At Schafer and Schafer LLP, we know just how frightening semi-truck underride accidents can be. Our truck accident attorneys are committed to standing by your side, helping you understand your options, and pursuing the compensation you need to recover.
What Is an Underride Truck Accident?
An underride truck accident happens when a smaller vehicle crashes into the side or rear of a large truck and slides underneath the trailer. These accidents are particularly dangerous because the impact can crush the passenger area, often resulting in life-altering injuries like traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or even death.
Common Causes of Underride Truck Accidents
Underride truck accidents can happen in an instant, giving drivers no time to react to prevent it. Even the most cautious driving may not prevent a collision when a semi-truck’s size and speed come into play. While each accident is different, certain factors often play a role in the cause of these terrifying crashes.
Lack of Rear or Side Underride Guards
Underride guards are metal barriers installed on the rear and sides of large trucks to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath the trailer in a collision. When properly designed and maintained, these guards can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic injuries by helping absorb the impact and protecting the passenger compartment.
Unfortunately, many trucks are not equipped with adequate underride guards, or the guards are improperly installed or damaged.
Poor Visibility and Lighting Conditions
Underride accidents often occur in low-light conditions or when trucks obscure a vehicle from view. Poor lighting, blind spots, and bad weather can make it difficult for drivers to see a truck in time to avoid a collision, increasing the chances of a vehicle sliding underneath a trailer.
Driver Negligence and Sudden Stops
Sudden stops, distracted driving, and other forms of negligence by truck drivers can leave little time for other vehicles to react and prevent an underride truck accident. When a truck brakes abruptly or fails to maintain a safe following distance, smaller vehicles may collide with the trailer and slide underneath, causing severe and sometimes fatal injuries.
Severe Injuries and Long-Term Impacts
Underride truck accident victims often experience life-altering injuries that require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. The road to recovery can be long and filled with uncertainty, as these injuries may permanently impact mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
Common Injuries in Underride Accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can affect memory, cognition, and daily functioning
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis or loss of mobility
- Internal organ damage and severe lacerations
- Broken bones and crushed limbs requiring extensive surgery and rehabilitation
The Emotional and Financial Toll
Beyond the physical harm, survivors and their loved ones face lasting emotional and financial hardship. Medical expenses, hospitalization, and long-term therapy costs can quickly add up, while lost wages and reduced earning potential strain family finances.
Many victims also endure emotional trauma such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, which can make navigating daily life and recovery even more challenging.
When an Underride Accident Leads to Wrongful Death
When an underride accident results in a fatality, the impact on surviving family members is crushing. Beyond emotional devastation, families often face unexpected financial burdens, including funeral expenses, lost household income, and reduced emotional support.
A wrongful death claim can help families pursue accountability and justice, providing essential resources for rebuilding their lives while honoring the memory of their loved one.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Underride Accident?
- Truck drivers: For negligence, distracted driving, speeding, or failure to follow traffic laws.
- Truck companies and employers: For improper training, negligent hiring, or failing to maintain safe vehicles.
- Truck manufacturers: For design defects, including improperly designed or missing underride guards.
- Maintenance and repair providers: For failing to properly maintain brakes, lights, or safety equipment.
- Other drivers on the road: If their actions contributed to the collision, such as sudden stops or reckless driving.
- Government agencies or contractors: In some cases, if poorly maintained roads, signage, or lighting contributed to the accident.
How an Underride Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
At Schafer and Schafer LLP, our experienced underride truck accident attorneys can guide you through every step of the claims process, ensuring your rights are protected and helping you pursue the full compensation you deserve. From investigating the accident to negotiating with insurance companies, our truck accident attorneys focus on holding responsible parties accountable while providing the support you need to focus on recovery.
An underride truck accident lawyer can:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of the accident to gather evidence and identify all responsible parties
- Analyze truck maintenance records, driver logs, and safety equipment to determine liability
- Consulting with professionals, including accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals
- Handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies to pursue fair compensation
- File a lawsuit if necessary to secure damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more
- Provide guidance and support throughout the legal process so you and your family can focus on healing
Why Choose Schafer and Schafer LLP for Your Underride Truck Accident Case
At Schafer and Schafer LLP, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a truck accident can take on you and your family. Our personal injury attorneys are committed to guiding you through this difficult time with care and determination, helping you focus on healing while we fight to secure the compensation you need.
We have a strong history of achieving substantial results for victims of catastrophic trucking accidents, including:
- $60,000,000 – for a young girl paralyzed in a trucking crash
- $32,500,000 – for a woman who suffered significant brain damage in a truck accident
- $30,000,000 – for a victim sustaining severe injuries in a truck collision
Choosing Schafer and Schafer LLP means partnering with a team that not only pursues justice relentlessly but also provides the guidance and support your family deserves during this difficult time.
Contact a Northwest Indiana Underride Truck Accident Lawyer
Underride truck accidents can happen in a split second, leaving devastating, life-changing injuries in their wake. At Schafer and Schafer LLP, we know what it takes to negotiate for fair compensation in a truck accident. If you or your loved ones have been injured or passed away in an underride truck accident, contact Schafer and Schafer LLP today for a free consultation.
