Corner Under-ride Prevention
When a car strikes a truck from the rear or side, the resulting accident can be devastating. Known as under-ride, the front of the car can slide unimpeded under the truck, bringing the force of the collision onto the windshield. Considering that the windshield provides very little protection against such massive forces, severe injuries to the driver and passenger's neck and head are common in these injuries.
Although rear under-ride guards have been federally mandated for all trucks manufactured since 1998, these guards do not always provide sufficient protection. Additionally, reflective tape was mandated in 1999, which is occasionally used in conjunction with trailer lighting to maximize visibility at night. While this helps the side and rear of the vehicle, little has been done to improve driver safety in case of a corner under-ride accident.
Rear guards, for as useful as they may be, do not block off the sides of the truck's rear. This means the corner is still open and, in cases when a truck or car is changing lanes, under-ride may still occur here. However, there are a few steps that can be taken to improve the overall safety of drivers in terms of reducing corner under-ride accidents.
Many accidents occur each year when a trucker has pulled off the road due to a mechanical problem. As many shoulders are planned for the size of an average car and not necessarily a hulking 18-wheeler, drivers may clip the side of the truck while passing by. As this can lead to a high-speed corner under-ride accident, the damages and injuries suffered may be particularly severe. The solution here is to use reflective, brightly-colored markers when pulling off the road. Drivers should be amply warned when a trucker pulls onto the shoulder to prevent these accidents.
In addition to warning drivers on the road, corner under-ride accidents may be reduced by signaling early before changing lanes and keeping especially tight attention on the possibility of someone in the truck's blind spots.
For more information regarding your rights if you have been injured in a corner under-ride accident, contact the Madison car accident attorneys of Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C., today.
Although rear under-ride guards have been federally mandated for all trucks manufactured since 1998, these guards do not always provide sufficient protection. Additionally, reflective tape was mandated in 1999, which is occasionally used in conjunction with trailer lighting to maximize visibility at night. While this helps the side and rear of the vehicle, little has been done to improve driver safety in case of a corner under-ride accident.
Rear guards, for as useful as they may be, do not block off the sides of the truck's rear. This means the corner is still open and, in cases when a truck or car is changing lanes, under-ride may still occur here. However, there are a few steps that can be taken to improve the overall safety of drivers in terms of reducing corner under-ride accidents.
Many accidents occur each year when a trucker has pulled off the road due to a mechanical problem. As many shoulders are planned for the size of an average car and not necessarily a hulking 18-wheeler, drivers may clip the side of the truck while passing by. As this can lead to a high-speed corner under-ride accident, the damages and injuries suffered may be particularly severe. The solution here is to use reflective, brightly-colored markers when pulling off the road. Drivers should be amply warned when a trucker pulls onto the shoulder to prevent these accidents.
In addition to warning drivers on the road, corner under-ride accidents may be reduced by signaling early before changing lanes and keeping especially tight attention on the possibility of someone in the truck's blind spots.
For more information regarding your rights if you have been injured in a corner under-ride accident, contact the Madison car accident attorneys of Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C., today.
