The ever-present big rig truck is part of the landscape of our national highway system. They likely will remain as such as long as they are needed to transport goods. Such is the size of these vehicles that we may only think of the damage they could do when striking another vehicle. But tractor-trailers can also present special dangers for those who have the misfortune of driving into them.
One hazard stems from the fact that the trailer being hauled by a big rig truck is elevated in such a way that should you crash into one, the hood of your car could easily slide under the trailer?s carriage. This means that your car may not stop until the windshield and upper part of the car crashes against the trailer. This leaves you, and all other occupants, exposed to direct impact with the trailer.
In May of last year, a mother of nine lost two of her children in a trailer undercarriage accident. The car she was driving was struck by one big rig and was driven under the trailer of another.
The mother decided to respond by pushing for changes in federal trucking regulations. She started an online petition. She became part of a movement calling for more stringent requirements regarding what are called “underride guards.” These guards are metal bars intended to block vehicles from sliding underneath trailers.
Thus far, the mother?s persistence has paid off as she met with the transportation secretary. The transportation secretary made the promise that the matter would be addressed very soon.
Hopefully, new safety regulations will soon come to pass, which will lessen the likelihood of such accidents. Still, we must be very careful when driving in a truck?s proximity. A sudden stop at highway speeds could present instant danger.
An undercarriage accident can leave victims vulnerable to injuries leading to permanent disability or death. If you are ever in such a collision, a truck accident attorney could take available information and couple it with their own investigation to determine liability and the amount required for fair remuneration.