Yale Haymond Law PLLC has seen numerous underride truck accident cases unfold in North Carolina. The Charlotte truck accident attorney offers advice below on how to handle an underride truck accident.
Understanding Underride Truck Accident Mechanics
Commercial truck collisions produce devastating injuries on America’s roadways, as passenger vehicles slide beneath massive truckbeds. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirms that underride crashes represent a significant portion of fatal truck accidents nationwide. The height difference between semi-trucks and standard vehicles can create space for smaller cars to slide beneath or trucks to drive over them.
Smaller vehicles may go between truck wheels during an impact, pinning the passenger vehicle underneath. The momentum can crush the car, trapping those inside. Side underride accidents also occur frequently.
Federal regulations require many trucks to install rear underride guards. However, these safety devices do not prevent all accidents.
Why Underride Collisions Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries for Charlotte Road Users
Underride truck accidents produce particularly severe outcomes for passenger vehicle occupants when they shear off the vehicle’s roof. Traumatic head and upper body injuries are common for those who survive underride collisions.
Emergency rescue efforts face significant challenges when the truck's weight presses down to make the doors inoperable and the windows inaccessible. First responders must extract victims with equipment to avoid delaying critical medical treatment.
It’s also common to see safety features that protect occupants in typical crashes failing during an underride accident. Airbags and other systems may not deploy because the impact point occurs at the windshield or hood rather than at the front bumper.
Legal Options After an Underride Truck Accident in Charlotte
Those who survive underride collisions may face complex legal questions about truck accident liability. Reliable truck accident lawyers in Charlotte, like Yale Haymond Law PLLC, can help parties understand their rights.
These cases require thorough investigation, so the lawyer may look into truck driver behavior, company policies, and vehicle maintenance records. They also look into whether the truck driver violated federal safety regulations, such as hours of service, maintenance, and cargo loading.
Various factors may influence how an underride truck accident case proceeds, including:
Medical expenses
Property damage
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Claims may go to the driver's employer’s insurance company. If the victim decides to pursue compensation through insurance claims or legal action, an attorney can help determine damages and conduct negotiations.
Wrongful Death Claims After Underride Truck Accidents
If there’s been an underride collision, legal advice can guide the family on how to proceed. For example, those who lose loved ones in underride truck accidents may want to pursue wrongful death claims. These legal actions allow surviving family members to seek compensation for funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship.
North Carolina law permits certain family members (spouses, children, and parents) to file wrongful death claims on behalf of deceased victims. An attorney can explain their rights, legal options, and filing deadlines after these fatal accidents.
About Yale Haymond Law PLLC
Underride truck accidents are serious, whether they result in injuries or fatalities. The right firm can assist victims or their families in investigating accident causes, establishing liability, navigating insurance negotiations, and presenting litigation. In Charlotte, Yale Haymond Law PLLC is available at (704) 800-4357.
