Underride Truck Accidents

A truck underride accident can be one of the most deadly types of incidents. It occurs when a vehicle collides with the rear of a truck, but because the truck’s tractor is elevated, the vehicle slides under the back, causing the car’s windshield to crash into the truck.

When a car slides under the body of a large truck, usually between the gaps in the wheels, the severity of injuries increases substantially. Speak with an experienced trucking accident attorney in Lexington, KY about your case today at (859) 268-4300.

How Underride Truck Accidents Happen

Underride truck accidents can occur at the rear of the vehicle or along the sides. These incidents happen when the vehicle gets under the trailer.

However, most trucks today must have rear safety bars, called underride guards. These are strong metal strips designed to prevent a car from getting under the vehicle. While these guards are mandated for the rear of the truck, they are not required along its sides.

Underride Accidents Cause Serious Risk of Injury

Underride crashes cause significant injuries because of the extent of the vehicle that gets lodged under the truck. The vehicle’s height differences contribute to this. For example, if a driver strikes the side of the vehicle between the tires, that height difference allows the car’s front end to get under the truck, in front of the rear wheels. The point of impact is the windshield, not the front bumper.

This often means that airbags cannot deploy, since they are programmed to deploy when a collision with the front bumper occurs. Many of the vehicle’s safety features, including cross-traffic smart sensors, may not immediately detect the truck’s presence and force a stop.

Victims often suffer fatal injuries. Those who survive may face spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and numerous other catastrophic injuries.

Injured in Lexington, KY?

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Determining Fault in a Truck Underride Accident

Another element that makes these vehicle accidents more challenging is determining who is at fault. Liability depends on what occurred at the time of the accident, including who had the right of way. Liability can also lie with others. Consider these examples:

• The truck driver may be liable if they ran a red light, failed to stop at an intersection, or were speeding, and therefore entered an intersection in an unsafe manner.
• The trucking company that fails to install proper guards according to the requirements of federal or state law
• Commercial truck loading companies that fail to load properly, causing drivers to swerve into other lanes of traffic
• Parts manufacturers for defective safety guards or other components
• Third-party owners of the trailer or truck who fail to install proper guards or who are otherwise negligent

In each of these situations, it is critical to gather as much evidence as possible to prove fault. That includes witness statements, images from the crash scene, and data from maintenance logs. Having a skilled injury attorney in Lexington to help you with that process can prove critical. Knowledgeable accident reconstruction professionals can also help break down what occurred.

Take the Time to Speak to a Truck Accident Attorney in Kentucky About Your Accident

Underride truck accidents can cause the loss of life, and when they do, having an experienced attorney becomes critical to pursuing your claim. A comprehensive investigation is the best way to understand fault and to seek fair compensation from those responsible. Contact us at Gary C Johnson, P.S.C. for a free case evaluation today.