Underride Accidents in Oklahoma City
Acknowledging the immense weight difference between large commercial trucks and average-sized vehicles is common. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. In comparison, average family vehicles weigh an average of 4,000 pounds, leaving motorists in other vehicles vulnerable to severe or catastrophic injuries in an accident.
What isn’t considered as often is the size difference between the height of the truck and trailer and a much lower average-sized car. This height difference allows truck underride accidents in Oklahoma City and elsewhere, with catastrophic or deadly results.
What Is an Underride Accident?
Large trucks, such as 18-wheelers, ride high above the road’s surface due to the large wheels needed to accommodate a heavy vehicle and trailer. During a collision, a smaller vehicle may become wedged below the truck or trailer, crushing or even shearing off the top of the car.
Because commercial carriers cross state lines, the trucking industry is subject to regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Under the 5.1.9 Rear-End Protection (393.86) regulation, the FMCSA requires all trailers to have underguard protection to prevent underride accidents during rear-end collisions.
Unfortunately, the law does not yet require underguard protection devices on the sides of trailers, despite proposals by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate them. The argument against requiring side underride protection on large commercial trucks is due to the additional weight. The additional pounds added by underride guards would require trucks to carry less cargo to remain within weight limit regulations.
What Causes Truck Underride Accidents In Oklahoma City?
Most underride accidents occur in intersections, when either the truck or the car driver fails to yield the right of way. This may be due to distraction, running a red light, drowsy driving, or impairment. Side underride accident begins as a T-bone collision, but the smaller, lower vehicle lodges underneath the trailer.
Underride accidents also occur due to unsafe lane changes or during rear-end collisions when a truck is missing its underride guard equipment or has a faulty underguard. Sudden stops and wide turns also cause underride accidents.
Types of Injuries in Oklahoma City Underride Accidents
When a vehicle collides with a truck and wedges below the trailer, it causes massive destruction to the top of the vehicle, impacting motorists’ head, neck, and upper body. Traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, broken necks, spinal cord injuries, thoracic injuries, and decapitation are examples of the catastrophic and deadly injuries motorists experience in truck underride accidents.
Who Is Liable for Damages In an Underride Accident?
If an underride accident victim is fortunate enough to survive the accident, they often have life-altering injuries requiring years of medical treatment. These catastrophic injuries impact the quality of life and ability to work. Many underride accidents are fatal, leaving grieving family members to file wrongful death claims.
When an accident is caused by a truck, there are potentially multiple liable parties. It takes a skilled investigator to determine if the liability rests with the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck maintenance company, or the manufacturer of the defective parts or equipment.
How Can an Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Truck accident claims are complex legal endeavors. Investigating the accident, identifying the liable party, and filing an evidence-backed claim against the appropriate insurance company requires skilled handling. Call the Dan Davis Law truck accident lawyers at (405) 930-4210 for experienced representation throughout your legal claim process.