Truck Underride

18-Wheeler Underride Accident

An underride accident happens when a passenger vehicle rides underneath the trailer of a semi-truck. Underride accidents are extremely dangerous and happen far more often than people realize. Between 2008-2017, the NHTSA reported an average of 219 fatalities annually resulting from underride collisions.

Underride accidents are especially dangerous because occupants of the underriding vehicle have little protection from a direct impact. In an underride accident, the passenger vehicle’s front end travels underneath the trailer, preventing the vehicle from absorbing the force of impact.

The dangers presented in an underride crash are well known, and federal regulation has attempted to prevent the risk of injury in an underride accident by mandating under guards.

Contact us online or call us at (281) 801-5617 to learn how our truck underride accident attorneys can help you recover compensation for your injuries. 

What are Underride Guards, and Do they Work?

Underride guards are steel structures attached to commercial trailers that prevent vehicles from traveling under the trailer in a rear-end collision. Underride guards are federally mandated on the back of semi-trailers, and testing is currently underway to determine the feasibility of such guards on the sides of trailers.

However, federally mandated guards are often ineffective because they do not provide adequate coverage, and vehicles still travel under trailers equipped with the federally mandated minimum coverage. Because of this, a company complying with federally mandated minimum requirements may not escape liability when it is known that further action must be taken to prevent serious injuries.

How To Avoid Underride Collisions

The trucking industry is aware of underride crashes and the risk they pose to the motoring public. If you find yourself in an underride crash and have suffered severe injuries, you may be entitled to compensation from the trucking company for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent underride crashes from happening. It is often wise to have a skilled attorney investigate the accident to determine if the trucking company or manufacturer is responsible for your injuries.

Compensation Available in an Underride Crash

The monetary compensation available in an underride accident will largely depend on the law of your state. Generally, injured motorists are entitled to compensation for all harm suffered in an accident. This includes economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are the out-of-pocket financial losses suffered in an accident. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, future health care costs, and other expenses suffered as a result of the accident.

Non-economic damages include the monetary value of all emotional, mental, and physical suffering caused by an injury. Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible harms suffered by an injured victim.

In an underride crash, damages may be offset by each party’s degree of fault in causing the accident and injuries. Many accidents are caused by mistakes on both parties, and underride crashes are no exception. Because of this, before recovering for harm suffered in an underride crash, trained lawyers must identify and prove the degree of fault attributable to each party. If the lawyers cannot agree, the case may need a trial, where a jury apportions fault among the parties fairly and equitably.

Consulting an Underride Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in an underride accident and need help identifying the responsible party and proving liability, call The Ammons Law Firm. With over three decades of experience, we are highly skilled in truck accident cases and have established a track record of success. Our firm has recovered over $1 billion in fair compensation for people injured by others’ negligence and corporate wrongdoing and is committed to offering first-class representation to every client that walks through our door.

If you need a law firm you can trust and a team you can count on, call The Ammons Law Firm.

Our Houston underride truck accident lawyers are prepared to fight for you. Call us at (281) 801-5617 or contact us online to learn how we can help you recover compensation after a truck accident.

  • “If you have a complicated products liability matter or really ANY complex matter, Rob will devote the resources necessary to sort it out and get the best possible result for the client.”

    – Louis H., Referral Attorney

  • “Rob fought for me like no man has fought for me. The Ammons Law Firm is a law firm that seeks out justice and righteousness for those who have suffered, and I can now move forward in my life.”

    – Joe C., Former Client

  • “We had a wonderful experience working with the Ammons Law Firm. The office staff was always courteous and prompt in responding. Rob’s expertise in our case was quickly evident and our trust in him …”

    – Anne P., Former Client

  • “I can say with confidence that The Ammons Law Firm is the very best.”

    – Former Client

  • “The Ammons law firm has a great number of wonderful and hardworking lawyers. They did an amazing job with my case.”

    – Jose Angel M., Former Client

  • “I was truly amazed by Mr. Ammons’ presentation and knowledge of the case. He and his team were well-prepared and had everything they needed to present the case. They had great exhibits. It was very …”

    – Teressa H., Former Client

Our Firm Will Fight for Your Right to Compensation
  • We Wrote the Book on Tire Defect Litigation

    Attorney Rob Ammons has not only handled some of the most complex tire defect cases but also wrote the book on how to properly litigate these types of cases.

  • Team Approach to Handling Each & Every Case

    Unlike smaller law firms, we have the resources necessary to tackle even the most complex cases. To ensure our clients get the best possible results, we hire industry experts and other professionals to advise on any complex legal issues.

  • Over a Billion Dollars Recovered for Our Clients

    Our seasoned legal professionals have handled some of the largest personal injury claims nationwide and have a strong track record of favorable outcomes.

Let Us Help You
Request Your FREE CONSULTATION Today!
Call
(281) 801-5617 or fill out the form below to contact our team.

    Skip to content