blog home Truck Accident What Are “Underride Truck Accidents”?

What Are “Underride Truck Accidents”?

By Glendale Personal Injury Attorney on January 20, 2023

Truck accidents are often catastrophic and tend to result in severe damage and injuries. However, some types of truck accidents are more dangerous than others, such as underride truck accidents. Underride truck accidents involve a car hitting the truck from behind or the side and getting smashed to the truck’s underside. Read on to understand how underride truck accidents happen and what makes them dangerous.

What Causes Underride Truck Accidents?

Generally, the main cause of underride truck accidents is distracted drivers. However, these accidents are not particularly simple, and many other factors can contribute to their occurrence. For instance, these accidents can occur due to things like:

  • Sudden braking
  • Inadequate signals
  • Damaged tail lights
  • Other vehicles hitting a stopped car from behind
  • Lack of underride guards

Underride guards are a protective lining fixed on the back and sides of trucks to prevent small vehicles from getting stuck under them in an accident. While some trucks have underride guards, their placement or design might not provide sufficient protection when an accident happens. They may have also been damaged in previous accidents. Drivers should ensure that underride guards are in position and can provide sufficient protection.

How Do Underride Accidents Happen?

There are many ways that underride accidents can happen. Some of them include the following:

  • Speeding: When a small car is going at a very high speed behind a truck, the chances of underride accidents grows significantly. Should the car driver lose control of the vehicle or the truck need to urgently hit the brakes, they will run into the truck and cause a severe accident. A lack of protective underride guards also increases the risk of such accidents being severe.
  • Lack of Reflective Tape: Statistics show that most underride accidents occur when visibility is low. Trucks must have reflective tape that warns drivers of their presence. A small car can run into a truck when driving at posted speed limits at night, especially if their visibility is limited.
  • Tailgating: When the truck driver comes to a sudden stop, the chances of an underride accident are high if the driver behind is following closely or tailgating the truck. Generally, bigger trucks take longer to come to a stop than smaller vehicles. When these trucks stop suddenly, such as when an animal or vehicle suddenly comes out in front of them, smaller vehicles behind them can crash into them.

Why Are Underride Accidents Dangerous?

Trucks are much bigger than small passenger vehicles. When a small car crashes into the rear or side of the truck, there will be a large impact resulting in broken windshields, doors, and roofs. During underride accidents, smaller vehicles are forced under the truck’s bottom until it comes to a standstill. The huge impact of such accidents often results in severe injuries and damages. These accidents are more dangerous when involved trucks have no underride guards. Small vehicles will crash into delicate truck parts where the impact is significant.

Contact Glendale Truck Accident Lawyers at Aratta Law Firm Today

If you or your loved one has sustained injuries in an underride accident, you have the right to seek compensation for all the damages. A skilled and dedicated Glendale truck accident attorney can help you get the valuable compensation you need to get your life back on track. At Aratta Law Firm, we have experienced and compassionate injury attorneys ready to help you get the settlement you deserve. We have handled many similar cases before and are more than likely to get the desired outcome you seek. Call (818) 550-1111 today to schedule your consultation.

Posted in: Truck Accident