While the enormous mass of a commercial truck makes any collision involving a big-rig potentially fatal, underrun trucking accidents (also called “underride accidents”) are particularly dangerous. The reason these collision are so dangerous is because they generally result in severe intrusion into the passenger compartment of the car either literally tearing the roof off the vehicle or crushing the roof. Many do not realize that these accidents occur fairly frequently with thousands of fatalities from rear underrun trucking collisions occurring annually and another five hundred fatalities each year caused by side underrun trucking accidents. At Barrett Law, we understand the enormous risk of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death in trucking underrun crashes.
In a Mississippi underrun trucking accident, a passenger car is unable to stop and proceeds to drive beneath the undercarriage of the commercial truck. The reason these accidents occur is because of the difference in height between the undercarriage area of a passenger car and a commercial truck. The undercarriage area of a commercial truck is 45 inches while it is only 30 inches for a typical passenger vehicle. The gap formed by the difference in the relative height of the undercarriage of each vehicle creates a space where a passenger vehicle can travel under a tractor-trailer. This typically results in the roof of the passenger car being torn off the vehicle or being crushed into the passenger compartment. Either way, these trucking accidents generally result in horrific injuries, including decapitation, brain injuries, damaged spinal cords and far too frequently fatalities. Roof crush injuries are common in this type of collision.
While there have been steps take to reduce the risk of undercarriage accidents, they continue to claim thousands of lives each year. Although all commercial trucks are required to have yellow reflective tape on the back of the trailer, sometimes this tape is not present or the vehicle is so dirty and grimy that the tape cannot be easily seen. Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made installation of underrun guards on commercial trucks mandatory in 1996. However, the requirement applies only to new commercial trucks, and many commercial carriers have not bothered to retrofit trucks that were not equipped with the guards. A recent study of the underrun guards also revealed that many are not built strong enough to offer effective protection in an underrun trucking accident. Additionally, side underguards are not required by federal regulations, and commercial carriers generally have not taken the initiative to install them absent a federal mandate.
Mississippi commercial underrun trucking accidents often result in permanent debilitating injuries or the loss of a loved one. If you suffer injury or lose someone you love in a Mississippi commercial trucking accident, our experienced Mississippi trucking accident attorneys carefully investigate our clients trucking accidents cases and fight aggressively to seek the best possible outcome for our clients. At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi. Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.
