Trucks have the capacity to cause a significant amount of damage when they are involved in an accident. Just their sheer size should be enough to caution drivers to keep a safe distance when sharing the road with a large truck. However, unfortunately, even the most cautious drivers sometimes end up as victims in a truck accident.
One common cause of trucking accidents is related to the lack of an effective underride guard on a truck. An underride accident is basically when a vehicle gets wedged underneath a truck because the truck runs over the vehicle. Trucks should have underride guards on both the front and the back of the vehicle to protect against this kind of accident, but some do not. An underride guard is a steel frame that is fixed to the back of a truck. The guard is intended to act as a barrier so that a car will not go underneath a truck in the event of a rear-end collision. Underride accidents are often fatal and are most often caused by sudden braking by the truck driver, malfunctioning brake lights on the truck, or inclement weather.
After a series of deadly accidents, federal regulators mandated that a study be done to quantify and pinpoint the reason that underride guards fail and to determine whether regulations should be implemented regarding underride guards. As a result of the study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a new rule that requires truckers to maintain a stronger grade of steel on their guards. Their research suggests that a better designed underride guard could help prevent fatalities.
Truck Runs Over Car, Tragically Killing Several Occupants
Earlier this month, a tragic accident took the lives of four individuals in South Carolina. Three of the individuals were children. According to one national news report, the young victims were in the back seat of the car when their vehicle was smashed into by a tractor-trailer. The collision was so forceful that both the truck and the car were catapulted into a nearby ravine.
The truck ended up riding over the car and trapped all of the passengers in the car. The three backseat passengers and a woman were killed. A male passenger somehow survived the accident and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The truck driver only suffered minor injuries as a result of the accident. According to state police, the accident is still being investigated.
Have You Been Injured in a New Mexico Trucking Accident?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Mexico truck accident, you should strongly consider immediately contacting one of the dedicated and experienced attorneys at the Fine Law Firm. Underride truck accidents can be prevented. Trucking companies should take the proper care to ensure that their trucks have all of the required safety mechanisms in place. If you are injured because of the negligence of a trucking company or their driver, you should be compensated for your injuries. An attorney at the Fine Law Firm can assist you in seeking the monetary compensation you deserve. Contact the Fine Law Firm at 800-640-6590 to schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Semi-Trucks Present an Increased Danger to Bicyclists and Motorcycle Riders, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, October 18, 2016.
New Mexico’s Liability Laws Involving Common Carriers, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, November 15, 2016.