A truck underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle crashes into the back or side of a tractor-trailer. These types of crashes are often catastrophic or fatal because the passenger vehicle involved in this type of crash is usually crushed. Some underride accidents even involve the top of the vehicle being sheared off by the underside of the trailer. Anyone that has lost a loved one in a fatal underride truck accident would be well advised to seek legal guidance from a skilled Arizona truck accident attorney.
Truck underride accidents in Arizona can result in brain injuries and even decapitation. According to ABC News, more than 350 people are fatally injured in these types of crashes each year despite the fact that there are safety standards to help prevent them. Federal safety standards require all big rigs to have rear-impact guards, which are designed to stop cars and prevent them from sliding underneath.
However, a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that these rear-impact guards are still not strong enough to prevent underride accidents. For example, the IIHS crash tested a Chevy Malibu traveling 35 mph. The rear impact guard gave way, the car slid under the trailer and the Malibu was crushed. On the other hand, Canada mandates rear impact guards that are 75 percent stronger than the ones in the United States. When the IIHS tested those barriers, they held up in a similar crash.
A number of these truck underride accidents occur when drivers of big rigs drive recklessly or aggressively. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Arizona truck accident caused by driver negligence, please contact the experienced Phoenix truck crash lawyers of the The Breyer Law Offices P.C. Please contact us at 602-457-6222 for a free consultation.
