Underride Truck Accidents: What to Do After a Serious Crash

TL;DR: An underride truck accident happens when a smaller vehicle slides under a commercial truck or trailer, often causing serious injuries. If you're involved in one, your top priority should be getting medical attention, documenting what happened, and notifying your insurance company. Evidence such as photos, witness statements, vehicle data, and black box data can be important. Because these crashes may involve trucking companies, commercial insurance, and multiple potentially responsible parties, it's best to understand your options before accepting a settlement or making detailed statements to an insurer.

Table of Contents

What Is an Underride Truck Accident? What to Do After an Underride Accident How Underride Truck Accident Claims Work When You May Need an Attorney Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Underride Truck Accident?

A crash involving a large commercial truck can be frightening enough. But when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a truck or trailer, the consequences can be especially serious. This type of crash is known as an underride truck accident, and it can happen in several ways. If you've been injured in one, knowing what to do next can help you protect your health, preserve relevant evidence, and understand your options for seeking compensation.

In such accidents, a few different scenarios can unfold, such as:

An underride accident, which is when a passenger vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a larger truck during a collision.

A rear underride accident can happen when a car crashes into the back of a truck or trailer and slides underneath it. This may occur when a truck stops suddenly, slows in traffic, or is difficult to see.

A side underride accident happens when a vehicle strikes the side of a truck or trailer and slides underneath it. These crashes can occur at intersections, during lane changes, or when a truck crosses or turns through traffic.

Because the smaller vehicle can become partially or completely trapped underneath the truck, underride truck accident injuries can be severe. Head, neck, spinal, and other serious injuries may occur, and some crashes can be fatal.

What to Do After an Underride Accident

If you've been involved in a truck underride accident, it’s important to follow these steps:

1. Get Medical Attention

Even if you feel okay immediately after the crash, get checked by a medical professional. Some injuries don't become obvious until hours or even days later. Medical records can also become important if you later need to file an underride truck accident claim.

2. Document the Scene

If you're physically able to do so, take photos and videos of:

Your vehicle and the truck or trailer
The point of impact
The underride guard and surrounding equipment
Road conditions and traffic signals
Skid marks, debris, and other evidence
Your visible injuries

These details can help show what happened and may become essential when determining the cause of an underride accident.

3. Get Witness Information

If anyone saw the crash, get their contact information if possible. Independent witnesses may be able to provide information about what happened before and during the collision.

4. Notify Your Insurance Company

Notify your own insurance company about the accident, but don't feel pressured to give a detailed statement or accept a settlement from the trucking company's insurer before you know how serious your injuries are and what legal options are available.

5. Preserve Evidence

Evidence can disappear quickly after a truck crash. Necessary information may include photographs, surveillance footage, vehicle data, driver logs, electronic logging device records, maintenance records, inspection records, and black box data. An investigation may also determine whether the truck's equipment, lighting, visibility, or underride guard played a role in the crash.

How Underride Truck Accident Claims Work

Navigating truck accident claims in California can be more complicated than an ordinary car accident claim. That's because several parties may potentially be involved, including:

The truck driver
The trucking company
The company or individual that owns the truck
A maintenance company
A manufacturer, depending on the circumstances

If another party was responsible for your injuries, compensation after an underride truck accident may include damages such as:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
Future medical care
Pain and suffering
Other accident-related losses

The amount of compensation depends on the specific facts of the case, including the severity of the injuries, medical treatment, financial losses, and who was responsible for the crash.

When Should You Consider an Underride Accident Lawyer?

Some relatively minor accident claims can be handled directly with an insurance company. An underride crash, however, may involve serious injuries, commercial insurance, multiple potentially responsible parties, and evidence that needs to be preserved quickly.

If you were involved in an accident in North Hollywood or Toluca Lake, you don't have to navigate this on your own. Instead, consult with a legal professional who can walk you through your options. At Yepremyan Law Firm, our truck accident lawyer in North Hollywood can help you understand the claims process before you make any big decisions.

Since 1998, our injury law firm in North Hollywood has helped thousands of clients recover millions of dollars. We offer 24/7 support, so injured victims can get the legal help they need when they need it. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation or request to speak to a personal injury attorney in Toluca Lake who can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a rear and side underride accident?

A rear underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle crashes into the back of a truck or trailer and slides underneath it. A side underride accident occurs when a vehicle strikes the side of a truck or trailer and slides underneath it. Both can result in extremely serious injuries.

Are underride guards required on every commercial truck?

Not necessarily. Underride guard requirements can depend on the type and configuration of the truck or trailer and the applicable federal or state regulations. If you're involved in an underride truck accident, an investigation can help determine whether the truck was required to have a particular safety device and whether it was properly maintained.

Should I speak with the trucking company's insurer after the accident?

You should notify your own insurance company, but be careful about giving a detailed recorded statement, signing documents, or accepting a settlement from the trucking company's insurer before you understand your injuries and potential claim. The insurer's goal is to protect its policyholder's interests, not necessarily to maximize your compensation.

Do I need an underride truck accident lawyer, or can I handle the claim myself?

It depends on the circumstances. A minor claim may be possible to handle on your own, but underride truck accidents often involve serious injuries, commercial insurance, multiple parties, and complicated evidence. If your injuries are significant or liability is disputed, speaking with an attorney can help you understand your options.

*No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and developments in the law. These materials have been prepared for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal advice pertaining to any particular legal matter. Use of and access to this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, user, or browser and Yepremyan Law Firm and any of its attorneys, employees, or associates.