Underride truck crashes are one of the most catastrophic types of commercial vehicle accidents on the highway. These devastating collisions often cause life-altering or fatal injuries.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, our Mobile truck accident attorneys have extensive experience representing victims injured in truck crashes across Alabama’s busy I-10 and I-65 highways. Contact our law offices today to request a free case review. You can get answers to your questions and discuss your situation with one of our qualified attorneys. Your initial consultation is completely free.

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What Is an Underride Truck Crash?

Underride truck crashes occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a commercial truck’s trailer. Unfortunately, due to the way these crashes occur, victims often suffer severe, life-altering or fatal injuries. These accidents typically cuts off the top portion of the passenger vehicle, causing devastating head and upper body trauma that standard vehicle safety features are not built to withstand.

Unlike rear-end or side-impact collisions, underride truck accidents exceed the force that a smaller vehicle’s crumple zones can absorb. Airbags and other safety systems are not much use in this type of collision.

Types of Underride Truck Collisions: Side, Rear and Front Scenarios

Underride truck accidents can occur in multiple ways, presenting unique dangers and challenges for passenger vehicle occupants. When you understand the causes of underride crashes, you can take steps to reduce your risk of being involved in one.

Rear Collisions

Rear crashes occur when a passenger vehicle strikes the back of a commercial truck trailer, sliding underneath the rear. These collisions often happen when trucks brake suddenly or if their rear lights are broken or not working properly.

Drivers of passenger vehicles who follow a truck too closely may also be responsible, or at least partially liable, for this type of crash. If a truck driver needs to break suddenly because of an unexpected road hazard, and you are following too closely behind the truck to stop in time, you may be unable to stop in time to avoid an underride crash.

While Federal regulations require rear underride guards (ICC bumpers), many trucks today are not yet equipped with these safety guards. Even when they are installed, they are often insufficient to prevent cars sliding under a truck in a higher-speed impact.

Side Collisions

Side accidents happen when a passenger vehicle strikes the side of a trailer, typically at intersections, during wide turns or when trucks change lanes unexpectedly. Unlike rear guards, side protection is not mandated by federal regulations for most trailers, creating a significant safety gap. These crashes are particularly lethal as the side of a trailer can intrude deeply into a vehicle’s passenger compartment.

Front Collisions

Front crashes involve a truck striking the front or back of a passenger vehicle, causing the smaller vehicle to slide under the truck’s front end. While less common than rear or side crashes, front collisions can occur if a truck driver is distracted or impaired, or if the truck’s brakes fail. Like other types of underride crashes, frontal collisions are catastrophic. Some newer truck models feature front underride protection, but these safety features are not universally required or implemented across the commercial trucking industry.

What Causes Underride Truck Crashes?

These crashes result from a combination of vehicle design issues, driver errors and hazardous road conditions, including:

• Poor visibility during night driving or adverse weather conditions
• Inadequate truck lighting and reflective markings
• Sudden braking without warning
• Brake failures or brake light failures
• Vehicles improperly parked on road shoulders or roadsides
• Missing or damaged underride guards on trailers
• Distracted driving of either the truck driver or driver of the smaller vehicle
• Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs of either driver
• Following too closely behind large commercial vehicles
• Poor truck maintenance leading to mechanical failures
• Driver fatigue resulting in sudden lane changes

How Can I Avoid an Underride Truck Accident?

Any time you driver near trucks, it is important to maintain a heightened awareness of these larger, heavier vehicles and how they operate while also keeping your focus on the road. You can reduce your risk of any type of truck accident by driving defensively. Understanding how to share the road with semi-trucks can significantly reduce your risk of becoming involved in these catastrophic crashes.

• Maintain at least a 4-second following distance behind trucks
• Avoid lingering in truck blind spots, especially along the sides and rear
• Never pass trucks on the right side as the driver will not be able to see you
• Ensure you can see the entire cab in your mirror before merging after passing
• Use extra caution during nighttime and poor weather conditions.
• Never cut in front of a truck abruptly; they will not be able to avoid hitting you
• Watch for wide turns where trailers may swing across multiple lanes
• Exercise caution at intersections where trucks are turning
• Pay attention to truck brake lights and anticipate stops
• Stay entirely focused when near commercial vehicles

Potential Injuries From Underride Crashes

Victims of underride truck accidents often sustain catastrophic injuries because of the way the truck intrudes into the passenger compartment. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, prolonged rehabilitation and may lead to permanent disability or loss of life.

Potential injuries resulting from an underride collision may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures
• Spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis
• Severe facial trauma
• Chest and thoracic injuries including collapsed lungs
• Internal organ damage and bleeding
• Multiple bone fractures, particularly to the upper body
• Severe lacerations and disfigurement
• Amputations
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Wrongful death

Who May Be Liable for My Underride Truck Crash?

Liability for underride truck crash cases is often the result of driver negligence. However, sometimes, liability may extend to multiple parties. At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we thoroughly investigate your case to identify all potentially responsible parties to increase your chances of recovering full compensation for your injuries and other losses.

The Truck Driver

The truck operator may bear liability for negligent actions such as improper braking, failing to use hazard lights when stopped, driving while fatigued or violating hours-of-service regulations that contributed to the crash.

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies often share responsibility through vicarious liability for their employees’ actions, as well as direct negligence. Their liability may be the result of hiring unqualified drivers, failing to properly train their drivers, encouraging unsafe driving practices or neglecting proper vehicle maintenance.

Trailer Manufacturers

Companies that design and produce commercial trailers may be held liable if defectively designed or manufactured underride guards failed to provide adequate protection despite being used as intended.

Maintenance Providers

Third-party maintenance companies responsible for servicing trucks and trailers can be liable if improper repairs, inadequate inspections or negligent maintenance of guards or lighting systems contributed to the accident.

Cargo Loading Companies

Third parties responsible for loading a truck’s cargo may bear liability if improperly secured or balanced loads affected the truck’s stability or braking capability, creating conditions that led to the crash.

Evidence To Prove Fault in An Underride Truck Crash

Building a strong truck crash case requires comprehensive evidence collection that establishes liability and demonstrates the full extent of damages suffered by victims. Prompt investigation is critical as crucial evidence may disappear quickly after these devastating accidents.

• Truck maintenance and inspection records
• Driver logbooks and hours-of-service documentation
• Electronic logging device (ELD) data
• Vehicle black box information
• Underride guard inspection history
• Accident scene photographs and measurements
• Surveillance or dashcam footage
• Witness statements and police reports
• Trucking company safety records
• Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists
• Medical documentation linking injuries to the crash

Do I Have Legal Options After an Underride Truck Crash?

All truck accidents are unique, so whether you may have a case is something that can only be determined by speaking with a knowledgeable attorney. Victims of a truck crash should seek legal help right away. Insurance companies often seek to take advantage of the state’s strict contributory negligence rule. This legal standard makes it possible for insurance companies to bar you from recovering any compensation if they can assess you with even one percent of the fault.

Under Alabama’s personal injury law, eligible victims can pursue recovery for their damages, including medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we thoroughly investigate the crash that injured you to identify all potentially liable parties. We also dispute any liability insurance companies try to unfairly assess against you.

Injured In a Truck Crash? Contact Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys

Injured in an underride truck crash? If so, we urge you not to wait to learn your legal rights,. Crucial evidence may quickly disappear, get lost or even destroyed without intervention from your attorney to preserve it.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we want to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve. We have recovered millions in compensation for our clients. Our highly qualified legal team is deeply committed to protecting the rights of victims and holding negligent parties accountable.

Worried about costs? We accept truck accident cases on contingency, so there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. Our firm levels the legal playing field, making it possible for you to get the legal help you deserve.

We win your case, or you don’t owe us a dime! Call: 251-888-8888 today.