Truck Accidents: Override and Underride
Maryland
Truck or tractor-trailer override and underride accidents are some of the most serious accidents on the road. An override accident occurs when a truck runs over an automobile, motorcycle or pedestrian. An underride accident occurs when an automobile or motorcycle slides beneath the truck. In either type of accident, the injuries are most likely serious, if not fatal. The higher level of the truck’s chassis–especially that of the trailer–directs the force of the impact over the crash protection of the car, often directly at the upper body and head of passengers.
During an override accident, a truck runs over whatever is in its path when it fails to brake. There are many causes of this type of accident including:
- Driver fatigue
- Brake failure
- Tire blowout
- Reckless driving, especially speeding
- Weather
- Tailgating
Underride truck accidents occur when a passenger vehicle crashes into a tractor-trailer. The car then continues beneath the truck. The high rear or side of the trailer passes over the bumper and hood of the car, bypassing the engineered accident protection for passengers. Instead, it crushes or rips the top of the vehicle off, generally causing serious injury to passengers, such as severe head trauma or decapitation. This most commonly happens when a following car goes under the rear corner of the trailer. Around 40 percent of all underride accidents that involve fatalities are of this type. Deadly underride accidents are also caused when a trailer is stretched across several lanes of traffic, such as when the tractor-trailer is backing into a delivery location.
Although underride accidents have long been known to be a deadly danger of tractor-trailer trucks, it was not until 1998 that all new trailers were required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to have rear underride guards. A 1993 rule required that new trailers be equipped with reflective tape to increase visibility. However, there is no rule requiring side underride guards, nor is there a requirement to retrofit older trailers with updated safety equipment.
As part of override and underride accident prevention, all trucks should, at a minimum:
- Turn on lights and put out warning signs when parked on the side of the road
- Have all required underride guards
- Have all required reflectors and reflective tape, unobstructed
- Have well-maintained brakes inspected regularly
- Keep their distance from other vehicles
- Have an alert, undistracted driver
If you have suffered serious injury or lost a loved one in an truck override or underride accident in Maryland, please contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. for an initial consultation.
