Sharing the road with large commercial trucks can put you in danger. Big rigs present big risks in terms of the damage they can inflict on smaller vehicles and their occupants. One of the deadliest types of truck accidents is the underride crash. If you’ve been involved in an underride accident in Laredo, Texas, contact a Laredo truck accident attorney to discuss your legal rights.
What Is a Truck Underride Accident?
An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle goes beneath the trailer of a semi-truck in a motor vehicle collision. The height difference between a trailer and a passenger car poses a risk of the car sliding or getting wedged beneath the truck if the two vehicles collide, such as in a rear-end collision with the back of an 18-wheeler.
Why Do Truck Underride Accidents Happen in Texas?
Underride accidents are often preventable. They can result from issues such as driver errors and inadequate safety measures. Federal laws are in place to help prevent these deadly collisions. All commercial trucks should have impact guards on the backs and sides of their trailers, as well as lights and reflectors to make a trailer more visible to other drivers.
A truck that is missing its underride guards can increase the risk of these catastrophes should a truck and car collide. The collision itself can be caused by a variety of human errors. Common examples include following too closely, a truck slamming on the brakes, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, and failing to check a truck’s blind spots.
Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Underride Accidents
Truck underride accidents in Laredo can cause catastrophic and fatal injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. Examples include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Roof-crush injuries
- Decapitation
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries
Sadly, many victims do not survive truck underride crashes. In these scenarios, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim in Laredo.
Who Is Liable for an Underride Accident in Laredo?
Determining liability, or financial responsibility, for a truck accident in Laredo takes an investigation into who or what caused the crash. Since Texas is a fault state, the party most at fault for causing the underride accident is responsible for paying for any injuries or property damage caused to victims.
If a truck driver or trucking company made a mistake that resulted in the crash, the company can be held responsible. Examples include failing to properly train truck drivers, truck driver errors and missing underride guards on trucks. A manufacturer could also be responsible if the rear-impact guard or other safety equipment on a truck was defective.
Types of Compensation Available
Successfully holding another person or party responsible for your truck underride accident in Laredo could result in key financial compensation that can allow your family to relieve financial stress and move forward with greater peace of mind.
You may be eligible for financial damages after your truck accident injuries to pay for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage repairs, loss of consortium, a loved one’s funeral and burial, and more. Punitive damages could also be available if the defendant is guilty of gross negligence.
The Importance of Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney in Laredo
You do not have to handle the recovery process alone in the aftermath of a truck underride crash in Laredo. An attorney from Gonzalez Druker Law Firm can help you protect your rights, file a claim, and pursue fair compensation for your losses. We will help you recover from the truck accident as much as possible and pick up the pieces so that you can move forward. Contact us today to discuss your case in detail with an attorney during a free consultation.