Most drivers assume that when a tractor-trailer turns, its trailer will follow directly behind the cab. In reality, that’s not how large commercial trucks move. Because of their length and design, semi-trucks are prone to a phenomenon known as off-tracking.
During a turn, the trailer’s rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels, often cutting sharply toward the inside of the turn. While off-tracking is a normal characteristic of large trucks, it can become extremely dangerous when drivers fail to account for it or make turns carelessly.
If you’ve been injured in a collision involving a turning semi truck, understanding off-tracking can help explain how the crash occurred and who may be legally responsible. An experienced truck accident lawyer at Munley Law can investigate the crash that led to your injuries and help you recover the compensation you need to be made whole again. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Does Off-Tracking Occur?
Off-tracking occurs when the rear wheels of a large truck do not follow the same path as the front wheels during a turn. Instead, the trailer takes a tighter, shorter path, causing it to “cut the corner.”
The longer the truck and trailer, the greater the amount of off-tracking. Tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, and other articulated commercial vehicles experience significantly more off-tracking than passenger cars. Transportation experts recognize this as a normal characteristic of long combination vehicles that drivers must anticipate and manage safely. 
For nearby motorists, however, off-tracking can be surprising. A driver stopped beside a truck at an intersection may suddenly find the trailer entering their lane or striking their vehicle as the truck turns.
Can Off-Tracking Cause Serious Accidents?
Professional truck drivers are trained to anticipate off-tracking and adjust their speed, lane position, and turning path accordingly. When they fail to account for the trailer’s movement, nearby motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians can be placed in serious danger.
Off-tracking accidents commonly occur when:
- A trailer cuts into an adjacent lane
- The trailer strikes a vehicle traveling beside the truck
- A passenger vehicle becomes trapped between the trailer and the curb
- The truck turns too sharply at an intersection
- The driver fails to allow enough space before beginning the turn
- The trailer strikes pedestrians, bicyclists, or roadside objects
Many of these crashes happen at relatively low speeds, but the tremendous size and weight of a fully loaded tractor-trailer can still cause significant injuries.
Right Turns Are Especially Dangerous
Most off-tracking collisions occur during right turns.
To complete a safe right turn, truck drivers often must swing slightly left before turning right. This maneuver creates enough room for the trailer to clear the corner without climbing the curb or striking nearby vehicles.
Problems arise when drivers:
- Begin the turn too early
- Turn too sharply
- Fail to check mirrors and blind spots
- Misjudge the trailer’s position
- Allow another vehicle to remain alongside the trailer
Passenger vehicles sometimes attempt to pass on the right without realizing the truck needs additional room to complete the turn safely. At the same time, professional truck drivers have a responsibility to continuously monitor surrounding traffic and execute turns safely. Proper training emphasizes reducing speed, choosing the correct lane position, and closely monitoring mirrors throughout the turn.
Left Turns Can Also Lead to Off-Tracking Crashes
Although right turns present the greatest risk, left turns can also create dangerous situations.
If a truck turns too tightly or too soon, portions of the tractor or trailer may swing into adjacent traffic lanes. This can result in:
- Side-impact collisions
- Head-on crashes
- Lane intrusion accidents
- Impacts with motorcycles or smaller vehicles
Large intersections with multiple lanes often make these maneuvers even more complicated.
Injuries Caused by Off-Tracking Truck Accidents
Victims of off-tracking crashes frequently suffer severe injuries because of the massive size difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Multiple fractures
- Crush injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent disabilities
- Wrongful death
Many victims also require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care while facing significant financial losses.
Why Do Off-Tracking Accidents Happen?
While off-tracking itself is unavoidable, crashes caused by off-tracking often are not.
Common contributing factors include:
Driver Error
Truck drivers must understand exactly how their trailers move through turns. Turning too quickly, choosing the wrong lane position, or failing to monitor surrounding traffic can all lead to preventable collisions.
Inadequate Training
Operating a tractor-trailer safely requires specialized instruction and experience. Trucking companies that fail to properly train their drivers may place everyone on the road at unnecessary risk.
Distracted Driving
A driver focused on a GPS device, dispatch communications, or other distractions may fail to notice vehicles in the trailer’s turning path.
Speeding
Turning too quickly reduces a driver’s ability to make necessary adjustments and increases the risk of striking nearby vehicles.
Poor Route Planning
Some roads, intersections, and construction zones leave too little room for large trucks to maneuver. Drivers and trucking companies should account for these challenges when planning routes.
Who May Be Liable for an Off-Tracking Truck Accident?
Several parties may share responsibility depending on how the crash occurred. 
Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The driver’s employer
- A company responsible for training the driver
- A maintenance contractor, if mechanical problems contributed to the crash
Commercial trucking cases often involve multiple insurance companies and complex investigations. Determining liability requires reviewing driver records, electronic logging data, maintenance records, dash camera footage, witness statements, and accident reconstruction evidence.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Property damage
Families who lose a loved one in an off-tracking accident may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.
How Munley Law Investigates Truck Accidents
Like all truck crashes, off-tracking accidents can result from driver mistakes, inadequate training, poor safety policies, or violations of federal trucking regulations.
At Munley Law, we work with accident reconstruction experts, trucking industry specialists, and investigators to determine exactly how a crash occurred. We obtain critical evidence before it disappears and build strong cases against trucking companies and their insurers.
Whether your collision occurred at an intersection, during a lane change, or while a truck was making a wide turn, we’ll investigate every potential source of liability.
Speak With a Truck Accident Attorney Today
An off-tracking truck accident can leave victims with life-changing injuries and overwhelming financial burdens. You shouldn’t have to face the trucking company or its insurance carrier alone.
If you or someone you love was injured in a large truck accident involving an unsafe turn or off-tracking, contact Munley Law for a free consultation. We’ll explain your legal options, investigate the cause of the crash, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is a nationally recognized, leading truck accident lawyer. He has been board certified in Truck Accident Law by the NBTA as well as being a charter member for the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group. Daniel often takes part in speaking engagements presenting the latest cutting-edge technology and trial techniques to help attorneys nationwide protect the rights of truck accident victims. Additionally, Daniel has secured numerous multi-million dollar settlements for victims, including the largest truck accident settlement for an individual plaintiff on record in Northern Pennsylvania, at $26 million.
