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Washington DC’s Leading Underride Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or your loved one were injured in an underride truck accident in Washington, DC, you need an experienced truck accident attorney at Regan Zambri Long to fight for your rights. Recovering compensation for an underride truck accident is a complex process. The trucking company may fight your claim and even deny responsibility. Insurance companies, who have legal teams of their own, are notorious for paying as little as possible to truck accident victims. You need a truck underride accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long. Our personal injury attorneys have handled countless cases and are experts in federal trucking laws. Call today for a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers.

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Need Help with Your Underride Truck Accident Case?

Let our DC underride truck accident lawyers help you navigate the complexities of a legal claim following a truck collision. The experienced truck accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have decades of experience in personal injury law in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Recently, the firm obtained a settlement totaling in excess of $15.2 million for the death of a 35-year-old carpenter who was crushed by a dump truck.

$77M Wrongful Death Settlement

$20M Brain Injury Verdict

$19.5M Wrongful Death Verdict

$16M Premises Liability Settlement

$15.2M Wrongful Death Settlement

$15.2M Wrongful Death Verdict

$14M Personal Injury Settlement

$14M Car Accident Settlement

$11M Med. Malpractice Settlement

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What Happens in a Truck Underride Accident?

A truck underride accident starts with a smaller vehicle crashing into the side or back of a large commercial truck, such as a tractor trailer. Since the trailer sits much higher off the ground than the passenger car (a car may only reach the wheels of a large truck), an empty space is created for the car to slide underneath the trailer. As the car moves underneath, the top of the car can be completely sheared off, resulting in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

With an uptick in online shopping and home deliveries of food, clothing, and household goods, truck accidents are on the rise. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,119 people died in truck accidents in 2019 alone – a 31% increase from 2009. Because of legal and legislative implications, underride truck accidents are severely underreported. The Fatal Accident Reports (FARS) uncovered that the total number of underride truck accidents between 1994 and 2010 was reported to be 610. The real number in that 17-year period was 1894 underride accidents.

Big truck truck cutting off passenger car on highway. this may call for a lawyer

Why Are Truck Underride Collisions so Dangerous?

To understand why truck underride accidents are so dangerous, we must first look at the safety components of a car. Most cars are manufactured with crumple zones, also known as crush zones. Crumple zones are typically located in the front and rear of a vehicle and are designed to quite literally crumple in a collision. The goals of crumple zones are to reduce the initial impact of the crash and then redistribute the force of the crash before it reaches the passengers in the vehicle. This safety feature has saved hundreds of thousands of lives in motor vehicle accidents.

This is where the dangers of underride accidents come in. When an underride accident happens, the first point of contact the car has with the truck is usually the windshield. This means the crumple zones in the front and back of the car are not activated on impact, rendering them ineffective in protecting the passengers. With little to protect them, the underride crash is extremely dangerous and, oftentimes causes fatal accidents.

How Do I Avoid an Underride Truck Accident?

Both motorists and truck drivers have a responsibility to drive as safely as possible while sharing the road. Below are safety measures for both parties that will help all motorists get to their destinations as safely as possible:

Passenger vehicle safety tips:

Create space: Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Because of the size and weight of the truck, it takes a longer time for the vehicle to come to a complete stop. This is why it is essential for a passenger vehicle to create as much space as possible from the truck. This way, if either vehicle has to come to an abrupt stop, it leaves both drivers with plenty of time to safely slow down.
Avoid blind spots: Semi trucks, tractor trailers, and other commercial trucks have very large blind spots in the front, back, and to the sides. The most dangerous place for a motorist to drive is on the truck’s passenger side, so maneuver your car away from that zone as safely and quickly as possible. When you need to pass a truck, always pass on the driver’s side. The main rule to follow is: if you cannot see the truck driver in the truck’s side mirrors or in the truck’s rear view mirror, then the truck driver cannot see you.
Changing lanes and merging: When you change lanes or merge onto a highway, continue to create that space between yourself and the truck. Get into the habit of clearly signaling each move you make on the road to warn truck drivers and other motorists of where your vehicle is headed.
Be aware of the causes of underride accidents: The safest thing a motorist can do while driving is to stay alert. Keep your eyes focused on the road and don’t let yourself get distracted by your cell phone, other passengers, or the radio. Frequently check your rearview mirror and side mirrors and be aware of what other car and semi drivers are doing. Keep the causes of underride accidents in the back of your mind: failure to yield, failure to signal, tailgating, speeding, driving while intoxicated or fatigued, and low visibility. Paying attention to other drivers and focusing solely on the task at hand will help you prevent an underride accident.
Remain calm: Remember, everyone wants to get to their destination safely. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to where you have to be so you are not in a rush on the road. Give others the benefit of the doubt and practice patience and kindness toward other drivers.

Truck driver safety tips:

Create space: Like motorists, it is the truck driver’s responsibility to make sure they do not tailgate or allow themselves to be closely followed by another motorist. Create plenty of space between yourself and other drivers on the road.
Regular maintenance and inspections: Many underride accidents are caused by a truck’s brake failure and tire blowouts. Your truck should be in excellent condition before taking it on the road. Make sure you or the company you work for performs regular maintenance and inspections. If anything seems off with the vehicle, especially your brakes, tail lights, and tires, bring it up to your superiors right away.
Don’t drive drowsy: Driving while you’re tired is unsafe for any driver. However, a truck driver has an added responsibility as the vehicle you are driving can be deadly to motorists sharing the road with you. Follow the hours of service limits set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Get enough sleep before you start your drive, drink caffeine, and take frequent breaks.
Proper training: Handling a tractor trailer or a semi truck is not the same as handling a regular sized car. Truck drivers need to be extensively trained before they are sent out on a trip by themselves. They should understand how to maneuver the vehicle, how to handle obstacles and hazards, and how to bring the truck to a complete stop as quickly as possible.
Pulling the truck over: Take the following safety precautions if you have to pull over on the side of the highway: turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers that you are stopped. Set up flares or triangles around the truck if you have them. Keep your lights on to warn other drivers that you are stationary in the road.

Commercial truck guard protection

Underride guards can be the difference between life or death in a truck accident. Underride guards are steel bars that hang from the backs and sides of large trucks to prevent a passenger vehicle from sliding underneath in a crash. Currently, there is little regulation in the trucking industry when it comes to underride guard protection. The Stop Underrides! Act of 2019 is legislation that would force trucking companies to manufacture trucks with rear underride guards. This video demonstrates the different outcomes of an accident with a truck that does not have underride protection versus an accident with a truck that does have underride protection.

Currently, many guards on tractor trailers, semis, and other commercial trucks are either improperly fitted on the truck or outdated. Underride guards can be installed too high on the truck, rendering them ineffective in stopping a car from sliding underneath the truck. Because of the lack of regulation, trucking companies may have outdated guards on their trucks, which lack the strength to stop a car from getting lodged underneath. Several congressional members believe that if trucking companies are not forced to install and upkeep underride protection guards, they will continue to try to cut costs and resist investing money in underride protection.

Common Types and Causes of Truck Underride Accidents in Washington, DC

There are two types of underride truck accidents, which killed more than 850 people in 2019 alone:

Rear underride truck accidents

This type of accident is when a car hits and slides under the rear of a commercial truck or tractor trailer. Rear underride crashes usually happen when the truck driver makes a sudden stop and the smaller vehicle cannot slow down in time. There are cases of passenger vehicles crashing into the rear of a parked truck, especially when the truck is parked on the side of a highway and isn’t displaying hazard or warning lights.

Inclement weather plays a huge role in rear underride truck accidents. Wet and icy roadways make it difficult for cars to come to a complete stop when trying to slow down. They can also cause passenger vehicles to slide and skid into the truck in front of them.

Side underride truck accidents

A side underride crash is when a car slides into the side of a large truck, like a tractor trailer or 18-wheeler. Side underride crashes can cause the car to be partially lodged underneath the truck, or fully engulfed and they account for the death of up to 200 people per year.

These types of crashes can happen with the low visibility of night time driving. In many cases, truck drivers will make a U-turn on a road they think is clear. Low visibility during the night doesn’t allow an oncoming motorist to see what the truck is doing and unfortunately, they often cannot stop in time. Side underride accidents also occur when truck drivers are turning or crossing in front of a car, assuming the driver sees them. Finally, merging onto highways can cause underride truck accidents. Trucks have large blind spots and may not see the driver in the lane next to them.

Other common causes of accidents that can lead to underride crashes are:

Tire blowouts
Reckless driving
Speeding
Tailgating

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Frequently Asked Questions About Underride Truck Accidents in Washington, DC

Q: Who is liable for an underride truck collision?

A: There are several parties who can be held liable for an underride truck accident, which is why having a Regan Zambri Long experienced truck accident attorney by your side will be extremely beneficial. We will investigate the following parties to determine who is at fault for the accident:

The truck driver
The trucking company
The truck maintenance company
The truck manufacturers
The cargo loaders

Q: What damages can I collect from an underride truck accident?

A: Your Regan Zambri Long underride truck collision lawyer will help secure damages for the following:

Current and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering, including loss of consortium
Wrongful death

Q: What are Washington DC and federal trucking laws?

A: Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow both Washington DC trucking laws and federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Washington DC trucking laws include:

Commercial trucks must travel only in the designated area allowed by the Washington DC Department of Transportation.
Trucks are prohibited in I-66, east of I-495.
The width, height, and length of a truck must not exceed 8ft, 13.6ft, and 55ft respectively.
The weight of a truck must not exceed 34,000 pounds.

Federal regulations for commercial trucks and drivers are:

Hours of service limitations: Limits the truck driver to 14 consecutive hours of driving per day.
Electronic logging devices (ELDs): ELDs must be installed in every truck to make sure the truck drivers are adhering to the hours of service restrictions.
Medical exams and background checks: New drivers must submit to drug, alcohol, medical tests, and background checks before they can be hired by a trucking company.
Cargo loading: Trucking companies must properly secure cargo on the truck.
Employee training: All truck drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license and be extensively trained before making a solo trip.
Inspection and maintenance: Regular maintenance checks must be performed on each truck.

Q: What is an override accident?

A: An override truck accident is when a car is run over by a commercial truck. Common causes of override accidents are tailgating (when the truck is tailgating the car), brake failure, failure to yield, speeding, bad weather, and improper lane changing.

Q: How can a Regan Zambri Long underride truck accident attorney help me?

A: After determining which party or parties are liable for the collision, our truck accident lawyers will get to work on securing the highest compensation possible for your injuries and suffering. Before a claim is filed, we will work with medical personnel to determine the medical costs associated with your injuries from the accident. We will also evaluate the emotional distress you and your family had to go through as a result of the crash. Finally, we will focus on investigating the scene of the accident, including debris and statements from other drivers who witnessed the crash. We will obtain the police report, the truck driver’s employment history, and the trucking company’s records.

We will take care of any and all correspondence with insurance companies and the trucking company so you can focus on your recovery. Results matter to the personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long and we will work tirelessly to secure you the compensation you deserve.

Call us today at 202-960-4596 for a free initial consultation.