If you live in Houston, Texas, you have most likely heard about underride crashes and just how deadly they can be. Underride collisions have been going on for decades, with little to no improvement being made to protect civilian drivers through preventative measures or laws.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our Houston car accident lawyers have experience in underride crash claims and can help you get the compensation you deserve. We will help protect your rights, communicate with the other involved parties, and collect evidence to support your case.

Keep reading to find out what underride accidents are and why they are so prevalent in the Houston area.

What is an Underride Crash?

Underride crashes are one of the most dangerous types of accidents and often result in severe injuries and fatalities. Underride crashes occur when a civilian vehicle collides with a semi-truck and gets lodged in the space beneath the trailer. These accidents can be rear collisions where the civilian vehicle was behind the semi-truck, or they can be a side underride crash.

The harsh reality of underride truck accidents is that those in civilian vehicles often don’t survive their injuries. In many situations, the front or side of the car is completely stripped or crushed, completely illuminating any protective measures the vehicle has for drivers and their passengers. As a result, these accidents can result in spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, limb loss, burns, and skull fractures.

Causes of Underride Crashes in Houston, TX

There are a number of things that can contribute to underride crashes in Houston, Texas, which can help drivers better understand how to prevent these collisions. Finding the cause of an underride accident is also a crucial part of any car accident case since you need to find the at fault party. Underride crashes could easily be caused by either the civilian or the semi truck driver depending on the situation.

• Poor visibility: Underride accidents have a higher likelihood of occurring during times where the visibility is poor. Semi-truck drivers may not be able to see smaller vehicles on the road and civilian drivers may struggle to maintain a safe distance from trucks when there is poor visibility.
• Overloading: Overloaded trucks are a big problem as it makes them more difficult to navigate and control on the road. This is why there are laws around how much cargo trucks can transport but this isn’t always followed.
• Speeding: Both semi-truck drivers and civilian drivers could easily cause an underride accident if they are speeding. Speeding makes it harder to control the vehicle, which can make it impossible to stop in time before the two vehicles collide.
• Improper lane changes. Truck drivers can contribute to underride accidents if they do not make lane changes carefully. They may not see smaller vehicles as they are switching lanes or may do so improperly or at too high a speed.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an underride collision, you need to hire an underride truck accident lawyer in Houston. These accidents can be difficult to navigate, especially when you are dealing with trucking companies and their insurance providers. Additionally, you most likely have a significant amount of damages you need to pay for, making the need for a larger settlement necessary.

Solutions For Underride Accidents

Finding a solution for underride crashes is not completely straightforward, as there will always be a risk since semi-trucks are very large and contribute to some of the more severe auto accidents in Houston. However, there are some steps that trucking companies, truck drivers, local motorists, and the government can take to improve safety.

Side Underride Guards

Rear underride guards have been required for semi trucks for quite a long time but it is not enough to completely protect other vehicles. Side underride guards are still optional, which significantly contributes to the number of severe and fatal underride accidents. Although drivers are somewhat protected if they are behind semi trucks, side underride accidents are still very prevalent, and there is no reason not to implement additional safety guards.

Research has shown how useful these guards can be towards preventing side underride collisions and reducing their severity. The main thing holding this safety feature back is trucking companies that argue that it is too expensive and is not proven to be effective enough.

Underride Awareness

Although there should be more safety measures in place to protect civilian drivers from underride collisions, drivers still have some responsibility. You need to be aware of the dangers of underride accidents and the things that can contribute to them. For instance, a common contributor of underride accidents is driving too close to semi trucks.

Houston drivers should always maintain a safe distance behind and beside semi trucks to prevent the risk of colliding. They should also try to be aware of where they are around the truck so that they do not drift into a blind spot. Other steps you can take to protect yourself include maintaining the legal speed, being more aware when driving near semi trucks, and making safe lane changes.

Local Initiatives 

Because underride crashes are so prevalent in Houston, there are many local initiatives that help increase awareness around this problem. Getting involved in your community is a crucial part of addressing Houston’s underride crisis as it helps to get the attention of those in positions of power.

Very little has been done to address this danger for drivers, so bringing more attention to it can encourage more legislative endeavors and preventative measures to be put in place.

Hire an Experienced Car Accident Attorney at DeHoyos Car Accident Attorneys

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our car accident lawyers have helped hundreds of clients navigate the legal complexities after an underride accident. We could help you every step of the way, ensuring your claim is evidence-backed and your rights are upheld.

Are you ready to pursue a car accident claim after being the victim of an underride accident? Call our Houston office today at 832-745-4878 to speak with one of our attorneys.