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How wide right turn crashes happen
A long truck needs extra room to turn right, so drivers often swing left first or start the turn from a middle lane. That leaves a gap on the right that looks like an open lane. A car, motorcycle or bike that moves into that gap can be crushed when the trailer cuts back toward the curb.
The trailer’s rear wheels also track inside the path of the cab during a turn. Someone standing at the corner or riding beside the trailer can be struck even though the cab passed them. Our page on truck blind spot crashes explains why the right side is the hardest area for a truck driver to see.
Who is at fault
The truck driver is expected to check mirrors, signal, turn slowly and stop if someone is in the way. Insurers often argue that the car or cyclist tried to pass on the right. Even if that were partly true, your share of fault only reduces what you recover. Read recovering when you were partly at fault.
If you were walking, California drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection (Vehicle Code 21950). A turning truck driver has that same duty. See hit by a truck while walking or biking for more on those claims. Pedestrians and cyclists hit by turning trucks often have the most serious injuries.
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Evidence that helps
Traffic cameras and nearby business cameras often catch turning crashes at intersections. Ask stores and building managers to save their footage quickly, because many systems record over it within days. Truck dashcams, side cameras and engine data can show the turn’s speed and whether the driver stopped. See truck black box and dashcam evidence.
Photos of where the vehicles came to rest, tire marks at the corner and damage to the side of your car help show the truck’s path. The carrier’s driver file (49 C.F.R. 391.51) and training records can show whether the driver was prepared to handle city turns. A driver new to city routes may not have had the training the job called for.
What to do now
Get medical care, even for injuries that seem minor at first. Photograph the intersection, the truck, the trailer and your vehicle. Write down the names of nearby businesses that may have cameras, and get witness names and phone numbers. Keep the police report number and every claim number together. Return to the corner later if you need more photos of signs or lane markings.
Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the trucking insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Keep receipts for treatment, medicine and missed work. The general deadline to file an injury lawsuit in California is two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington it is generally three years (RCW 4.16.080).
How Beverly Law can help
We gather intersection video before it is erased, ask the carrier to keep its dashcam and engine data, and push back when the insurer tries to blame you for the turn. If the trailer’s side struck you low, read underride truck crash claims, since side impacts can cause that kind of injury.
You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Visit our California truck accident lawyer page to learn more about how we handle these cases. The first conversation is free, and our team speaks Spanish. We explain each step in plain language and keep you updated. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page.
Common questions
Who is at fault when a truck makes a wide right turn and hits a car?
Often the truck driver, who must make sure the space beside the truck is clear before turning. The insurer may argue the car moved into the gap. If you share some fault, California’s comparative fault rule reduces your recovery but does not end it.
Can a truck turn right from the left lane?
Long trucks often need to swing wide, but the driver still has to turn safely and watch for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on the right. Whether a particular turn was legal depends on the road and the facts, which a lawyer can check.
What if I was on a bike when the truck turned right?
You may have a claim against the driver and the trucking company. Cyclists on the right side of a turning truck are hard for the driver to see, which is why drivers are expected to check mirrors and go slowly. Video from the corner often shows what happened.
How do I get video of a truck turning crash?
Ask nearby businesses and building managers to save their footage right away, and write down which ones have cameras. A lawyer can send written requests to them and to the trucking company for its dashcam video before it is recorded over.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Can I sue a truck driver for hitting me? · Who is liable in a truck accident: the driver, the trucking company or the broker? · Rear-ended by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by a semi truck on the freeway: your rights · Jackknife truck accident: who is at fault? · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.