Who Is Responsible for a Wide-Turn Truck Accident in Illinois?

 Posted on September 14, 2026 in Truck Accidents

Responsibility for a wide-turn truck accident in Illinois usually falls on the truck driver. Most often, these accidents happen when the driver fails to turn safely. However, the trucking company may also be liable as well, often because of training, maintenance, or scheduling pressure that contributed to the crash.

These accidents can involve more than one potentially responsible party and can be very complicated. At Kanoski Bresney, our attorneys bring over 100 years of combined experience to cases like these. If you were hurt in a wide-turn crash in 2026, contact our Springfield, IL personal injury lawyers to find out how we can help.

Why Do Wide-Turn Truck Accidents Happen?

Large trucks need extra room to complete a turn safely. This isn’t just a matter of practical safe driving – the law in Illinois says so as well. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-801, any driver making a right turn must approach and make the turn as close as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

Illinois law, under 625 ILCS 5/11-804, also requires drivers to signal and make sure a turn or lane movement can be made safely. A truck driver who fails to follow these rules may be found negligent if that failure causes a crash.

Other drivers must also act safely around a turning truck. Illinois law allows passing on the right in some situations, but only when it can be done safely. Trying to pass a truck on the right while it is turning can create a serious risk of a crash. Wide-turn accidents can also happen when another driver misreads a truck's movement. Before making a right turn, trucks typically have to move left to create extra space.

Because both drivers may have duties in this situation, fault is not always clear right away. A close review of the crash can help show what happened and who failed to act safely.

Can the Trucking Company Be Responsible for a Wide-Turn Truck Accident?

Trucking companies can be held liable when their own policies or oversight contributed to the crash. This is separate from the driver's individual actions behind the wheel. A company that failed to properly train a driver on making wide turns can share responsibility for a crash. The same is true for a company that allowed a poorly maintained truck on the road.

Can More Than One Party Share Fault in a Wide-Turn Truck Accident?

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means more than one party, including the injured person, can share a percentage of fault for a crash. For example, take a situation in which a driver tries to pass a truck on the right despite the truck using turn signals. In that case, a court or insurance company will likely assign some responsibility to that driver, even while the truck driver or trucking company still bears a significant share.

Understanding how fault is divided is a critical part of filing a claim. It directly affects how much compensation an injured person can recover.

What Do You Need to Prove to Win a Wide-Turn Truck Accident Claim in Illinois?

Proving fault typically means showing that a driver or company violated a specific duty, resulting in your injuries and damages. Proving damages means documenting the actual harm the crash caused. Common damages in these cases include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic losses, like pain and suffering, are often available as well.

Strong evidence supports both your claims for fault and damages. Useful evidence includes:

• The truck's onboard event data recorder, sometimes called a black box
• Dashcam or nearby surveillance footage capturing the turn 
• Witness statements describing where each vehicle was positioned
• The truck driver's training records and hours-of-service logs
• Medical records and bills documenting the full extent of your injuries

An attorney can step in quickly to send preservation letters, request records before they're deleted, and start building the case while details are still fresh.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Champaign, IL Truck Accident Attorneys

Attorney Todd Bresney brings a distinct background to these cases. He previously worked at the Federal Trade Commission and as a State's Attorney for Cook County before focusing on personal injury work. That experience on both the regulatory and prosecutorial sides gives him a detailed understanding of how trucking companies are supposed to operate and where they sometimes fall short.

If you were injured in a wide-turn truck accident, call 888-826-8682 to talk with our Springfield, IL personal injury lawyers at Kanoski Bresney today.