Truck Underride

One of the deadliest types of truck crashes are underride collisions. During a truck underride crash the vehicle behind, or beside, the truck will travel underneath the body of the truck. An underride truck accident may occur at the rear or side of the vehicle. Most underride accidents involved large trucks like 18-wheelers but might also occur with other types of trucks as well.

The Census Bureau reported that in 2009 nearly 300,000 accidents involved large trucks. In Alabama alone the number of trucks involved in crashes 6,704 with the majority of those crashes happening on the state interstate. More than 80 of the truck collisions from 2009 in Alabama were fatal.

Truck underride accidents can be catastrophic and lead to serious injuries and even death. If you or anyone you know has suffered due to a truck underride collision they may be eligible to receive compensation for property damage, pain and suffering, medical bills, and more.

For a free, no-obligation review of your case, simply fill out the Free Case Review form to your right.

Causes of Truck Underride Collisions

In Alabama a majority of truck accidents occurred due to failure to yield the right of way. There is a chance that due to this type of negligence some side underride crashes might have occurred. There are many reasons why underride crashes might occur, but some common explanations include:

• A truck is driving slowly or fails to turn on their hazards
• Failure to use a turn signal
• Failure to use flares or reflective triangles when a truck is pulled over
• Poor truck maintenance
• Dirty, dim, or broken taillights
• Side safety tape/lighting is faulty
• Trucks come to quick stop

Most often these types of collisions occur at night, especially those that involve faulty taillights or failure to use emergency equipment when pulled over. Drivers may also be at fault for truck underride collisions if they are speeding or tailgating.

Underride Guard Failure

Some trucks have protective guards that can help stop, or lessen the impact, of underride collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a study in 2013 noting that most underride guards fail to stop deadly crashes. The guards often break during the impact of a crash and although some do prevent rear-collisions, side-impact or collisions where the car slides underneath the corner of the truck from behind can still be very deadly.

The IIHS has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for tougher standards as well as requiring the guards for other large trucks such as like dump trucks which are currently not required to have this type of protection. It has been reported that more than 350 deaths each year are related to truck underrides.

Potential Truck Override Accident Injuries

Although many truck override collisions may result in death, if a person survives the crash they will likely have serious injuries including:

• Broken Bones
• Loss of Limbs
• Spinal Injuries
• Internal Organ Injuries
• Lacerations
• Brain Injuries
• Psychological Injuries

The injuries that occur due to truck override are numerous and can vary by the type of collision that occurred and whether or not there was an underride guard. Those who have been involved in truck underride crashes should seek medical assistance immediately.

Contact an Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one is suffering from injuries caused by a truck underride crash and they are seeking legal counsel, our attorneys may be able to help. At Citrin Law, we have successfully handled hundreds of cases and have more than 25 years of combined legal experience.

We are dedicated to fighting and protecting your rights and will work with you throughout the entire litigation process. Our main office is located in Mobile, Alabama but also proudly serve the following areas:

• Tacon
• Pine Grove
• Bridlewood
• Belforest
• Jackson Oak
• and further surrounding neighborhoods

Contact us locally at 251-888-8888 and one of our staff members will connect you with our knowledgeable truck accident lawyers.

If you prefer to start immediately, fill out the Free Case Review form at the top right hand corner of this page – it’s 100% free and confidential.