Why do underride crashes cause fatalities?

Collisions between trucks and other vehicles usually become more severe based on how they happen. Still, some accidents, such as underride crashes, could have higher risks of causing fatalities.

How do underride crashes happen?

This type of collision usually occurs when a smaller vehicle, such as a car or SUV, crashes into a semi-truck with considerable force, making it go under the truck’s frame. Because of the impact, it usually causes grave damage to the car and the truck. The force could also lead to severe injuries to the smaller vehicle’s occupants, often resulting in fatalities.

What makes them deadly?

Aside from the difference in size between the truck and the vehicle, the way the collision happened made it more dangerous. Typically, the point of impact can be neck-length, focusing near the hood or windshield area of the smaller car or SUV.

Because of this risk, the physical injuries occupants tend to sustain involve the upper body, spine, head and neck. Based on the intense force and how these regions of the body house vital parts, death is usually the outcome of these incidents.

If the involved occupants survive the accident, they usually suffer catastrophic injuries that may require extensive and long-term medical treatments. In any case, this crash type frequently leads to devastating losses to both survivors and surviving family members of deceased victims.

Seeking accountability for underride crashes

When dealing with underride or other types of truck crashes, determining if negligence caused them could be crucial. Sometimes, the only way to hold at-fault parties accountable is by investigating the details thoroughly. When pursuing compensation, consider seeking legal guidance from an experienced professional. Skilled insight could help determine the best approach and whether other legal options are more appropriate.

Matthew D. Dubin

Matthew D. Dubin has represented injured people throughout Washington since 1995. He is the founding attorney of Dubin Law Group and focuses his practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle accidents, dangerous products, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death.

Education

• License Number: 25378
• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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