Large commercial vehicles, such as tractor trailer, semi-trucks and big rigs, pose a significant risk to other motorists on the road. Their sheer size and weight make them a potential hazard to smaller vehicle, particularly when it comes to underride collisions and accidents. In these unfortunate incidents, a smaller vehicle collides with the underside of tractor trailer or a commercial truck’s trailer itself, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. If you have lost a loved one in an underride collision or accident, it’s crucial to be aware of your legal options and the available assistance.
Introduction
Underride accidents involving large commercial vehicles can have devastating consequences for highway safety and those involved. When a car or small truck goes underneath a semi-truck rear in a rear underride crash, the top of the vehicle can be torn off or completely crushed. The passengers in the car crash smaller vehicle are at a significantly higher risk of suffering fatal injuries in these types of rear underride accidents.
“Underride collisions and accidents involving large commercial vehicles are a serious concern for motorists. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles create a significant risk for smaller vehicles on the road. When a car or small truck collides with the underside of a commercial truck, it can lead to an underride crash or accident, which is often one of the most severe types of crashes involving semi-trucks. The impact can result in the top of the vehicle being torn off or crushed entirely. Unfortunately, these underride crashes and accidents frequently have catastrophic injuries and prove fatal for the passengers of the smaller vehicle.
Causes of Underride Accidents
Understanding the causes of side and rear underride crashes and accidents is crucial in preventing them. Several factors contribute to side and rear underride collisions and crashes and to these accidents, including:
Poor Visibility and Lighting
Visibility plays a critical role in avoiding front side underride guard accidents. Limited visibility during nighttime or inclement weather conditions can make it challenging for drivers to accurately perceive the position of a large commercial truck underride guard. Negligent trailer maintenance or inadequate lighting on the cab side underride guards and side side underride guards, can further exacerbate this issue.
Failure to Anticipate Truck Turns
One common cause of underride accidents is the failure of drivers of smaller passenger vehicles, to anticipate when a large commercial truck is about to make a turn. By the time the truck accidents other passenger vehicle or car driver realizes the large truck behind is turning, it may be too late to slow down or stop, resulting in a collision.
Negligent Blind Spot Checks
Another factor that contributes to underride accidents is when the truck drivers, owners and operators of commercial vehicles fail to check their blind spots adequately. Changing lanes without properly assessing blind spots can lead to large trucks running over smaller passenger vehicles too.
Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Underride accidents can also occur in the context of multi-vehicle collisions. In these scenarios, the force of a crash or smaller car or truck’s rear underride trailer may cause a smaller passenger vehicle behind large truck to be pushed into rear underride guards the semi-truck in front of it.
Legal Options for Underride Accident Victims
After experiencing a severe, traumatic brain injury while in a truck accident attorney or an underride traumatic personal injury lawyer a truck accident alone, navigating the legal landscape can be challenging. However, it’s essential to understand your rights and explore options for recovery. This is where the experienced attorneys at Georgia Auto Law can provide valuable assistance. With a specialization in personal injury and wrongful death cases related to truck collisions, they have been serving victims of truck accidents in the Georgia area.
Holding Negligent Parties Responsible
Identifying the root cause of an underride truck accident here is vital in holding the responsible parties accountable. Inadequate maintenance, negligent signage, drunk driving or driver error can all contribute to these fatal truck accidents here. With their expertise and a network of outside experts, the attorneys at Georgia Auto Law are well-equipped to determine liability and pursue legal action against negligent trucking companies or drivers in underride truck crashes here.
Seeking Compensation for Losses
Underride truck accidents can have devastating financial implications for the victims and their families. If you have an an underride truck accidents accident lost a loved one in an underride truck accident claims you, you may be burdened with expenses, medical bills and a loss of income. Seeking compensation through a wrongful death settlement can help alleviate these financial hardships. A settlement can address the loss of earning capacity, suffer injuries and assist with the expenses associated with the loss of a loved one.
Underride Accident Investigations and Next Steps
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes several safety rules and regulations on semi-truck operators and their employers to ensure visibility and maintenance standards for commercial trucks are met. Commercial vehicles must employ multiple caution lights and reflective devices to maximize visibility on the road. Reflective paint and tape on commercial trucks also must be well-maintained and clean, allowing other motorists to easily spot them. Additionally, commercial vehicle operators must use appropriate hazard signage when pulled over on the side of the road.
Although the side and rear guards themselves are not mandated by federal law, federal regulations say the use by a trucking company and owners of a truck guard—a simple piece of safety equipment that lowers the bumper of a truck or trailer—can prevent cars from going underneath, potentially saving lives. Unfortunately, many truck drivers do not have truck side guards installed.
When handling underride truck accident cases in Atlanta, the top trucking company, insurance company, and truck accident, attorneys at Geoegia Auto Law leverage their extensive experience to pursue legal action against negligent trucking companies and drivers. They rely on their own expertise as well as input from a team of outside experts to investigate the root cause of the accident and determine who should be held legally liable for the injuries sustained. Inadequate maintenance, negligent signage, or driver error can all contribute to underride truck accidents, and the attorneys at Georgia Auto Law are dedicated to helping families seek justice.
Your Hometown Underride Accident Attorneys
Underride accidents are not only serious injuries but dangerous accidents also often result in fatal accidents or in fatalities. If you have lost a loved one in an underride accident, you may be concerned about covering their final expenses and compensating for their lost income. At Georgia Auto Law, we firmly believe that no one should have to bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence. A wrongful death settlement can help address the losses in earning capacity suffered injuries, and assist grieving families in paying for their loved one’s expenses.
To explore your legal options, we offer a free initial consultation at our office. Our compassionate attorneys will carefully review the specifics of your case and guide you through the next best steps.
Conclusion
Underride accidents involving large commercial vehicles pose a significant risk to vehicle occupants, truck safety coalition, other vehicles and smaller vehicles on the road. These accidents can result in severe injuries and even fatalities for the occupants of large trucks, the trucking company, drivers and the smaller vehicles. Understanding your legal options is crucial if you have been affected by an underride accident. Butler Prather LLP, with their extensive experience in truck collision cases, can provide the necessary guidance and support to help you seek justice and compensation for your losses.
FAQs
Q: What is an underride accident?
An underride accident occurs when the rear wheels a smaller passenger vehicle collides with the underside of a large commercial truck, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for the truck driver, the other truck driver and occupants of the smaller passenger car or vehicle behind.
Q: How common are you prevent underride crashes and crash accidents?
Underride crash accidents can happen, although they are not as frequent as other types of collisions. However, when they do occur, side underride crashes and accidents, the consequences are often you suffered severe injuries.
Q: What should I do if I’ve been injured in an underride accident?
If you have been injured in an underride accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through the legal process and help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Q: How long do I have to file a legal claim after an underride truck accident?
The timeframe for filing a legal claim after an underride truck accident case varies depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of the underride truck accident case. It’s best to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you meet any applicable deadlines.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a truck accident attorney?
We work with truck accident lawyers on a contingency-fee basis, which means we only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. This allows you to further pursue compensation in your case without worrying about upfront costs or legal fees.