Truck Underride Crash Lawyer
Collisions involving eighteen-wheelers, semi-tractors, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial trucks are rarely minor. When a massive truck crashes into a smaller passenger car, it’s likely that the occupants of the smaller vehicle will suffer catastrophic injuries. Collisions with large trucks also involve risks of other types of collisions that don’t occur with smaller vehicles, such as override and underride crashes.
If you’ve been hurt in an underride crash, or any other traffic collision involving a large truck, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. The underride wreck attorneys at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices help Texas injury victims and their families recover compensation for their losses from trucking companies, negligent truck drivers, insurance providers, and other responsible parties. We’ll investigate the circumstances of the crash to determine who was at fault and how to best maximize recovery for your claim. If you or someone you love was injured in a truck collision, our zealous Texas commercial truck crash legal team is ready to help.
What Is an Underride Crash?
An underride collision is possibly the most dangerous type of crash involving a large truck. An underride occurs when a smaller vehicle travels under the big rig’s trailer, often because the truck made a sudden stop. The passenger car’s hood and roof may be crushed or torn off completely, and serious injuries or death are likely to occupants inside the vehicle. An underride crash might also cause the passenger car to be dragged truck to drag the smaller vehicle into other lanes of traffic while the car is lodged underneath the trailer or truck bed.
Given the nature of an underride crash, it’s easy to see why they are so dangerous. Anyone occupying the smaller car is likely to suffer serious injuries or worse, and an underride can also lead to a jackknife or other crash involving other lanes of traffic and more vehicles. If you’ve been involved in an underride wreck, talk to an experienced Texas truck crash attorney as soon as possible to get the medical attention you need and the compensation you deserve.
How Do Underride Collisions Occur?
Underride crashes occur when a passenger vehicle strikes the rear or side of the trailer portion of the 18-wheeler. Any number of factors can increase the risk and severity of an underride crash. Understanding how they occur can assist in mitigating the risks the risk of an underride collision.
Based on the experience and research of our Texas commercial truck crash legal team, some of the most common causes of truck underride crashes include:
- Trucks changing lanes without proper signaling
- Faulty or dim lighting, including taillights and side lighting
- Lack of proper safety equipment, including underride guards
- Tailgating
- Truck driver fatigue
- Large truck driving too slowly, below the speed of traffic
- Wet or icy roads
- Inclement weather conditions such as rain, fog, wind, or snow
- Trucks driving slowly without the use of emergency flashers, especially at night
- Failure to utilize early warning devices
- Drunk, drowsy, or distracted driving
- Lack of proper vehicle maintenance
- Poor road maintenance
- Defective truck or car part malfunction
If you were in an underride crash caused by someone else’s negligence, whether it was the truck driver, the freight company, the trailer or vehicle manufacturer, or other parties, you are entitled to compensation for the harm you suffered. A dedicated truck crash lawyer at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices can investigate the circumstances of your crash, determine who was responsible, and fight for your right to a comprehensive recovery.
Call for Help With a Truck Underride Injury in Texas
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an underride crash in southeast Texas or statewide, contact the trusted and thorough truck accident attorneys at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices for a free consultation. Call 409-835-3000 or contact us online for immediate assistance.