
An underride crash is dangerous when a smaller car ends up beneath a big truck or trailer due to a crash. These crashes are fatal due to the difference in height between the cars and the trucks. When a car slides under a truck, the force is absorbed by the hood or windshield, not on structures made for impact.
This leads to serious head/neck injuries, and the associated safety devices, such as airbags, do not have a chance to be deployed. Current research reveals that underride collisions happen in around half of fatal automobile accidents with large trucks, making such an accident category among the most fatal ones. Thus, consulting a truck accident attorney is imperative in cases related to underride crashes.
Why Are Underride Crashes So Dangerous?
Underride crashes are devastating because they completely disregard essential safety components of the passenger vehicle. On the contrary, to the impact made on the reinforced areas, the blows are directly associated with the upper part of the vehicle and the critical injuries. Lights in the smaller vehicles are likely to be knocked out, while truck drivers mostly escape unhurt due to elevated positions. Quite often, the victims in underride crashes lose their lives in the accident. Professionals state that there are few cases where individuals involved sustain minor injuries.
What Are Underride Guards?
Underride guards are metal projections that help prevent smaller vehicles from being cleared under the trailers in the event of an accident. Rear underride guards at the rear part of the trucks are mandatory in the United States. However, side and front underride guards, which can effectively enhance safety, are not required.
Studies show that side underride guards could prevent fatalities in about 75% of side-impact collisions with large trucks. Safety analysts suggest that adding the guards could prevent between 160 and 220 fatalities annually, which is why they are currently absent from many trucks.
How Common Are Underride Crashes?
Experts observe that the percentage of underride accidents could be much higher than reported numbers given that many crash incidences are not well recorded. A few states do not even have a separate section for underride crashes on the forms used by accident. Even police officers might not be knowledgeable about these crashes.
Things To Do In Case an Underride Accident Occurs
The first thing to remember is not to waste even a single moment when any family member is involved in any underlying accident. Get medical care right away. Accidents from such crashes can be severe and require proper treatment. Proper care is essential because such accidents put emotional, financial and physical burdens on those affected.
It is especially important to consult a lawyer specializing in underride accidents immediately. They can advise on what you can do and work on your behalf on the case. Gather all the proof you can come across. Capture the crash through photographs, obtain copies of your medical documents, and obtain a copy of the police report. It is equally true that this information can be used to demonstrate what occurred.
Can Safety Rules Help?
Safety researchers have concurred that deploying improved safety measures can effectively eliminate under-ride crashes. Currently, trucks have rear underride guards; however, side and front guards are also required. These guards could be made compulsory to save many lives. States also require clear guidance on reporting underride accidents. Detectives should know how to recognize them and report them as appropriate. That is why better rules and training can effectively prevent crashes and save lives.
Conclusion
Most people are relatively unaware of underride crashes until they become a part of them, which makes the problem even sadder. Be careful and try to be more responsible in every step of life.
References:
- https://www.metierlaw.com/en/blog/truck-underride-crashes-a-hidden-danger-on-our-roads#:~:text=The%20Dangers%20of%20Underride%20Crashes,-Underride%20crashes%20are&text=%C3%A2%E2%80%94%20Sudden%20braking%3A%20If%20a,contribute%20to%20rear%20underride%20crashes.
- https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/underride-crash-truck-dangerous/
- https://www.performance-law.com/articles/2023/july/the-hidden-dangers-of-truck-accidents-understand/