Big cities, small towns, rural farms and suburbs – America’s roadways connect all of them. Truckers travel all of them to deliver the products you need.
But sharing the roads with these big rigs can be dangerous. Why are collisions with semi-trucks typically catastrophic, and what can be done to make them safer?
When a semi-truck and car collide
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Their immense size and weight can make accidents between them and cars some of the most devastating on the roads. The massive force of the impact can lead to severe injuries and even fatalities.
Underride collisions are another reason why crashes between cars and semi-trucks are dangerous. The mismatch between the size and height of the two vehicles often leads to the smaller car sliding underneath the large truck. When the car becomes wedged beneath the truck, the car’s safety features, such as crumple zones and airbags, are bypassed. It’s difficult to find accurate numbers of how many underride collisions occur, but they cause approximately 400 fatalities each year.
There are three different types of underride collisions:
- Rear underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle hits the back of a semi-truck and slides underneath it. These accidents are often due to sudden braking or following too closely.
- Side underride collisions happen when the car slides underneath the side of a semi-truck, often during lane changes or side-impact crashes, usually seen in slick road conditions.
- Front underride collisions are less common on highways. They typically happen in parking lots or urban areas where the truck is maneuvering in tight spaces and backs into a smaller vehicle.
Many of these collisions could be prevented. Federal regulations require rear underride guards. However, they may be outdated or poorly maintained, reducing their effectiveness. Furthermore, attempts to mandate side underride guards in California have not been successful, even though they could help reduce the number of tragic accidents on the state’s highways.
Please contact us if you have been severely injured or lost a loved one in an underride collision. We may be able to help you receive compensation for medical expenses and lost income.