Semi-Truck Collision
A semi-truck collision in California activates the FMCSA regulatory framework — $750,000 minimum insurance under 49 CFR Section 387.9, hours-of-service limits under Part 395, and ELD data th...
Semi-Truck Collision guide →Legal Information Notice
This page provides general legal information about wide turn / squeeze accident claims in California. It does not provide legal advice. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident in California: Overview
Wide turn accidents — where a semi-truck swings left before making a right turn, sweeping vehicles alongside into the turn — are a common and legally clear liability scenario. California Vehicle Code Section 21717 requires drivers to be in the right lane before turning right. FMCSA mirror requirements and the duty to check mirrors before turns compound the liability analysis.
California commercial truck accident cases operate under a dual legal framework: FMCSA federal regulations that create specific duties and negligence per se theories; and California tort law governing damages, comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975), multi-defendant liability (Proposition 51), and the two-year statute of limitations (CCP Section 335.1). The combination of uncapped California damages and FMCSA-mandated commercial insurance makes truck accident cases substantially different from ordinary vehicle accident claims.
Who Is Liable After a Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident
Liability in wide turn / squeeze accident cases typically runs against multiple defendants simultaneously. The motor carrier bears vicarious liability under respondeat superior and direct negligence for FMCSA compliance failures. The truck driver bears personal liability. The truck owner, cargo shipper, maintenance company, and equipment manufacturers may each be named as additional defendants depending on the specific facts. California's pure comparative fault system allocates fault proportionally among all contributing parties.
Applicable FMCSA Regulations
The following FMCSA regulations are most commonly implicated in wide turn / squeeze accident cases. A violation of any applicable standard causally connected to the accident establishes negligence per se — satisfying the negligence element without further proof of unreasonable conduct.
- 49 CFR Part 395 — Hours of Service: 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, 60/70-hour weekly limit
- 49 CFR Part 396 — Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance: pre-trip inspection, recordkeeping, out-of-service criteria
- 49 CFR Part 393 — Parts and Accessories: brake standards, tire requirements, cargo securement, lighting
- 49 CFR Part 391 — Driver Qualifications: CDL, medical certificate, drug testing, employment history
- 49 CFR Part 387 — Insurance: $750,000 minimum (general freight), $5,000,000 (hazmat)
- 49 CFR Part 382 — Drug and Alcohol Testing: pre-employment, random, post-accident testing
49 C.F.R. § 387.9 — Minimum Financial Responsibility
General freight carriers: $750,000 minimum liability insurance. Hazardous materials (listed substances): $5,000,000 minimum. These are federal minimums — most major carriers maintain substantially higher limits plus umbrella coverage.
Insurance Coverage in Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident Cases
FMCSA-regulated carriers must maintain minimum insurance of $750,000 for general freight or $5,000,000 for hazmat. In a serious wide turn / squeeze accident case, the full coverage stack includes the carrier's primary commercial auto policy, umbrella or excess coverage, the truck owner's policy if separate, and potentially the shipper's liability policy. All applicable policies must be identified and disclosed through the civil discovery process.
Damages Available After a Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident
California wide turn / squeeze accident victims can recover: all past and future medical expenses (no cap); lost wages and earning capacity; property damage; non-economic damages (pain, suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life) — uncapped in California; and punitive damages under Civil Code Section 3294 for malice or conscious disregard. Commercial carrier insurance substantially exceeds personal auto policy limits, making full recovery more accessible in serious injury cases.
Statute of Limitations
Two years from the date of the accident under CCP Section 335.1. Government entity claims (Caltrans, public agency trucks): six months under Government Code Section 945.4. Minor victims: tolled until age 18 under CCP Section 352. ELD and EDR data must be preserved through immediate written demand to the carrier — long before the statute expires.
Critical Evidence in Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident Cases
- ELD records — Hours-of-service compliance at the time of the accident; preserve through immediate written demand to the carrier
- Event data recorder (EDR) — Vehicle speed, braking, and throttle data in the seconds before impact; download before truck is repaired
- Driver qualification file — CDL, medical certificate, employment history, drug tests; establishes negligent hiring claims
- Vehicle maintenance records — Pre-trip inspection logs, repair orders; establishes carrier knowledge of pre-existing defects
- Dispatch records — Load assignment, delivery schedule, communications with driver; establishes HOS pressure and dispatching conduct
- FMCSA inspection history — Prior roadside citations from the FMCSA SAFER database; establishes carrier safety culture
- Post-accident drug/alcohol test results — Required by 49 CFR Part 382 for serious accidents; establish impairment
- Dashcam and surveillance footage — From the truck if equipped, and from nearby businesses or traffic cameras
Frequently Asked Questions — Wide Turn / Squeeze Accident
Who is at fault when a truck's wide right turn crushes another vehicle?
The truck driver and motor carrier bear primary liability under CVC Section 21717 (must be in the right lane before turning right) and FMCSA mirror requirements (must check mirrors before turning). The wide swing left before a right turn creates a foreseeable 'squeeze' hazard for vehicles alongside the truck. If a vehicle was lawfully positioned in the right lane alongside the truck, it has no comparative fault.
Does California law specifically address trucks making wide turns?
California Vehicle Code Section 21717 requires drivers to be in the right lane when making a right turn. For long commercial vehicles that physically cannot turn from the right lane without turning into oncoming traffic, the driver must yield to all vehicles in adjacent lanes before beginning the turn. FMCSA mirror requirements under 49 CFR Section 393.80 require mirrors that enable the driver to check for vehicles alongside.
What if I was in a bicycle lane when a truck's wide turn hit me?
A cyclist lawfully occupying a bicycle lane has the right to be there. If the truck's wide right turn crossed the bike lane and struck the cyclist, the truck driver violated CVC Section 21717 and bears primary fault. Cyclist injuries from wide-turn squeeze accidents are frequently catastrophic. California Vehicle Code Section 22107 also requires drivers to check for traffic before changing lanes.
Can a truck driver avoid liability by claiming the vehicle was 'too big to turn'?
No. Large commercial vehicles are subject to the same lane-use requirements as smaller vehicles under CVC Section 21717. The legal obligation to turn from the rightmost lane does not disappear because the vehicle is large. The driver's duty is to ensure the turn is safe — not to complete the turn regardless of what vehicles are alongside.
What dashcam or camera evidence is most important in a wide turn case?
Forward-facing dashcam footage from the truck establishes whether the driver checked mirrors before initiating the turn. Footage from vehicles alongside or behind establishes the truck's position, the turn signal use, and the position of the squeezed vehicle. Traffic and intersection cameras often capture wide-turn incidents. Send preservation demands to the truck carrier and to any nearby business with exterior cameras.
How long do I have to file a wide turn truck accident claim?
Two years from the date of the accident under CCP Section 335.1. Dashcam footage and surveillance camera data can be overwritten within days — evidence preservation demands must be sent immediately.
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