Commercial trucks, including 18-wheelers, are among the largest and fastest vehicles on the road, making accidents involving them some of the most catastrophic and life-threatening. A collision with an 18-wheeler can be especially catastrophic or even deadly when a passenger vehicle is caught underneath the truck’s trailer. If you or a loved one were injured in an underride crash, our South Carolina truck accident attorneys are here to help you understand the next steps and how to recover a full, fair settlement for your injuries.
What is a Truck Underride Crash?
An underride accident occurs when a smaller passenger vehicle collides with and slides under the body of a large truck, such as a tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler. Underride crashes frequently result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the catastrophic impact between a smaller vehicle and a much larger truck. When the car slides under or crashes into the back of a truck, the roof of the car is often completely sheared off and the passenger compartment may be penetrated. This almost always leads to devastating injuries, especially because smaller cars usually do not have the structural integrity to protect passengers against the massive force of a tractor-trailer truck.
Types of Truck Underride Crashes
The two most common types of truck underride accidents are rear and side crashes.
- Rear underride collisions are the most common type of underride accidents. These types of crashes occur when the passenger vehicle slides directly under the rear of the truck. This may happen when the passenger vehicle driver does not have enough time to break, the tractor-trailer does not adequately display their hazard lights, the truck does not have properly installed reflectors or reflective tape, or when the truck is moving too slowly, especially on the highway.
- Side underride collisions occur when the passenger vehicle crashes into the side of a truck, sliding underneath either partially or completely. Side underride crashes often occur when a truck wrongfully enters your lane, makes a U-turn, or turns onto a street, especially if weather conditions have caused decreased visibility or icy roads.
What Causes Truck Underride Crashes in South Carolina? Understanding Truck Underride Guards
In addition to bad weather or driver negligence, trucking companies often bear responsibility for underride crashes due to inadequate safety protocols and prevention measures.
Truck Rear Guards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires all trucks to have rear guard rails added to the rear of their trailers. These guards can significantly reduce the risk of severe injury or death by preventing a car from sliding completely underneath the truck, which means there are fewer points of contact between the truck and passenger compartment. Truck drivers and their trucking companies can be held accountable for failing to have rear guards installed, having faulty guards, or failing to ensure their guards are properly installed.
Truck Side Guards
Unfortunately, there are currently no federal regulations that require trucks to have side guardrails to prevent side collisions, despite the overwhelming evidence that such a mandate could significantly lessen the deadly impact of such crashes. However, the NHTSA recently proposed the mandatory adoption of such a requirement, citing research that side guard rails could save an estimated 17.2 lives and 69 serious injuries per year. While this regulation has not yet been adopted, it may soon be another way to protect drivers on the road and allow victims of underride crashes to pursue justice and accountability if truckers fail to adhere to such standards.
Other NHTSA Safety Regulations
Trucks are also required to have reflective tape alongside both the rear and sides of the trailer to enhance visibility on the road for other drivers. Drivers must also ensure that their tail lights and running lights are always operating properly before getting on the road. Truck drivers or their trucking company may be held liable if they fail to maintain these visibility requirements.
Is the Truck Driver Liable for My South Carolina Underride Crash?
Truck drivers may be liable for injuries in an underride crash if their actions, such as failure to maintain safety standards or drive responsibly, contributed to the accident. Truckers must follow the rules of the road and have a duty to drive safely. Truck drivers may be held liable for their negligence if they:
- Fail to keep their truck’s underride guards properly maintained;
- Fail to maintain other NHTSA required safety regulations;
- Fail to use hazard lights when pulled over on the highway;
- Are overly fatigued and under the influence of substances when driving; or
- Were driving recklessly or disregarding traffic laws.
Our truck accident attorneys can help thoroughly investigate the facts of your case to determine whether the trucker’s negligence played a role in your accident. Our experienced legal team can help you seek a full, fair recovery, even if the trucking company tries to avoid or deny liability.
Catastrophic Injuries are Common in an Underride Crash
Because of the dangerous and catastrophic nature of these types of crashes, life-altering injuries are unfortunately all too common. Injuries commonly associated with truck underride crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb
- Internal bleeding
- Severe psychological trauma
If you’ve been involved in a truck underride accident, your first step should always be to seek immediate medical attention, even if you don’t feel like you’ve been seriously injured. Visiting a medical professional for a proper diagnosis is the best way to assess the full extent of your injuries and determine if there are any potential long-term injuries.
Wrongful Death in South Carolina After an Underride Truck Crash
If you have lost a loved one in an underride truck accident, we are so sorry for what you are going through. We understand that the sudden loss of a loved one can be devastating and you may be left feeling angry or unsure where to turn to get your questions answered. Our legal team is here to help you navigate the stressful aftermath of the accident while you are grieving.
Our wrongful death attorneys are here to help you investigate the cause of the underride crash and seek justice for your loved one’s passing. If the trucker or trucking company were negligent in their operations, our attorneys can collect evidence and build a strong case to pursue accountability so your family can focus on healing.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our South Carolina Truck Underride Crash Attorneys
After a traumatic underride truck crash, navigating the legal process can be overwhelming. Our experienced attorneys are here to provide support and advocate for your rightful compensation, allowing you to focus on recovery.
If you or a loved one was the victim of a catastrophic truck underride crash, our attorneys are here to help. Please reach out today by filling out the chat form below or calling (803) 790-2800 in Columbia,SC or (843) 427-2800 in Myrtle Beach, SC. We look forward to hearing your story.
