Underride Truck Accidents

By design, commercial trucks have larger tires that give them an undercarriage that is higher than any other vehicle on the road. Unfortunately, this means that underride accidents are all too common. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that 50% of the accidents involving trucks and passenger vehicles are classified as underride accidents and the results of these accidents are often devastating.

An underride truck accident involves a passenger vehicle sliding or being forced underneath the trailer. Underride accidents are some of the most catastrophic types of truck accidents, causing serious injuries and fatalities.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, we at 844 See Mike are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected, and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses.

Most underride truck accidents involve a passenger vehicle hitting a truck from behind and sliding under the trailer of the truck. Large trucks are often high enough to allow the body and hood of a car to pass through, but not high enough to allow the passenger area of the vehicle to pass safely, making the point of impact right at head level.

The NHTSA estimates that over 5,000 people are severely injured every year and over 400 people are killed annually due to underride truck accidents. Of these fatalities, 70% are the passengers in the smaller vehicles.

Ineffective Safety Measures

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has required large trucks to use specific safety measures to prevent underride accidents since 1998. Reflective tape and rear-impact guards are required on all trucks manufactured after 1998, but their effectiveness has often been questioned.

A study done by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that even with rear-impact guards in place, some passenger vehicles were still able to slide under the truck’s undercarriage and at speeds as low as 35 MPH, rear-impact guards were easily bent or torn off.

How Underride Truck Accidents Happen

A car can slide under a large truck in a variety of situations. For example, if a truck stops short quickly, it may not give a passenger vehicle time to stop, thus sliding under the rear of the truck. Or, in a T-bone or sideswipe accident, a car may go under a truck where there are no safety guards in place.

Underride truck accidents are often caused by:

• Bad brakes-Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to perform routine maintenance on their trucks. When maintenance is neglected, brakes may not function properly, causing an accident.
• Bad weather-Icy or wet roads make it hard for trucks to stop. Heavy rain and fog limit visibility. Poor weather conditions that cause quick stops often result in a crash.
• Distracted driving-A driver that is not concentrating on the road is a huge risk to other drivers.
• Fatigue-Drivers who drive while tired are just as risky as a distracted driver with their concentration focused on staying awake as opposed to what is going on around them.
• Driving under the influence-Truck drivers who drive while drunk, using drugs, or using over-the-counter medications are negligent and dangerous.

Severe Injuries in Underride Truck Accidents

Due to the height discrepancy between a trailer and a passenger vehicle, the injuries in an underride truck accident are often catastrophic and deadly. Impact to the head is the most common type of injury, and unfortunately decapitation is possible.

Other types of injuries often sustained in underride truck accidents include:

• Crushing injuries
• Fractures
• Spinal injuries
• Lacerations
• Amputations
• Traumatic brain injuries

These injuries are almost always accompanied by huge medical bills, lost work, and ongoing treatment and rehabilitation for the victims. If you or a loved one was involved in an underride truck accident and were severely injured, or suffered a fatality, an experienced personal injury lawyer can fight for the compensation you deserve from all the responsible parties.

We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.