Underride victims, survivors, and truck safety advocates are celebrating a whirlwind of activism on the hot topic of comprehensive truck underride protection. Following a collaborative Side Guard Task Force meeting on February 26, 2021, the Bipartisan STOP Underrides Act of 2021 was reintroduced on March 4, 2021 in the Senate (S. 605) by Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Rubio (R-FL). A companion bill was introduced on March 8, 2021 in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1622) by Representative Steven Cohen (D-TN). Numerous co-sponsors have joined in the effort. Please contact your Representative and Senators to encourage their support today!
The introductory language of the bill honors the memory of the thousands of victims of underride crashes and survivors catastrophically injured in underride crashes. The bill specifically acknowledges 50 individual names of victims and survivors.
Over one-third of the names appearing in the bill are former or current clients of attorneys affiliated with The Law Firm for Truck Safety.
We are pleased that our clients are so willing to turn their tragedies into meaningful life-saving advocacy fighting to make sure others do not suffer the same fate.
What is truck underride?
“What can stand up to a semi, besides another semi or a fricking train?”
This was the statement by a Trooper that was recorded on his dash-cam following a tragic truck vs. car crash that claimed the lives of two young boys. This Trooper was deposed by an attorney at The Law Firm for Truck Safety. The trooper was asked to explain this statement, he said, “commercial motor vehicles, they’re higher-profile vehicles, they don’t necessarily match up to the bumpers or the main frames of passenger cars or SUVs, so if – if they get hit, they don’t hit those main structures that are meant to take an impact. They go more into the soft body of the vehicle.” When the bumpers don’t match up … this is called Underride. Academically speaking, the concept is known as “vehicle crash incompatibility.”
A five-star crash test rated vehicle or car’s “Top Safety Pick” presumes a collision that involves “vehicle crash compatibility.” These safety ratings are only for crashes where the bumpers match up! Energy absorbing bumpers, fender crumple zones interact with absolutely nothing at all as the front of the car passes easily underneath a semi-trailer. The first point of impact is the windshield and the heads of the occupants of the car. Air bags and seat belts fail to do anything once the passenger compartment is pierced. This results in wrongful deathA legal term referring to a claim against a person who can be held liable for a death., open skull fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, paraplegia, or quadriplegia.
How long has this been a problem?
Help us end traffic violence by spreading education and awareness
Truck underride safety initiatives have gained considerable momentum through grass roots efforts over the past 8 years. The congregation of supporters and curators of countless tragic stories have united with a loud voice in support of a comprehensive underride solution. Please join all of these voices to help pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2021.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
Involved in a Crash?
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Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
