An underride truck accident occurs when a car slides under the body of the truck. This can happen at the rear of the truck, such as when the truck slides under the back fender between the rear tires. It can also occur along the sides of the truck, where the car passes under the body of the truck perpendicular to the trailer, again between the tires.
Another incident that can occur is an override accident. This occurs when a truck fails to stop and runs over the top of a smaller vehicle. Most commonly, the truck does not stop, and the front end of the truck plows into the back of the car. Because of the size difference, the truck can actually crush the truck, crumpling it under its weight. It is also possible for an override accident to occur if the truck is moving in reverse at a high rate of speed and overrides the vehicle behind it.
What Happens When a Vehicle Slides Under the Side or Rear of a Truck?
A variety of factors play a role in the amount of destruction that occurs when a vehicle slides under the body of a trailer. The speed, angle, and amount of force overall will play a role in what specifically occurs. However, there are a few common events that happen when a 4,000-pound car strikes the back or side of an 80,000-pound 18-wheeler.
- The vehicle strikes the truck. That impact causes the front end of the vehicle to absorb significant force and energy. The car is designed to have some ability to absorb some of this energy, but not at a high rate of speed.
- The front end lodges under the truck, and the vehicle stops (in some cases). If this happens over the engine, and the windshield and cabin of the vehicle remain intact, there is less risk of damage to the people within the car. This is rare.
- When the car continues to move under the vehicle, additional structural damage occurs. In some cases, the top of the car can be sheared off entirely, or forced down toward the seats. This crushes the steering wheel and dashboard and can crush the person within the vehicle as well.
- The truck may drag the car. If the truck is moving and the car comes into contact with the actual wheels, the damage may be magnified. The truck could continue to pull and smash the vehicle under it.
If a car passes between the ties on the side of a vehicle, there are limited barriers to stop the front end and engine, meaning it is likely that the car will travel further under the trailer body, crushing the windshield and driver cabin. There is no way to “duck” and make it out on the other side. The damage is insurmountable in most situations.
What Happens When a Truck Override Accident Occurs
In some situations, a truck override can occur if the truck fails to stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle in front of it. Depending on the speed and force present, the truck could continue over the top of the rear of the truck, smashing the car’s bumper, trunk area, and into the cabin area. The back of the car will handle some of the impact, but because it is so much lower, it may not be enough to prevent injuries to the person within the car.
The Catastrophic Injuries That Can Occur in an Underride Accident
The risk of fatalities is very high in underride truck accidents. This includes instant death in some situations. Consider some of the most common types of injuries that occur.
- Crushing accidents: If the impact does not stop the car from traveling under the body of the trailer, a person could be crushed when the back end of the truck brakes into the windshield and strikes the front seat passenger and driver.
- Traumatic brain injuries: The sudden, violent stop of a high-speed accident can lead to traumatic brain injuries. The brain does not stop traveling when the car does but continues its forward motion, smashing into the skull and causing serious injuries and contusions, often creating substantial damage to the brain tissue.
- Spinal cord damage: The spinal column and cord face the potential of serious damage during such an incident. While many of the bones can suffer damage, the spinal column creates a high risk of nerve damage, especially to the spinal cord. This can lead to severing of the spine, paralysis, and death.
- Neck injuries: In the event that something stops the vehicle from traveling all of the way under the truck, those in the car will likely still suffer serious neck damage. This includes severe forms of whiplash. The head will move rapidly forward and backward, straining those muscles. In extreme cases, decapitation is possible.
- Traumatic amputation: It is possible for a victim to lose a body part at the scene of the collision. Decapitation is not unheard of, but loss or arms or legs may be more likely. Even if the limb is not lost at the scene, crushing injuries could cause irreparable damage.
Many of these risks apply to override accidents as well. Victims are likely to experience significant injuries such as cervical and spinal cord damage, with crushing accident losses possible if the truck does not stop before striking the person directly.
It is important to note that in serious cases where the vehicle travels under the truck, the risk of fatalities is very high. In an instant, a person’s body could suffer serious damage, causing blood loss and organ failure. The head trauma itself could be enough to cause instant death at the time of the accident.
Causes of Rear and Side Underride Accidents
Some of the most common causes of underride collisions from the rear or side include:
- Dim or nonworking taillights: If the truck’s lights are not bright enough or so dirty that a person traveling behind the truck cannot see them, the passenger vehicle may not stop in time, causing them to strike the back of the truck.
- Speeding through intersections: Those who lack the right of way in an intersection are at high risk for underride accidents if a truck happens to go through the intersection at the same time. Since trucks tend to turn slowly and take time to make it through an intersection, a driver may not have enough time to stop to prevent the vehicle from traveling under the truck.
- Failure to alert of risks if the truck is disabled: If a truck breaks down on the side of the road, the truck driver must place alerts, including emergency flashers and triangular reflective devices. These make it harder for someone passing by to fail to see the truck.
- Driver error: It is possible for the car driver to be responsible for the accident. In some truck wrecks, the driver of the car failed to stop because they were distracted, fatigued, or impaired behind the wheel.
Common Causes of an Override Truck Accident
Some of the most common causes of truck override accidents include:
- Speeding: If the truck is traveling at a high rate of speed, it is impossible for it to stop in time, especially in emergent situations.
- Weather conditions: Slippery conditions can make it hard for the truck to stop moving before striking the back of the vehicle.
- Distracted driving: Fatigue, eating, texting, or other types of distraction by the truck driver can mean they fail to react soon enough to stop the truck in enough time.
- Tailgating: Following too closely is a big factor in override accidents. Truck drivers know that it takes much longer for their vehicles to stop. If they fail to provide enough distance, this can lead to an accident.
- Illegal or improper lane changes: If a passenger car switches lanes without warning, and there is not enough room between the truck and the car, this can lead to the truck striking the passenger car. The truck driver could be responsible for this as well.
What Can We Do to Reduce the Risk of Underride or Override Crashes?
Federal regulation has put in place some limitations designed to reduce the risk of an underride accident. For example, in 1996, the National Highway Safety Administration put in place laws to require all high-position trucks to install an underride guard on the back of the truck. These durable guards aim to prevent a passenger vehicle from sliding under the back of the truck. These laws were strengthened in 1998, requiring all trucks with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds to have guards in place.
The Stop Underride Act of 2017 aimed to provide some protection for side-specific underride accidents. It also aimed to require inspection of these guards to minimize additional risks over time. It didn’t come to be, but advocates continue to push for these types of changes.
Until then, all drivers can do is stay focused on the road, follow and obey the rules, and leave plenty of space between themselves and large trucks.
Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer in a Catastrophic or Fatal Collision
When a truck wreck occurs, the worst outcome is possible. Serious injuries and fatalities are common. Because of the extensiveness of these injuries and potential loss, it is critical that victims or the victim’s family take legal action against the at-fault party.
The complexity is that many of these cases become the fault of the driver, and unless there is clarity on why the truck company or truck driver is responsible, it may be difficult to recover damages. With the help of an experienced override and underride truck accident attorney, it may be possible to reduce some of this risk. Not doing so could expose a victim to serious losses and a difficult process of recovering damages owed.