The size and weight of semi-trucks make them capable of causing devastating crashes. Anytime a commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle, the outcome could be severe.
However, there are certain types of collisions that typically only occur with commercial vehicles that have increased potential to cause devastation. If an incident between a commercial vehicle and a passenger vehicle leads to an underride collision, the likelihood is higher than normal that the semi-truck crash could have devastating consequences.
What is an underride collision?
An underride collision is a unique type of crash that occurs when a larger vehicle collides with a much smaller vehicle, typically at relatively high speeds. When a passenger vehicle rear-ends a semi-truck at a diagonal angle, that could cause a rear underride crash despite the presence of underride guards.
If a truck driver attempts to merge into a lane already occupied by a passenger vehicle, that could lead to a side underride crash. Underride collisions specifically involve smaller vehicles ending up under the trailer of the bigger vehicle.
The force of impact pushes the smaller vehicle under the commercial truck, which typically causes devastating damage to the smaller vehicle. People involved in underride collisions are likely to sustain catastrophic or deadly injuries. Those affected by semi-truck collisions may struggle to quantify their losses and pursue appropriate compensation from the party liable for the incident.
Both insurance coverage and civil litigation can provide financial relief for those affected by underride crashes and other devastating semi-truck collisions. Quantifying the long-term impact of a catastrophic semi-truck collision with the help of a skilled legal team can help those affected pursue economic justice after a crash.