Big trucks and small cars add up to deadly accidents on Texas highways.

The height different between trucks and cars is responsible for some of the deadliest accidents on the road.

Underride Accidents

Because the body of a tractor-trailer sits higher up than the average passenger vehicle, a situation known as an “underride” accident can occur when a passenger vehicle rear ends a semi-truck. This can happen because of bad weather, decreased visibility, slippery streets, or sudden stops by the truck driver. In this situation, the passenger vehicle travels underneath the truck’s trailer. On impact, the trailer intrudes into the passenger vehicle and often causes death and serious injury to those inside. Because the tractor trailer hits at head level, these injuries most often include closed head injuries, open head injuries, traumatic brain injuries and decapitation.

This type of accident is extremely tragic; to prevent underride accidents, truck trailers built after 1998 are required to have rear-impact guards. These guards include reflective tape and a rear bumper installed at a lower height to prevent override. However, when bumpers don’t meet DOT standards or when they collapse on impact, deadly accidents can occur.

More than half of override accidents occur when trucks are stopped on the shoulder of large highways. Even approved bumpers may not work at high speeds, so truck drivers should be well out of the lane of traffic and have reflectors and plenty of lights to increase their visibility.

Override Accidents

Override accidents occur when an 18-wheeler truck rides over a car, often crushing the people inside. When these accidents aren’t fatal, survivors are left seriously disabled. They may sustain traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries that lead to paralysis, paraplegia and quadriplegia. There are three major causes of override accidents:

1. Truck tailgating

2. Truck travelling too fast for conditions

3. Truck unable to stop because of faulty brakes or poor maintenance

Tailgating, speeding and poor maintenance are violations of the laws that regulate truckers and trucking companies.

There are truck designs that can prevent these types of accidents, but they are not mandatory.

Because many of these large truck accidents can be prevented with proper maintenance and equipment, both the truck driver and the trucking company may share responsibility for the accident. The Cowen Law Firm is not afraid to take on the large trucking companies. If you have lost a loved one or your loved one has been seriously injured in an override or underride truck accident, you have rights. Contact the Cowen Law Firm at 877-385-1282. We can help you get full compensation for your loved ones injuries and for your family’s losses. Call our office in Brownsville, Laredo, San Antonio or Rio Grande City to speak to a personal injury attorney. The initial consultation is free and we have a 30 day no obligation guarantee.