Any crash between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck could cause severe injuries or worse. However, some collisions are far more severe than others due to the physics involved.
An underride collision occurs when a passenger vehicle strikes a semi-truck from the rear or the side. The momentum of the smaller vehicle forces it underneath the larger vehicle, leading to devastating consequences.
Trucking companies potentially have the ability to prevent underride collisions if they make proper investments in safety and fleet maintenance. What efforts could prevent an underride crash?
1. Appropriate underride guards
Rear underride guards are mandatory, but side underride guards are not. Requirements also fall short of mandating the best guards available. Companies can install side underride guards to reduce crash risk and can invest in better rear underride guards than basic devices that only meet regulatory standards.
2. Visibility tools
Often, underride collisions are the result of maneuvers conducted without checking blind spots. Extra mirrors that allow drivers to check a semi-truck’s blind spots could prevent underride collisions. Enhanced safety features, such as cameras and interior alert systems that warn drivers of vehicles in their blind spots, could also save lives.
3. Better employment practices
High-pressure company policies and inadequate training often contribute to semi-truck collisions. When transportation companies train their drivers better and provide more leeway for them regarding delivery delays, it may be possible to prevent many underride collisions.
If a trucking company contributed to a devastating crash, then the organization may have some liability for that wreck. Discussing the circumstances of a commercial vehicle collision with a skilled legal team can help people as they pursue compensation for their losses.
