An underride accident is one of the most catastrophic types of collisions that can happen on the road. These truck accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a commercial vehicle, often shearing off the roof of the car and causing devastating injuries to the occupants inside. El Paso’s heavy truck traffic along Interstate 10 and other major corridors makes this a real concern for local drivers.
Learning about how these accidents happen and what legal options exist can help you protect your rights if you or someone you love is ever affected by one. In the event you were involved in an underride accident with a truck, reach out to our truck accident attorney in El Paso today.
How Do Underride Accidents Happen?
Underride crashes typically fall into two categories: rear underride and side underride. A rear underride occurs when a passenger vehicle collides with the back of a truck, such as when the truck is moving significantly slower than the flow of traffic. A side underride could happen when, for instance, a car slides beneath the trailer during a turn.
Several factors can contribute to these collisions in El Paso, including:
- A truck driver stopping suddenly without adequate warning
- Damaged underride guards on the trailer
- A truck making a wide turn across multiple lanes of traffic
- The truck driver failing to use turn signals
- Dangerous road conditions that reduce stopping distance
Many of these accidents are preventable. Federal regulations require most trailers to have rear underride guards that meet specific strength standards. However, compliance is inconsistent, and side underride guards are not yet federally mandated on most trucks.
How Much Is My El Paso Underride Accident Case Worth?
The value of an underride accident claim depends on the specifics of your case, but these crashes tend to produce some of the highest damage awards in personal injury law due to the severity of the injuries involved.
Some of the factors that influence what your case may be worth include:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- Your current medical expenses and projected future care costs
- Whether you’ve lost income or the ability to work at your previous capacity
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- Whether the trucking company violated any federal safety regulations
- The insurance coverage available from all of the responsible parties
Texas law allows victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages as well as punitive damages in rare cases. Underride accidents frequently involve multiple liable parties, from the truck driver to the trucking company to the trailer manufacturer, and each additional source of liability can mean more coverage available to compensate you.
Contact an Experienced El Paso Truck Accident Lawyer for Legal Help
Underride accidents often result in the most severe injuries imaginable. If you or a loved one were involved in this type of collision in El Paso, Texas, contact Cal Mundell Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation at (915) 250-0700. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients and are ready to get to work and fight for justice on your behalf as soon as you are.