Tractor‑trailer wide‑turn accidents are a serious hazard on Georgia’s roads. When large trucks swing across lanes to complete a turn, the risk to passenger vehicles—especially those caught to the inside—is high. If you’ve been injured in a wide‑turn collision or lost a loved one, understanding your rights and how Kevin Patrick Law can help is critical.
Understanding Wide‑Turn Accidents
Wide‑turn accidents typically happen when a tractor‑trailer makes a right turn from the left lane or a left turn from the right lane, sweeping into adjacent lanes. Passenger vehicles that misjudge the truck’s path—or remain in the adjacent lane—can end up crushed or struck. These collisions often occur at intersections and are particularly dangerous due to the size and momentum of tractor‑trailers.
Georgia’s drivers must give wide‑turning trucks adequate clearance. But when drivers negligently move into a truck’s turning path, disaster can result.
How Common Are These Accidents in Georgia?
While state-wide statistics don’t isolate “wide‑turn” crashes specifically, they show the scale of large‑truck incidents:
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In 2021, 14% of all Georgia traffic fatalities involved a large truck (244 deaths), and 76% of those were occupants of other vehicles—the kind of victims most often involved in wide‑turn crashes.
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Georgia saw around 2,640 total fatal traffic-related vehicles in 2021, 245 involved large trucks—about 9.3%.
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Wide turns are among the most common truck accident types cited by attorneys in Atlanta. These numbers underscore how deadly collisions with tractor‑trailers can be—even when other vehicles make avoidance attempts.
Why Wide‑Turn Collisions Are So Serious
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Blind spots and size: Tractor‑trailers can weigh up to 80,000 lbs compared to 3,000–5,000 lbs for passenger vehicles. That size difference makes wide‑turn impacts often catastrophic.
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Limited maneuverability: When turning, truck drivers often need to swing wide—sometimes starting from the opposite lane. If a car moves into the turn path, there is little time to avoid impact.
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High-speed urban zones: Wide‑turn accidents frequently occur in urban areas—Atlanta’s I‑285 loop, interstates I‑75, I‑85, and freight-heavy corridors with dense traffic.
Legal Framework Under Georgia Law
Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence rule (O.C.G.A. § 51‑12‑33). If you are found partly at fault (e.g. by remaining in a truck’s blind spot), your recovery is reduced by that percentage—but you can still recover if your fault is below 50%.
You must file personal injury claims within two years of the accident, and wrongful death suits must also be filed within two years of the date of death.
Steps to Take After a Wide‑Turn Accident
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Call 911 — report the accident and request medical help.
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Document the scene — take photos/videos of skid marks, vehicle positions, injuries, and license plates.
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Get witness info — take down names and contact details of witnesses.
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Avoid giving recorded statements to insurers without a lawyer.
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Seek immediate medical attention—even for injuries you think are minor.
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Contact an experienced Georgia truck accident lawyer, such as Kevin Patrick at Kevin Patrick Law, as soon as possible.
Why Choose Kevin Patrick Law?
Kevin Patrick is a Georgia personal injury lawyer with experience in truck accident litigation. Formerly an insurance defense lawyer, he understands how companies build cases—and he uses that expertise to protect plaintiffs. To date, his firm has recovered over $90 million in judgments, verdicts, and settlements. He remains personally involved in every case and limits his caseload to focus on individual clients.
How Kevin Patrick Law Handles Wide‑Turn Cases
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Full investigation: Kevin Patrick Law conducts thorough inquiries—including analysis of dash cam or surveillance footage, driver logs, truck inspection and maintenance records, and black box data.
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Accident reconstruction experts: Experts can recreate the truck’s path and timing to establish fault.
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Multiple liable parties: The firm may pursue claims against the driver, trucking company, broker, maintenance provider, or others.
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Comprehensive damages: They assess medical costs, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, and property damage. In wrongful death cases, they evaluate funeral expenses, loss of support, and emotional suffering.
Real‑World Scenario: Wide‑Turn Crash Near Atlanta
Imagine driving east on a multilane roadway near Atlanta. A tractor‑trailer in the leftmost lane signals a right turn, but bullets across the right lane without warning. Your vehicle, in the adjacent lane, gets clipped or pulled into the intersection—resulting in trauma and vehicle intrusion. Without proper clearance or driver attentiveness, wide‑turn collisions like this are almost impossible to avoid.
With Kevin Patrick Law, victims gain an advocate who knows how to rebuild the crash precisely—demonstrating that they gave proper space, yet the truck driver negligently executed the turn.
Prevention Tips for Drivers
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Never attempt to pass a tractor‑trailer that is signaling a turn.
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Avoid lingering in a truck’s blind spot, especially on the right side near intersections.
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Give extra space when trucks are approaching intersections—they may need to swing wide.
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Stay alert in urban corridors like I‑285, I‑75, I‑85, and Macon or Savannah freight routes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wide‑Turn Truck Accidents in Georgia
1. What is a wide-turn accident involving a tractor-trailer?
A wide-turn accident happens when a tractor-trailer swings into an adjacent lane to make a turn—usually a right turn from the left lane or vice versa—and collides with another vehicle. These accidents often involve vehicles that get “squeezed” between the truck and the curb or hit by the trailer’s rear end.
2. Who is liable in a wide-turn truck accident in Georgia?
Liability depends on the facts, but often the truck driver or trucking company may be responsible if they failed to check blind spots, use signals, or properly judge the turn radius. Under Georgia’s comparative fault law (O.C.G.A. § 51‑12‑33), even if a car driver is partially at fault, they may still recover damages—so long as they’re less than 50% responsible.
3. How long do I have to file a claim for a truck accident in Georgia?
You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in Georgia. For wrongful death, it’s two years from the date of death. It’s important to contact a Georgia truck accident lawyer, like Kevin Patrick, right away to preserve evidence and meet all legal deadlines.
4. What damages can I recover after a wide-turn accident?
You may be able to recover compensation for:
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Medical bills (past and future)
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Lost income or earning capacity
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Pain and suffering
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Property damage
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Funeral and burial expenses (in wrongful death cases)
Kevin Patrick Law helps clients in Georgia calculate the full value of their losses and pursue maximum recovery.
5. Why should I hire Kevin Patrick Law for a wide-turn truck accident case?
Kevin Patrick Law has a strong track record representing victims of commercial truck accidents in Georgia. Kevin Patrick is a former insurance defense lawyer who now uses his inside knowledge to advocate for injured individuals and families. The firm offers personalized service, thorough investigations, and aggressive representation—especially in complex cases like wide-turn crashes.
Final Thoughts
Tractor‑trailer wide‑turn accidents in Georgia can result in catastrophic injuries or death to occupants of smaller vehicles. Navigating the aftermath requires understanding Georgia’s comparative negligence laws, gathering strong evidence, and building a robust claim.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a wide‑turn collision involving a tractor‑trailer, Kevin Patrick Law in Atlanta offers seasoned, compassionate representation. With a proven track record and direct involvement from Kevin Patrick himself, the firm can help you pursue full compensation. Don’t wait—evidence disappears and deadlines (two‑year statute of limitations) can’t be extended.