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Catastrophic Trucking Litigation
An underride crash occurs when a passenger vehicle slides under the rear or side of a semi-truck trailer. These are among the most violent and deadly types of truck collisions, often causing decapitation or catastrophic crush injuries.
Proof track
Passenger vehicle struck the rear of a trailer, sliding underneath.
Passenger vehicle struck the side of a trailer during a turn or lane change — no side guards present.
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01
What Is an Underride Crash?
In an underride crash, a passenger vehicle travels under the body of a semi-truck trailer. Because the bottom of the trailer is at approximately windshield height for most cars and SUVs, the vehicle's safety systems — crumple zones, airbags, seatbelts — are bypassed entirely. The top of the passenger compartment is sheared off by the trailer body.
Underride crashes are classified as rear underride (striking the back of the trailer) and side underride (striking the side). Federal regulations require rear underride guards on most trailers, but side underride guards are not currently required despite strong safety evidence supporting them.
02
Liability in Underride Cases
- Rear Guard Failure: If the trailer had a rear underride guard that failed on impact, the guard manufacturer and the carrier (for failing to maintain it) may be liable. Guards must meet FMVSS 223/224 strength requirements.
- Missing Side Guards: While not currently required by federal regulation, the absence of side underride guards on a trailer involved in a side underride crash may support a defective design claim against the trailer manufacturer.
- Driver Negligence: If the truck driver made an unsafe turn, lane change, or stop that created the underride hazard.
- Visibility Failures: Missing or non-functioning conspicuity tape (reflective markings), tail lights, or turn signals that prevented the passenger vehicle driver from seeing the trailer.
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