18-Wheeler Under-Ride Accidents

Under federal regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all commercial semi trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and other big rigs are required to have underride protection. Underride protection consists of metal guards placed at certain points on the sides and back of the vehicle's undercarriage to prevent passenger vehicles from slipping underneath the trailer in a truck accident.

Failure to provide underride protection can result in catastrophic injuries to occupants of other motor vehicles, including severe head injuries, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, decapitation or death. According to the most recent statistics posted by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), a division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fatal car-truck accidents, 90% of rear impact, and 70% of side-impact were determined to be Underride related.

Causes and Prevention of Underride Accidents
When a car comes in contact with the undercarriage of a semi truck or tractor-trailer, the passenger compartment can be crushed or even completely torn off, greatly increasing the potential of catastrophic or fatal injury. Underride accidents occur most often because of:

• Poor visibility at night due to improper lighting or reflective systems or in adverse weather conditions
• Truck driver inattention such as failing to check blind spots when changing lanes, thereby running over a smaller vehicle in the passing lane
• Defective rear guards in a rear-end collision
• Multicar pileups in which one car is accidentally pushed under the truck by another

To prevent underride accidents, federal regulations require that all commercial trucks over a certain weight maintain lighting systems or reflective gear so other drivers can clearly identify the truck bed or carriage at night or during inclement weather. Certain vehicles may also be required to equip the back or sides of the trailer with a lower mounted guard to prevent underride in a rear-end collision or sideswipe.

Proven Results on Behalf of Bereaved Families

Your family has the right to pursue compensation from those responsible for the financial loss and emotional distress you have endured. We bring our demonstrated trial experience, wealth of resources and in-depth knowledge of commercial vehicle regulations to every case we handle. We have obtained substantial multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of families across the nation.

$8.75 million from a major trucking company that was responsible for the deaths of two Mexican nationals

Contact Miller Weisbrod, Attorneys At Law
The experienced Fatal Truck Wreck Attorneys of Miller Weisbrod, Attorneys At Law represent families, nationwide, who have suffered irreparable loss due to truck driver errors. Our firm is the leader in the fight to hold national transport corporations responsible for practices and policies that make our highways unsafe. We are available for consultation nationwide. Feel free to call us toll free at 888.987.0005.