San Antonio Underride Truck Accident Lawyer

At The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, our San Antonio truck accident lawyers focus on holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies liable for the harm they cause. This includes when trucking companies fail to install or maintain underride guards to prevent underride crashes. A San Antonio underride truck accident lawyer can investigate your accident, determine who is at fault, and help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

What Is an Underride Truck Accident?

Underride truck accidents are some of the most devastating types of truck accidents that can occur. They happen when a small car slides underneath a truck trailer. The smaller vehicle is wedged beneath the trailer, sometimes resulting in the truck crushing the roof of the car or shearing it off. This can lead to fatalities, decapitations, and other serious injuries.

Common Causes of Underride Accidents in San Antonio, Texas

Various factors can lead to underride truck accidents, including the following:

• Sudden stops by trucks: Truck drivers who brake suddenly can cause a smaller vehicle to slide underneath a truck’s trailer.
• Improper lane changes: Truck drivers may fail to check blind spots or use their turn signals before merging into adjacent lanes. This can cause the smaller vehicle to get trapped underneath the semi truck.
• Lack of underride guards: The federal government understands the serious nature of these accidents and requires trucks to include underride guards to prevent them. However, trucking companies may fail to install them or fix them to save money, increasing the likelihood of underride accidents.
• Defective truck equipment: Underride accidents can also occur when the truck has defective parts, such as faulty brakes, lighting, or underride guards.

An experienced San Antonio underride truck accident lawyer can investigate the crash and determine how it happened.

Rules for Underride Guards

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 223 and 224 require the installation of underride guards that have a strength test on trailers with a gross vehicle rating of 10,000 pounds or more. These standards define the size requirements, strength testing, and energy absorption requirements for Department of Transportation-compliant guards. Even with these standards, underride crashes can still occur. The FMCSA proposes that trucking companies require side underride guards, but this is not yet mandatory.

Liability in San Antonio Underride Accidents

Various parties can be responsible for underride accidents, including the following:

• Truck drivers: Truck drivers can be careless when operating the vehicle by driving while impaired, distracted, or tired. They can fail to check blind spots or merge without signaling.
• Trucking companies: Trucking companies can be held liable for the negligence of their drivers. They can also contribute to underride accidents by hiring unqualified drivers, not installing underride guards as regulated, not ensuring that reflective tape or working taillights are on the vehicle, or not repairing broken taillights, turn signals, or other parts that contribute to these crashes.
• Truck manufacturers: Manufacturers of defective parts can be held responsible for these crashes, too.

Contact Our San Antonio Underride Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Determining who is responsible for an underride truck accident can be challenging without legal assistance from an experienced attorney. Fortunately, The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC can help. Our San Antonio underride truck accident attorneys can investigate your case, collect evidence, consult with expert witnesses, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation. Call (210) 922-0808 now.