We move immediately to secure the truck’s onboard cameras and telematics, the driver’s logs and training records, the police report, and any intersection or traffic-camera video before it is overwritten.
- We reconstruct the turn. We use vehicle positions, the truck’s turning radius, and witness statements to show the driver swung wide or failed to yield the lane beside the trailer.
- We identify every liable party. Responsibility can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company for training or supervision failures.
- We handle Michigan No-Fault. We make sure your own No-Fault benefits cover what they should while we pursue the at-fault parties. Here is how Michigan No-Fault works.
- We are ready for trial. Insurers pay fairly when they know your lawyer is prepared to go to court. We build every case that way.
Michigan limits how long you have to bring a claim, and No-Fault benefits carry their own deadlines — so reaching out early gives us the most room to help.
Who is liable for a wide-turn truck accident?
One of the most valuable things a truck accident lawyer does is uncover every responsible party — because more liable parties can mean more insurance coverage available to pay for your injuries. In a right-turn squeeze, responsibility usually falls on the truck driver for turning unsafely, but the trucking company can also be liable for inadequate training or supervision, and a maintenance issue or defective equipment can occasionally play a role. Federal regulations also hold trucking companies responsible for their drivers in many situations, which can be a powerful tool in your case.
Compensation you may be able to recover
While no two cases are alike, people injured in truck accidents in Michigan can often pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity — income lost now and your ability to earn going forward.
- Pain and suffering — the physical pain and emotional toll of a serious injury.
- Long-term and life-care costs — in-home care, assistive devices, and home modifications after catastrophic injuries.
- Wrongful death damages — when a family has lost a loved one.
Because of the severe injuries and the larger insurance policies that commercial trucks carry, these claims are often worth substantially more than a typical car accident claim.
Michigan truck accident laws that affect your claim
A few features of Michigan law shape almost every truck accident case. Michigan is a No-Fault state, so your own auto policy pays personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for medical care and lost wages no matter who caused the crash, while a separate claim against the at-fault trucking company can recover pain and suffering once your injury meets Michigan’s “serious impairment” threshold. Michigan also follows a modified comparative fault rule — being partly at fault can reduce your recovery, and being found more than 50% at fault can bar you from certain damages. The statute of limitations for most auto injury lawsuits is generally three years from the date of the crash, but No-Fault benefits carry their own much shorter deadlines, and important exceptions can apply. Because one missed deadline can end an otherwise strong case, the safest step is to talk with us as soon as possible.
Wide-Turn & Right-Turn Squeeze Truck Accident FAQs
What is a right-turn squeeze (wide-turn) truck accident?
It happens when a large truck swings left to set up a right turn, then turns across or into the lane on its right. A vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle traveling in that space can be trapped, sideswiped, or run over as the trailer comes around.
Who is at fault in a wide-turn truck accident?
Usually the truck driver, who is responsible for turning safely, signaling, and making sure the lane beside the trailer is clear before swinging wide. The trucking company can also be liable for inadequate training or supervision.
How do you prove the truck driver caused a wide-turn crash?
We use the truck’s onboard cameras and telematics, the driver’s logs and training records, intersection or traffic-camera footage, vehicle damage, and witness statements to reconstruct the turn and show the driver moved unsafely.
Are motorcyclists and cyclists especially at risk?
Yes. Riders are smaller, easier to miss in a truck’s blind spots, and have far less protection, so a right-turn squeeze can cause catastrophic injuries to a motorcyclist or bicyclist even at low speed.
How long do I have to file a claim in Michigan?
Michigan sets firm deadlines for injury lawsuits and No-Fault benefits, and missing one can bar your claim. Because the exact deadline depends on your situation, the safest step is to call us as soon as possible.
What should I do after a wide-turn truck accident in Michigan?
If you can, move to safety and call 911 so police create an official report. Photograph the truck, your vehicle or motorcycle, the intersection, and your injuries; get the names of any witnesses; and seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer, and talk to a truck accident lawyer before signing anything.
Are wide-turn truck accidents always the truck driver’s fault?
Most are, because drivers are trained and required to make sure the lane beside the trailer is clear before swinging wide. Still, the trucking company can share fault for poor training or supervision, so a full investigation matters. The insurer may argue you were in a blind spot or passed improperly — we counter those claims with evidence.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Possibly. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means your compensation can be reduced by your share of fault, and being found more than 50% at fault can bar certain damages. Even if you think you were partly to blame, it is worth having a lawyer review the facts; fault is often not what the insurer first claims.
What does it cost to hire 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee — there is no cost unless and until we win, and your consultation is free.
Talk to a Michigan Wide-Turn Truck Accident Lawyer — Free
If a truck’s wide right turn injured you or someone you love, the camera footage and data that prove it can be overwritten within days. Get a free, no-obligation case review today. You pay nothing unless we win.