A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. A truck’s wheels may be nearly as tall as a standard-sized passenger vehicle. If a car slides under the back of a truck’s trailer, it can be catastrophic—even life-threatening. Truck underride guards are a crucial safety feature. Trucking companies must be held accountable for their failure to ensure that the fleet has the proper underride guards. In this article, our Kansas City semi-truck accident attorneys provide an overview of the importance of proper underride guards on tractor-trailers.
What is a Truck Underride Accident?
A truck underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle collides with a truck and slides underneath it. It can result in a car being pinned under a truck’s trailer. Most often, these crashes happen because a truck’s trailer lacks the proper safety barriers (an underride guard).
These Crashes are Exceptionally Dangerous
Semi-truck underride collisions are extraordinarily dangerous. When a crash happens, there can be a direct impact on the passenger compartment of a smaller passenger vehicle. The lack of a barrier between the car and the truck can cause a catastrophic or even fatal accident.
Trucking Companies Must Use Proper Underride Guard
Commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure that all of their fleet of vehicles have the proper, legally-mandated underride guards in place. As explained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), federal regulations require trucks and trailers to have rear underride guards to prevent underride accidents from the back.
Note: While federal regulations mandate rear underride guards, there are currently no mandates for side underride guards for large commercial trucks.
Injured Victims Deserve the Maximum Financial Support
Hurt in a semi-truck crash caused by a lack of underride guards? It is imperative that you have access to the full and fair financial compensation that you need to pay bills and support your family. Unfortunately, truck companies and their commercial insurers put their own financial bottom line above your best interests. A top-rated Kansas City truck accident lawyer can help you fight for the maximum financial support. You may be eligible to recover financial compensation for:
- Property loss, such as vehicle repairs or replacement;
- Ambulance costs and emergency room care;
- Hospital bills and other types of medical costs;
- Physical therapy and rehabilitative support;
- Loss of wages and loss of earning power;
- Pain and suffering;
- Disability/disfigurement; and
- Wrongful death.
Schedule a Free Case Review With Our Top-Tier Kansas City Truck Accident Injury Lawyer
At House Law LLC, our Kansas City semi-truck accident attorney provides justice-focused advocacy to victims and families. If you have any questions about a truck underride crash, we are more than ready to protect your rights and your interests. Reach out to us by phone now or contact us online for a free, no-strings-attached review and evaluation of your case. We handle truck accident injury claims in Kansas City and throughout the wider region of Missouri and Kansas.
Tags: brain injury, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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