Fort Myers Truck Underride Accident Lawyer
Semi-trucks are substantially larger and heavier than the typical passenger vehicle. This size disadvantage can prove deadly in the event of an accident. Indeed, thousands of people are injured or killed every year in collisions between Big Rigs and smaller cars.
Underride accidents occur when the smaller vehicle strikes the trailer portion of a semi-truck, often sliding right underneath the larger vehicle. Such collisions are often preventable and are therefore the result of some negligent act on the part of the truck’s driver or owner. A qualified Fort Myers truck underride accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding a crash and advise you on the issue of liability. At Cardinal Law, P.A., we represent accident victims seeking to recover compensation for their injuries and other losses tied to such events.
Who Is to Blame for an Underride Accident?
An underride accident usually falls within one of the following categories:
- Rear-End Collisions. In this scenario, the smaller vehicle hits the back of the tractor-trailer head-on and becomes wedged underneath the trailer part of the larger vehicle.
- Side-Impact Collision. Here, the smaller vehicle makes contact with the side of the trailer, usually when the truck is trying to make a turn or change lanes.
- Offset Collisions. This is when the smaller vehicle strikes the corner of the trailer, usually during a turn.
It is not uncommon for truck companies and their insurers to try and shift blame for an underride accident to the driver of the smaller vehicle. In the case of a rear-end collision, for example, there is a general presumption that the person driving the rear vehicle is at-fault–even when they are driving behind a semi-truck. But that presumption is not absolute, and it is often possible to prove that the truck driver’s negligence was actually to blame for the underride accident.
One issue that frequently arises in these cases is the presence, or lack thereof, of an “underride guard” on the Big Rig. Federal safety regulations require most commercial trucks to install such guards expressly to minimize the risk of an underride accident. So if such guards are not present, or the guard installed is defective or too small for the trailer, that can be cited as proof of the truck owner’s negligence.
Contact Cardinal Law Today
Underride accidents are among the most catastrophic types of motor vehicle collisions. If the top of a passenger vehicle is suddenly sheared off by a larger trailer, the result can be decapitation or loss of limbs if not outright death. Many underride accident victims sustain permanent injuries that limit their ability to earn a living or otherwise resume a normal life.
So if a truck driver, truck company, or another party’s negligence was to blame for such a horrific accident, the victims and their families have a right to take legal action. Our Fort Myers truck underride accident lawyer is here to help. Contact Cardinal Law, P.A., today to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our personal injury legal team.
