Underrides are some of the most dangerous kinds of accidents on the road. An underride crash is any kind of collision where a smaller car or vehicle slides underneath the body of a larger truck. They are often fatal, and at best tend to cause serious head and neck injuries, paralysis, as well as severe PTSD for survivors.
A rear underride is what most people think of when they think of an underride. Rear underrides take place when a car fails to brake in time, and the car slides underneath the truck or trailer ahead of them. A side underride crash occurs when a car slides partially or completely underneath the left or right side of a truck or trailer. They commonly occur during side-swipes, lane changes, or turning accidents.
Another particularly horrific kind of collision is an override accident. This occurs when a truck driver plows directly over a car and traps the driver and passengers underneath.
What Are the Causes of Underride Accidents?
An underride accident is one of the most serious kinds of crashes, and they can occur even when a driver does everything right. At times, an underride is the result of avoiding a T-bone collision, or skidding while attempting to prevent a head-on crash. In other cases, a side underride is the result of a truck driver drifting in their lane or failing to check blind spots when they turn. Some of the most common causes of underride accidents include:
- Driver negligence
- Fatigue
- Slick roads
- Poor visibility
- Tailgating
- Shifting cargo
- Sudden turns
- Unsafe truck design
- Rear end collisions
- Brake failure
- Distracted driving
How Many People Are Killed by Underride Crashes Each Year?
An analysis of NHTSA data shows that around 400 people are killed by underride crashes each year. However, a recent study from the Government Accountability Office states that police accident reports vastly underestimate the amount of underride fatalities that take place each year. State and local guidelines can vary, with some states mandating that at least 50% of the car slide entirely under a semi truck or trailer in order to be classified as an underride, while others lack reporting guidelines entirely. This muddies the picture on how often underride accidents actually take place, as well as how many fatalities can be attributed to them.
Why Are Underride Crashes So Dangerous?
Underride crashes are especially dangerous because of the difference in heights between vehicles. Many truck drivers, because they are seated up higher, may not even be aware when they have been involved in this kind of accident; on the other hand, underride accidents are usually fatal for car drivers and their passengers. At minimum, underride crashes tend to cause some of the most serious head and neck injuries for those who slide underneath a semi truck. Examples of potentially catastrophic injuries from underride crashes include:
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Decapitation
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Disfigurement and scarring
The point of impact for an underride is typically the hood or windshield of the car. Most cars’ safety features are designed for head-on or side impact crashes and may not be activated in an underride accident. This means that drivers and front-seat passengers bear the brunt of the crash face-on, and any protection from the roof may be sheared away. Airbags may not deploy, and broken glass can lead to lacerations and extended injuries.
Are Trucks Required to Have Underride Protection?
There are federal regulations mandating that trucks carry rear underride guards. However, there are no regulations for front or side underride guards. Additionally, existing regulations have been criticized for failing to protect car drivers and passengers, while caving to industry lobbyists’ concerns over the expense that it takes to implement changes.
Underride Bars and “Conspicuity Markings”
Underride bars are steel bars designed to prevent rear underride crashes. They act as a barrier in the event that a truck has to stop suddenly, or if a following car’s brakes fail. Trucking companies are required to install rear guards on trailers that can withstand the force of a crash. Conspicuity markings are another effort to prevent underride accidents by improving visibility. Trucking companies must install strategic reflectors and sheeting on trailers over 80 inches wide and with a GVWR of at least 10,000 pounds in order to help other drivers accurately gauge the necessary braking distance.
Canadian Standards vs. American Standards
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines require annual inspections of trucks and trailers, but not necessarily of rear guards. Because of this, previously damaged or faulty underride bars may not withstand the full impact of a crash, even on trucks that carry them. Single-unit trucks like garbage trucks are not required to have bars that can last through a crash at all.
In 2022, the NHTSA updated its rules to bring American semi trucks more closely in compliance with Transport Canada’s basic trucking safety standards. According to regulations, rear guards on American trucks now must be designed to withstand impact of up to 35 mph. However, safety advocates as well as former NHTSA members argue that these rules do not go far enough. Additional safety protections might look like mandating FMCSA inspections of existing rear guards, strengthening requirements for what strength of guards are implemented, or expanding requirements to meet the 30% overlap rule. The 30% rule would allow guards to be designed to protect from crashes where just 30% of the car’s width overlaps the rear of the truck, instead of simple direct hits from behind. These 30% offsets most often kill and maim passengers in underride accidents, but are largely undercounted and ignored by the NHTSA as well disregarded by trucking industry lobbyists.
How Can We Protect Ourselves from Underride Truck Accidents?
Fatal truck accidents are on the rise, and industry regulations have not been adapting in real time to protect drivers. Approximately 94% of American trucks already meet minimum protection standards on highways, but still truck fatalities have grown by 49% over the last 10 years, according to the National Safety Council. This is even as underride crashes have been consistently under-counted as the cause of death in truck accidents nationwide.
Clearly, change is needed. The following are some suggestions and practical safety tips to help protect Coloradoans from underride truck accidents:
- Leave additional following and braking distance behind trucks on highways.
- Never travel in a truck’s blind spot.
- Clearly signal turns and lane changes.
- Get plenty of rest before driving.
- Contact your Colorado representatives and ask them to support expanded underride protection on trucks, especially requiring side guards.
How Can a Colorado Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an underride accident, you are likely facing enormous hurdles to return to normal life. These might include sudden medical bills, the inability to return to work, severe PTSD, lifestyle and home changes, and ongoing health challenges. A Colorado truck accident attorney can fight for you to receive the maximum compensation, while also holding the trucking company that caused this harm accountable.
Underride crashes often come down to simple fact that trucking companies tend to put profits over people. They may pressure their drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, fail to conduct inspections or install shoddy safety gear to cut corners on the expense. If you have been harmed due to a company or individual driver’s negligence, a Colorado truck accident lawyer can help you recover your bills as well as additional damages from the crash. Our firm also helps grieving family members recover the costs of funeral expenses, burial costs, medical bills, loss of companionship, and support for family members after a wrongful death from an underride crash.
Call Our Colorado Injury Lawyers for Help after an Underride Crash
Contact Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers today for a no-fee consultation. We have multiple offices located throughout Colorado in Aurora, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Pueblo, and more. As Colorado’s largest personal injury firm, we fight for our clients to recover the maximum possible amount from their injuries. We also know from years of experience in personal injury law that an underride crash is one of the worst kinds of accidents you can experience on the roadway. For personalized attention on your case, speak to one of our truck accident attorneys today.
