Underride accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents that occur in Dothan and Alabama, more broadly. A semi-truck can easily shear the top off a car trapped underneath it, potentially causing catastrophic or fatal injuries for anyone in the car. Drivers and passengers lucky enough to survive an underride accident will likely face expensive medical bills and years of emotional distress.
The Dothan underride truck accident lawyers at Parker Trial Law can help if you sustained injuries in an underride crash. Our Dothan truck accident lawyers understand the challenges that come with this type of case and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
Our team has decades of combined experience and isn’t afraid to take your case to court. You don’t owe us any fees unless you recover compensation, so call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
What Is an Underride Truck Accident?
An underride truck accident occurs when a car slides under and gets trapped beneath a large truck or its trailer. The two primary types of underride crashes are:
- Rear underride accidents – A rear underride accident happens when a car crashes into the back of a truck or its trailer, leaving the car and its occupants pinned beneath the larger vehicle.
- Side underride accidents – A side underride truck accident occurs when a car goes under the side of a truck or its trailer. These underride truck accidents often occur at intersections, as a truck that runs a red light or stop sign may cross in front of a smaller car.
The extreme impact force of an underride accident and the chance of victims becoming trapped under the massive bulk of a commercial truck mean these truck collisions often involve catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Common injuries from underride truck accidents include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries – The initial impact of an underride crash and the dramatic shift in momentum can cause traumatic brain injuries. People trapped under a truck may also hit their heads on their vehicle’s interior or the underside of the truck or its trailer.
- Spinal cord injuries – The sudden impact of an underride accident can cause spinal cord injuries regardless of the impact angle. These injuries frequently cause partial or complete paralysis, leaving victims with lifelong movement issues and limited bodily functions.
- Decapitations – In extreme cases, a truck or its trailer can decapitate people in the car trapped underneath as the truck or trailer shears off the top of the smaller vehicle.
Crushed, severed, or amputated limbs – A car’s mangled frame, sharp cuts from shattered glass, or the force of a crash can crush or sever people’s limbs in an underride accident. - Internal injuries – The extreme force of an underride crash can cause internal bleeding and internal organ damage. These injuries are often fatal without immediate medical treatment.
- Bone fractures – Many people involved in underride accidents suffer multiple broken bones. In some cases, a bone may shatter from the force of a crash or from being crushed, making it difficult or impossible for the bone to heal properly.
- Scarring and disfigurement – Severe lacerations, broken bones, severed limbs, and similar injuries can leave underride crash victims scarred and disfigured.
- PTSD and other mental health conditions – A truck underride crash is a traumatic experience, and many victims experience PTSD or similar conditions for years or decades afterward.
How Can an Underride Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
A Dothan underride accident attorney can manage all the legal work in your case, from the initial accident investigation and documenting your injuries to filing insurance claims and negotiating a fair settlement. Truck accident lawyers know what evidence to look for in these cases and how to present a compelling argument that supports your legal claim.
Your truck accident attorney can also handle communication with the insurance companies to ease your stress and help you avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your claim. Finally, your truck accident lawyer can take your case to trial if a fair settlement isn’t possible.
Common Causes of Underride Truck Accidents in Dothan
Some common causes of underride truck crashes include:
- Sudden braking without warning – A commercial truck that suddenly stops without warning can cause a car following behind to rear-end the truck and become trapped beneath it.
- Failure to use hazard lights when stopping – Truck drivers who need to stop and pull over should activate their hazard lights to alert other drivers. Otherwise, other motorists might not see the truck and crash into it.
- Improper lane changes and turns – Truck drivers who aren’t careful when turning or changing lanes can collide with and pin smaller cars beneath the truck or its trailer.
- Failure to install or maintain underride guards – Underride guards exist to prevent these accidents by blocking car access to the area underneath a large truck and its trailer. However, these safeguards don’t work if semi-truck drivers and trucking companies don’t install or maintain them.
- Poorly maintained or malfunctioning brake lights – Broken or poorly maintained brake lights prevent other cars from seeing trucks or noticing when they’re slowing down, making an underride crash more likely to occur.
- Overloaded or improperly secured cargo affecting stopping distances – Overloaded trucks take longer to stop, which can cause a crash if a car following behind the truck can’t avoid a rear-end collision.
- Poor visibility (nighttime driving, fog, or heavy rain) – If truck drivers don’t slow down and take additional precautions when visibility is poor, they could put themselves in the path of another car and cause an underride accident.
Who Is Responsible for Underride Truck Accidents in Dothan?
Truck drivers are often responsible for underride truck accidents because of their negligent actions. For example, a truck driver who stops too quickly or runs a red light can cause an underride crash. However, trucking companies sometimes play a role in these crashes by hiring unqualified drivers or encouraging drivers to engage in unsafe practices.
Vehicle defects can also contribute to these crashes if a defective part causes a truck driver to lose control. Your lawyer can investigate the crash to identify who’s liable for your injuries.
Contact Our Dothan Truck Accident Law Firm for a Free Case Review
Our Dothan truck accident lawyers are ready to help you rebuild your life and find justice after an underride accident. Call Parker Trial Law now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
