Kansas City Underride Accidents

Encountering a truck on the road is an everyday occurrence for many drivers, yet the risk of underride accidents remains a largely overlooked danger. An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle crashes into the back or side of a larger truck or trailer and slides underneath. The lower profile of the car compared to the higher base of the truck can result in severe, often catastrophic, injuries or fatalities.

How Do Underride Accidents Happen?

Many factors can contribute to underride collisions, such as:

• Sudden Stops: When a truck stops abruptly, the following vehicles may not have enough time to react, leading to an underride accident.

• Poor Visibility: Inclement weather, such as heavy rain or fog, reduces visibility and may prevent a driver from seeing a truck ahead of them or recognizing its speed and distance. This can lead to a rear or side underride crash.

• Faulty or Missing Underride Guards: Underride guards are designed to prevent cars from sliding underneath trucks in the event of a collision. When these guards are missing, broken, or improperly designed, the likelihood of a catastrophic underride accident increases significantly.

• Improper Training or Policies: When trucking companies fail to provide adequate training for their drivers, or if they have policies that encourage unsafe driving behavior, they contribute directly to the risk of underride accidents.

Can You File a Legal Claim After an Underride Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in an underride accident, you have the right to pursue a legal claim against the party responsible for your collision. Through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, you or your family can recover compensation to help pay for medical care, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the collision.

In the event of a wrongful death caused by an underride accident, you may be entitled to pursue a lawsuit on behalf of your deceased loved one. In Missouri, the deceased person’s surviving spouse, parents, or children have the right to file a wrongful death claim.

Who Could Be Responsible for an Underride Collision?

Depending on the cause of the underride accident, multiple parties could be held financially responsible:

• Truck Drivers: If a driver’s negligence leads to an accident, such as abrupt stopping without warning or failure to maintain proper lighting and safety equipment, they may be held liable.

• Trucking Companies: Companies can be responsible for accidents caused by their failure to enforce trucking regulations, provide adequate training, or ensure their vehicles are equipped with effective underride guards.

• Manufacturers: If an underride guard fails due to defective design or manufacturing, the company that produced it may be held liable for injuries resulting from its failure.

• Other Negligent Parties: In some cases, other drivers’ actions or dangerous roadway conditions, caused by negligent government maintenance, can contribute to an underride accident. These parties would then be liable for the accident.

Seeking Justice After an Underride Accident in Kansas City

Underride accidents are among the most catastrophic collisions involving trucks, often leading to severe injuries or fatalities. At Miller & Hine, we recognize the devastating impact these accidents can have on victims and their families. Our firm is dedicated to fighting for justice on their behalf, leveraging our expertise to fight for the compensation our clients deserve.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an underride accident, contact us today at (816) 205-8845. Our Kansas City truck accident attorneys can advocate on your behalf and guide you through every step of the legal process.