Tractor Trailer Underride Accidents
Truck & tractor trailer underride accidents can be deadly to passenger-vehicle occupants, even at low speeds. An underride occurs when a passenger vehicle collides with a straight truck or the trailer of a truck-tractor semi-trailer combination (truck) and runs under the truck, sometimes sheering the roof off the vehicle and killing the occupants. (This is also known as "submarining".) The passenger car is less than 30 inches above the ground, while the bed of the truck trailer is usually more than 45 inches off the ground. The passenger vehicle can go under or underride the trailer, causing serious injuries to the occupants of the passenger vehicle.
Standards have been put into to require tractor-trailers designed after 1993 to be outfitted with reflective tape on both the rear and sides. Also, tractor-trailers designed after 1996 must have a rear bumper equipped at 22 inches above the ground. However, there are still thousands of tractor-trailers lacking proper safety underride additions.
Regardless of how equipped a tractor-trailer may be to prevent an underride accident, fatalities from underrides continue to occur. Reflective tape and adequate bumper heights are not enough to protect the drivers of passenger vehicles. These are some of the most fatal accidents, and many are caused by negligent trailer design, fatigued truck drivers and poorly trained drivers.
If you or a family member has been a victim of a truck underride accident, contact the trucking accident lawyers of David, Bethune and Jones immediately to protect your rights. Get peace of mind with the help you deserve.
