Chattanooga’s central location and extensive network of highways, including Interstate 75 and Interstate 24, mean that there is heavy truck traffic moving through our area on a daily basis. Couple that with our rapidly changing weather conditions, like heavy fog and rainstorms that arrive out of seemingly nowhere, and you have a recipe for truck underride accidents.
These accidents occur whenever a smaller passenger vehicle slides under a larger truck, oftentimes a semi-trailer. These horrific crashes can result in catastrophic injuries and even death, most often for the occupants of the passenger vehicle. Victims rarely walk away from such crashes, and those who survive often face a lifetime of recovery.
The attorneys at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers are experienced in handling catastrophic truck underride accident cases and obtaining the compensation victims and family members deserve. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Understanding Truck Underride Accidents
Each year across the nation, more than 200 people die due to truck underride accidents. Countless more are seriously injured and face life-changing consequences from non-fatal truck underride crashes. These accidents happen when a smaller passenger vehicle slides underneath a larger truck or semi-trailer, often due to speed and the height difference between the two vehicles.
While federal law requires large trucks to have rear safety guardrail bars in place to prevent such accidents, these mandatory precautions are not always effective when a crash occurs. Then, there is the troubling fact that side safety bars are not required at all. The nature of these crashes also means that passenger vehicle safety features like crumple zones and air bags are often ineffective. When the collision impact is on a car’s hood or windshield, such safety features usually don’t deploy.
The aftermath of a truck underride accident is usually catastrophic. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and fatalities are typical.
Types of Underride Accidents
Not all truck underride accidents are the same, although the outcomes for occupants in the passenger vehicle often are.
Rear Underride Truck Accidents
Again, these accidents happen when a vehicle slides underneath the rear of a large truck, usually a semi-tractor trailer. This was what happened in 2020 when a minivan crashed into the rear of a semi-truck parked on the side of Interstate 24 in Chattanooga. Five occupants in the minivan died.
Side Underride Truck Accidents
When a passenger vehicle slides underneath the side of a large truck, this is considered a side underride truck crash. This often occurs when a larger truck makes an unexpected move, turn, or lane change, causing smaller cars to get caught up in the aftermath.
Front Override Truck Accidents
These accidents happen when a large truck drives up and over the rear of a passenger vehicle. These accidents typically crush the back passenger compartment of the smaller car, leading to catastrophic or fatal injuries for the occupants.
What Causes Deadly Truck Underride Accidents?
These tragic crashes happen for several common reasons, including driver distraction, impairment, negligence, or fatigue. Some accidents are far more catastrophic due to missing or inadequate rear underride guards.
Chattanooga has some extremely crash-prone roadways where, unfortunately, truck underride crashes may occur. The I-24 corridor is especially dangerous, clocking in nearly 450 general vehicle accidents in 2024. I-75 racked up more than 340 general traffic accidents in the same year.
Poor visibility, in the form of sudden fog, was to blame for the 1990 Interstate 75 disaster. A semi-truck driver stopped abruptly, causing a chain reaction that involved nearly 100 other vehicles and several semi-tractor trailers. The accident claimed 12 lives and injured 42 others.
Driver negligence was to blame for the 2015 crash on Interstate 75, when a semi-truck driver slammed into eight cars backed up north of the Ooltewah exit. Six people were killed, and the driver was charged with DUI and vehicular homicide.
These Crashes Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
No matter the cause, truck underride accidents are some of the most damaging of all vehicle crashes. Injuries are usually severe and include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Facial disfigurement
- Decapitation and fatalities
The unfortunate reality of many truck underride crashes is that people in the passenger vehicle are killed. Even when crash victims survive, they usually have a long road to recovery. Many face a lifetime of pain and suffering. The long-term impact on survivors and their loved ones can be devastating.
Liability for a Truck Underride Accident
When tragic truck underride crashes happen, survivors and families of loved ones who perished deserve compensation for their injuries and loss. There are many potential parties who can be held liable, depending on the facts of each case.
- Truck Drivers: Drivers of big rigs are often the cause of underride crashes, as was the case with the fatal 2015 crash on I-75. The truck driver was cited for driving under the influence.
- Other Drivers: Whether it’s an unexpected lane change or sudden braking at high speed, other drivers’ behavior can cause a chain reaction that results in an underride crash.
- Trucking Companies: When companies cut corners or fail to properly maintain their trucks, they can be held liable. These companies can also be held liable for the negligent behavior of their driver employees.
- Road Maintenance Companies: Companies fixing or maintaining roadways may be liable if they don’t implement proper warning and safety protocols to alert drivers of the situation.
- Parts Manufacturers: When manufacturers of required safety equipment like underride guards cut corners or deliver defective products, they can be held liable for damages from a crash when the product failed.
- Government Entities: Poor road designs or maintenance can also be a cause of crashes between large trucks and smaller vehicles.
Determining liability can be a complicated process. In many cases, there is more than one party to blame. Our attorneys have the local knowledge and network of experts to thoroughly investigate truck underride crashes and determine who is at fault. Contact us for a free consultation.
Compensation for Truck Underride Accident Victims
The injuries and medical care required after catastrophic truck-vehicle accidents can be extensive. It is important for victims to be made whole. Some of the things our attorneys can pursue on your behalf include:
- Medical expenses (immediate and long-term)
- Emergency care
- Surgeries
- Medication
- Assistive devices and prosthetics
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Mental health counseling
- Lost wages and diminished future earnings capacity
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and disability
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Crashes like this often require extensive and immediate medical care. Chattanooga is fortunate to have Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Erlanger Baroness Hospital. Erlanger delivers exemplary critical care for even the most serious truck underride accident injuries.
Victims also typically have many longer-term care needs. Our firm has excellent relationships with top-tier medical providers throughout Chattanooga and the region. We can help you find the appropriate specialist, rehabilitation options, and support therapy.
We also know how to work with these medical professionals to ensure proper documentation of your injuries and treatments. This documentation is an essential part of your case to seek recovery.
Contact Our Chattanooga Truck Underride Accident Lawyers Today
The experienced attorneys at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers understand the unique aspects of truck underride accidents, including federal, state, and local regulations affecting big rigs. We have a deep understanding of local roadways and the influences that can trigger catastrophic crashes. We also have the resources and know-how to take on large trucking companies and their insurers.
Your initial consultation is free, so contact us today.
