What Are Underride Crashes?
Underride crashes are among the most catastrophic types of accidents involving large trucks. These collisions occur when a passenger vehicle collides with a truck and gets trapped underneath, often resulting in traumatic brain injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
Underride crashes are among the most catastrophic types of accidents involving large trucks. These collisions occur when a passenger vehicle collides with a truck and gets trapped underneath, often resulting in traumatic brain injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
The Definition of an Underride Crash
Underride crashes are a specific type of accident that occurs because of the height difference between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck. Not only does this bumper incompatibility result in the passenger vehicle becoming stuck under the tractor-trailer, but the majority of the force from the impact is absorbed by the windshield and then the heads of the occupants inside.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
Involved in a Crash?
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.
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.
What are the different types of underride crashes?
There are three main subcategories of an underride crash:
What are the common causes of Underride crashes?
Underride crashes can stem from various factors, including distracted driving, driver fatigue, and poor visibility/road conditions.
- For instance, side underride scenarios can arise from actions like improper backing across a state route, illegal U-turns, improper left turns, and running red lights or stop signs.
- Rear underride accidents may occur when vehicles pull out into traffic without yielding, engage in illegal shoulder parking, or experience truck breakdowns.
- Front override crashes commonly happen when a truck driver fails to conduct a proper visual search, neglects speed and space management, or overlooks hazard cues.
Why Trucking Companies Must Be Held Accountable
When you begin to look at the causes of underride crashes, it becomes clear that the pattern of unsafe business practices within the trucking industry permits these devastating crashes to continue. Knowing a truck driver or semi-truck is dangerous and allowing them to be on the road is simply unacceptable.
It is essential to hold trucking companies responsible for underride crashes, not only for the financial compensation victims and their families will need, but because truck accident lawsuits are also a way to take meaningful and measurable steps to remove unsafe truck drivers and motor carriers from the road, thereby preventing future underride crashes.
By demanding accountability in the courtroom, we can make our roads safer for everyone.
What are the Legal Options for Victims of Underride Crashes?
When seeking justice and compensation for the damagesIn a civil lawsuit, money designed to compensate an injured person. This includes economic damages (measurable financial loss like medical expenses) and non-economic damages (categories like pain and suffering or loss of love.) caused by underride crashes, victims have several legal options available to them.
Pre-suit Negotiation
Pre-suit negotiation involves the victim's attorney engaging in discussions with the trucking company or their insurance company before initiating a lawsuit. This approach aims to achieve a settlement agreement without the need for a trial, resulting in time and cost savings for all parties involved.
Out-of-court settlement
This type of settlement involves negotiating between the two parties outside of the courtroom after a truck accident lawsuit has been filed. This can be a quicker and less costly option than going to trial, but it's important to have an experienced trucking attorney advocating for you during these negotiations to ensure that the settlement offer is fair and just and will provide you and your family with the life-long care and support you'll need.
If a settlement cannot be reached, victims can choose to go to trial.
Trial
Trucking trials involve the presentation of evidence and arguments before a judge and/or jury so that they can decide the outcome of the case. Trials can result in higher compensation for the victim than a settlement would, but trials are lengthy and come at a high financial and emotional cost for victims, which may not be worth it to some.
Uninsured Motorist Claims
Uninsured motorist claims typically occur when the trucking company or driver responsible for the accident does not have enough insurance coverage to fully compensate the victim for their damages. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you determine which option is the best outcome for you and your crash.
Schedule Your Underride Case Consultation
No matter which legal option is chosen, it's important to work with an experienced attorney who can guide you through the process and fight for your rights.
How to Find the Right Attorney for Your Truck Accident Case
Underride crashes are one of the most physically and emotionally traumatic types of truck crashes that can occur. When seeking legal counsel for an underride crash case, it can be beneficial to work with an experienced truck crash lawyer who has represented several victims of underride crashes and has experience taking trucking cases to trial.
However, truck crash victims often find the legal process challenging for reasons extending well beyond just the paperwork of filing suit. While it's critical to consider a personal injuryLegal term for an injury to the body, mind, or psyche, as opposed to an injury to property. attorney's case results and trucking knowledge, truck crash victims should also look for a legal team with knowledge, experience, compassion, empathy, and a compatible communication style to receive the support they require during this trying time.
Together, We Can Stop Underrides
Underride crash prevention is a collaborative effort that involves advocacy groups and lawmakers working to improve trucking industry regulations and hold trucking companies accountable for their actions.
Notable groups include STOPunderrides, the AnnaLeah Mary Foundation, and The Institute for Safer Trucking. If you want to get involved in preventing underride crashes, don't hesitate to contact The Law Firm for Truck Safety's Safety Advocate team at [email protected] or use the inquiry form below.
Related posts:
No related posts.
