Right Turn Truck Accidents

When truck drivers make right turns, they often have to swing out into the left lane to avoid running over a curb or the people waiting to cross the street. If they do not give themselves a wide-enough turn area or swing out too far, they can cause serious accidents.

Signs on the back of trucks warn drivers, "This truck makes wide right turns." However, the signs are not enough to prevent right turn truck crashes. According to the Los Angeles truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Kottler & Kottler, as well as safety advocates throughout the country, we must do more to protect people from serious truck accidents, especially since technology is available that does just that.

New Technology Available to Reduce Right-Turn Truck Accidents

Volvo Trucks has developed a system that helps truck drivers monitor the blind spot on the passenger side of their vehicles. Ultrasonic sensors, laser scanners and warning systems help to notify truck drivers when pedestrians, cyclists or cars get too close.

While the systems may reduce truck accidents involving right turns, they are only in their infant stages. We can only hope that the government will eventually require such safety systems on all trucks.

Keeping Safe: Avoiding the "No Zones"

While technology can help alert truckers to cars on their right-hand side, everyone should take steps to prevent truck accidents. If a truck is making a right turn, try to avoid driving on the right side of the truck.

In all circumstances, make sure to give trucks plenty of room to maneuver and stay out of truck blind spots ("no zones"). One third of all truck accidents happen in these zones. The no zones include the areas immediately in front and back of a truck as well as zones around the cab of the truck. If you cannot see the truck driver in his or her side mirrors, you are likely in a no zone.

Let's all do our part to make the roads safer for everyone.