Las Vegas lawyers - attorneys legal directory
Tractor Trailer
Under ride Accidents.
by Michael Monheit
What is a Tractor Trailer Under ride Accident?
Tractor-Trailer under ride accidents occur when a passenger vehicle, usually the
front of the passenger vehicle, enters below the base of the trailer of a large
truck (e.g., 18-wheeler). This is particularly possible with small family
passenger cars (as opposed to a mini-van or SUV). Unfortunately, the height of
the front of the car is insufficient to contact the bed of the truck, often 10
to 20 inches below the bed of the truck. This puts the bed of the truck right at
the head-chest level of the passengers within the car. Injuries in these
accidents tend to be catastrophic, if not fatal.
Why doesn't the driver just slow down to prevent an
under ride accident?
A tractor-trailer truck is pretty big... so why doesn't the car driver see the
tractor trailer in time to prevent a under ride accident?
Unfortunately, perception and reality meet too late in these circumstances.
Often the driver is fooled into thinking that the roadway is clear. Simply, the
passenger car driver does not have adequate warning of the impending trailer
under ride danger.
What is being done to improve driver perception or trailer safety?
Since 1993, trucks must have a special type of reflective tape on the rear and
sides of the trailer. Since 1996, trucks must also be equipped with a rear
under ride guard (strong metal structure) at a height of 22 inches above the
ground, so that it will easily come in contact with the engine block of a small
car, and thus prevent the car from under riding the bed of the tractor truck
trailer. However, it is sad news that many trucks have not been retrofitted.
Thus, many tractor trailer trucks manufactured before 1996 are on the road
without these two critical safety features. In addition, even ones that have had
these features installed may have insufficient protective qualities, such as an
inadequate amount of reflective material or a rear under ride guard that is too
weak to prevent under ride of the passenger vehicle.
What are other factors that play into a rear
under ride accident
Weather. Especially fog, snow, or rain that reduces the distance of visibility.
Fog and snow are a huge problem, since they often mask the grey or white color
of many trucks.
Driver carelessness. If the driver is momentarily inattentive, they may not see
a trailer that has been inadequately pulled to the side of the road, or a
trailer that is across the highway as the result of a u-turn or a wide turn in
the case of a truck entering a roadway.
The positioning of the truck may cause a trailer
under ride accident.
Road conditions. Slick road conditions increase the stopping time for a car
approaching a tractor trailer under ride situation.
Surrounding (ambient) lighting which can reflect off of the truck and cause the
truck to blend in with its surrounding, forming a sort of accidental camouflage,
especially on a silver truck. In fact often the reflective red/orange colors
match the neon lights from surrounding businesses.
Road lighting. A lack of road lighting can make it very difficult to see the
outline of the tractor truck's trailer. Especially a dark colored truck trailer
such as a dark blue, brown or black trailer. This makes it nearly impossible for
the driver of the passenger car to see the truck in time to stop and prevent a
trailer under ride.
Dirty tractor trailers case accidents. When dirt collects on the reflective
tape, it becomes inefficient at reflecting light and loses its protective
warning qualities. Frequent washing of the truck is a must to give the passenger
car driver a chance to prevent a side
under ride accident with the tractor
trailer!
What is the most common danger that creates a Tractor Trailer Under ride
Accident?
Truck driver making a u-turn or a wide-turn. This is not a sudden u-turn.
Rather, this is a situation where often the truck has made it already half way
around. In fact, the cab of the truck is often facing the oncoming traffic. That
fact makes it even more deceiving to the oncoming traffic, since they believe
that the truck is already facing them, with the trailer straight behind it,
rather than reality - with the tractor truck's trailer stretched across the
oncoming car's path of transit.
by: Michael Monheit, Esquire of Monheit Law, P.C. Toll Free: 866-761-1385
Truck Accident Lawyer
Click the link below to return to:
Las Vegas lawyers - attorneys legal directory
