UNDERRIDE TRUCK ACCIDENTS
St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City, Missouri
An underride truck accident occurs when a standard automobile collides with the bumper of a truck trailer and goes underneath its bumper. Typically, the roof rips off the car and passengers are killed or left with serious injuries.
Underride truck accidents are tragic, life-altering events. When one happens, it is essential to contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney as soon as possible. If a party was negligent, an experienced truck accident attorney can tell you whether you have a valid legal claim.
At The Bradley Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys understand your needs. Our thirty years of experience allow us to accurately assess your case and we are never afraid to argue in court against big insurance or trucking companies.
How Underride Truck Accidents Occur
While trucking regulations exist to reduce underride semi truck accidents, many conditions can cause one to occur including:
- A driver realizing too late that the big rig ahead is closer than appeared
- A truck driver failing to use reflectors when his big rig is broken down on the side of the road
- A truck driver not using emergency flashers when forced to suddenly slow down
- A poorly marked 18-wheeler
- Adverse weather conditions which increase the stopping distance for all vehicles
- Poor road lighting making it difficult to see a truck
- Broken or dim taillights
- A truck driver making a U-turn or backing across traffic
- Rain, snow, or fog reducing roadway visibility
Attempts to Reduce Underride Truck Accidents
Since underride accidents are the most dangerous type of truck accident, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has laid out trucking regulations to reduce their occurrence. They include placing reflective tape, called conspicuity tape, on the rear and sides of trailers and rear underride guards at 22 inches above the ground.
However, the regulations require only future trucks to implement these regulations and the rear underride guards were not implemented until 1998. Consequently, trucks built before 1998 have higher underride guards.
In 1993, the Department of Transportation (DOT) created FMVSS 108. It requires truck manufacturers to place alternating white and red tape and reflectors on a big rig’s side and rear panels to outline them. The tape is known as conspicuity tape, its purpose being to make the truck more conspicuous in dim light.
A study done after FMVSS 108 was implemented suggested conspicuity tape is effective. Between 191 and 350 lives are saved each year by its use and 7,800 accidents are avoided.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a fatal underride truck accident in St. Louis, Kansas City, or anywhere in Missouri, please contact the Missouri truck accident attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation. We also serve residents of Jefferson City and rural areas throughout Missouri.