When a car gets into an accident with an 18-wheeler, the result is often nothing short of catastrophe. Due to sheer weight and size of these large trucks, cars can incur forces from collisions that are beyond the capacity of some safety systems. Depending on where a vehicle strikes a truck and what sort of clearance the bottom of the truck reaches down to, the aftermath of these accidents can leave cars totaled and drivers with severe injuries. In particular, accidents classified as under-ride collisions are extremely dangerous.

Car, slides underneath the side of a large truck during a collision

Side-underride truck collisions occur when a smaller vehicle, such as a car, slides underneath the side of a large truck during a collision. This type of accident can be particularly dangerous and often leads to severe injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle. Here are some key points regarding side-underride collisions:

1. Mechanism of the Collision:
   • Side-underride collisions typically occur when a smaller vehicle collides with the side of a large truck, and due to the height difference, the smaller vehicle may slide underneath the truck’s trailer.
2. Dangerous Outcome:
   • These collisions are particularly hazardous because the smaller vehicle can become wedged beneath the truck’s trailer, leading to catastrophic injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
3. Common Locations:
   • Side-underride collisions often happen at intersections or when a smaller vehicle attempts to pass a truck. Poor visibility, driver distraction, or failure to yield can contribute to these accidents.
4. Prevention Measures:
   • To address the risks associated with side-underride collisions, some trucks are equipped with side guards. Side guards are metal barriers installed along the sides of trucks to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath. However, the use and effectiveness of side guards can vary.
5. Regulations and Advocacy:
   • Different countries may have regulations regarding side-underride protection on trucks. Some safety advocates and organizations push for stricter regulations to enhance safety and reduce the severity of injuries in such collisions.
6. Improving Visibility:
   • Improving visibility through better lighting on trucks, reflective markings, and other measures can also contribute to preventing side-underride collisions.
7. Research and Awareness:
   • Ongoing research and awareness campaigns aim to address the issue and promote safety measures to reduce the occurrence and severity of side-underride collisions.

It’s important to note that safety measures and regulations can vary by region, and advancements in technology and safety standards may influence the prevention and mitigation of side-underride collisions. If you have a specific incident or case in mind, providing more details could help in providing more targeted information.

When a car the size of a sedan or coup strikes a truck, the bottom of the truck may not actually be low enough to affect the body of the car. Instead, the impact may cause the top of the vehicle to be crushed, if not cut off by the overwhelming forces involved. This gives little protection to the driver or passengers in the car, causing potentially life-threatening injuries to the neck and head.

Under-ride accidents may also be the result of a car hitting the side of a truck

While this type of accident is commonly associated with rear-end collisions, under-ride accidents may also be the result of a car hitting the side of a truck. Unlike the back of the truck, not all trailers include protective bars on their sides. These bars extend the bottom clearance of the truck, redirecting the damages done to the car in an under-ride accident to the body instead of the top.

Side under-ride collisions are especially common occur at night. Perhaps the most disastrous collisions occur when a truck is turning or crossing a road. These truckers may be driving properly, but the lack of visual indication on the side of the trailer makes it seem to a car driver that the road is open. As a result, the driver may continue through the road, striking the truck squarely in the side.

To learn more about under-ride collisions, contact a Rhode Island truck accident attorney at Slepkow Law