1. Approximately 70% of fatalities resulting from crashes with large trucks belonged to the occupants of passenger cars;
2. Only about 22% of smaller vehicles’ crashes with large trucks do not involve significant underride damage.
3. More than 400 passenger car occupants die each year in underride accidents with large trucks, and more than 5,000 people receive injuries from these crashes.
Basically these statistics mean that if you are in a passenger car traveling behind a large truck and your car crashes with that truck, your chances of a fatal underride accident are pretty large. The dire nature of these statistics over the years, added to the apparent ineffectiveness of current truck rear impact guards, has prompted the IIHS to issue a call for government action. The insurance industry wants to see tougher rear impact guards’ standards.
What current calls for government action don’t strongly address is the equal need for protection against the dangers of fatal side impact underride accidents. News reports regularly describe cars crashing into truck trailers as those large trucks pull out across the roads or get stuck in trafficked areas. A truck provides just as high a clearance for a fatal underride accident from the side as it does from the rear. And a lot of these side impact underride accidents happen at night when the car drivers can’t see the obstructing trailer before they crash into it.
Passenger car crashes with large trucks can have devastating consequences for the cars’ occupants. Those consequences might include life-long disabilities, disfigurements, or the loss of family members’ lives to the accident. If you’ve experienced such a catastrophic truck wreck, you probably have financial burdens from your medical expenses to equal your physical and emotional burdens from the wreck. Don’t give up hope. Our Clear Lake, TX personal injury law firm could bring relief in your time of need. If truck driver negligence has taken its toll on your life, our experience, understanding, and dedication could help you recover the monetary compensation you need to become financially whole again. Please let us help; it’s why we’re here.