Underride truck accidents are extremely dangerous collisions. These accidents occur when a smaller passenger vehicle slides underneath the side or rear of a large truck or trailer during a crash.
If you or a loved one was injured in an underride collision, you may have legal options for pursuing compensation from the parties responsible for the crash.
What is an Underride Truck Accident?
An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle becomes trapped underneath a commercial truck or trailer during a collision. These accidents typically occur in two ways.
Rear underride accidents happen when a passenger vehicle crashes into the back of a truck or trailer and slides beneath it. Side underride accidents occur when a vehicle slides underneath the side of a trailer, often during turning or intersection accidents.
Underride accidents may occur due to several factors, including:
- Sudden truck braking
- Poor truck lighting or visibility
- Trucks stopped or parked on the roadway
- Unsafe truck turning maneuvers
- Lack of proper underride guards on the truck
In most cases, the passenger vehicle’s safety structures simply cannot absorb the impact and are crushed by the tires and trailer of the truck.
What Injuries Do Underride Truck Accidents Cause?
Underride collisions have a high catastrophic and fatal injury rate. Victims of underride truck accidents may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Crushed limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
Even survivable underride accidents often require extensive medical treatment and long-term recovery for victims.
Who Could Be Liable for My Underride Truck Accident?
Liability in an underride accident may involve several different parties depending on the cause of the crash.
In some cases, defective or missing underride guards may contribute to the severity of the accident. These guards are designed to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding underneath trailers during a collision.
Potential defendants may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- Truck or trailer manufacturers
- Companies responsible for vehicle maintenance
- Cargo loading companies
If you were injured in an underride truck accident, an Austin truck accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses resulting from the crash. Contact Dow Law Firm today to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal options.