Underride occurs when a car strikes the back of a large truck and slides underneath. If you or a loved one have been hurt, we can help. Call now.
When a vehicle collides with a big rig, their car may slide underneath the trailer of the truck.
As a result, the top of the vehicle may be smashed inward or ripped off entirely—taking off with it anything in its path. This is what is known as an underride accident. In many cases involving underride, drivers and passengers in the smaller vehicle (also known as the "striking vehicle") are killed or suffer catastrophic injuries as a result. While some 18 wheelers have safety measures installed to ensure these accidents do not occur, such as truck underride guards, not all trucks are similarly equipped.
To underline the severity of this type of crash, consider the following:
In 1953, the Bureau of Motor Carriers issued the first standard for underride guards; per this rule, underride guards were required to be a minimum of 30 inches from the ground and be installed on trucks that had cargo beds that were 30 inches or more off the ground or had rear tires that were 24 inches or more from the cargo bed rear. Later, in 1998, this rule was updated to lower the guard to 22 inches from the ground with rear tires allowed to be no more than 12 inches from the rear.
But are these safety measures truly effective at preventing underride accidents?
To demonstrate the effectiveness of underride guards, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performed a test where they took a 2010 Chevy Malibu and drove it into the back of a parked tractor-trailer at 35 mph. During the course of the study, the mid-sized car slid straight underneath the truck after the underride guard completely gave way; per the IIHS, had there been occupants in the Chevy Malibu, they would not have survived the accident.
One of the deadliest forms of trucking crashes involve rear-end accidents—regardless of whether the truck is being rear-ended or if the truck is rear-ending a smaller passenger vehicle.
Learn MoreIf you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in which the truck driver was at fault, you need to immediately speak to a truck accident attorney from our law firm. We can investigate the case by looking at the causes of the accident and who can be held responsible. If the accident was caused by a truck driver who failed to yield, who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or who exhibited any form of negligent behavior, you may be entitled to compensation.
At Arnold & Itkin LLP, our attorneys have helped dozens of individuals with similar truck accident cases. We know that no two cases will ever be the same, which is why we will use a personalized approach for each specific case to seek the best possible results. We serve clients all throughout the United States with truck accident cases, and we are ready to look at your case.
Do not hesitate to contact us for your very own free consultation.