TruckInfo reports that Texas had more truck accidents than any other state in 2022. Those accidents resulted in 7,517 injuries and 692 fatalities. Accidents between trucks and smaller vehicles are often devastating, and underride crashes are among the most fatal of all vehicle accidents.
What is an underride crash?
An underride crash is one of the most dangerous truck accidents that can occur. It happens when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a large truck. Passengers in the smaller vehicle are often severely injured or killed by the impact.
Safety precautions
Large trucks like 18-wheelers are legally required to have rear underride guards attached to their trailers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that these guards are steel bars that hang from the backs of large trucks.
Rear underride guards prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath the truck during a rear crash. However, there are no such safety precautions for side underride crashes.
Point of Impact
The point of impact during an underride crash is usually the windshield or hood of the smaller vehicle. In severe cases, the entire roof of the smaller vehicle may get cut off. Severe injuries to the neck, head, and fatalities are common.
Truck drivers are usually not physically affected by underside crashes. The cabin where truck drivers sit is up high and away from the truck’s rear. It’s possible that an underride crash can occur without the truck driver’s knowledge.
Get help after an underride crash
Dealing with the aftermath of an underside crash is often physically and mentally challenging. You possibly have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party. If you have been harmed by an underride crash, contact the personal injury lawyers at Kastl Law, P.C.