Miami Truck Underride Accident Attorney
One of the most dangerous–and underreported–type of commercial truck crashes is an underride accident. The term “underride” refers to a scenario where a passenger vehicle slides underneath the carriage of a semi-truck. Such accidents rarely injure the truck driver, who is protected by their vehicle, but often kill or seriously injure the people in the passenger car.
The Miami truck underride accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP, represent these victims, and members of their families, in taking legal action when the negligence of a truck driver, truck company, or third party contributed to such horrific and preventable events. The commercial trucking industry has long been aware of the dangers of underride accidents yet continues to turn a blind eye to the risks. That is why we fight on behalf of victims seeking fair and just compensation for their losses.
How Do Underride Accidents Occur in Miami?
There are two common types of truck underride accidents. The first is a rear underride accident. This is where the passenger car strikes and slides underneath a tractor-trailer from the rear. The most common cause of rear underride accidents is the truck driver making a sudden stop without giving the passenger car behind them sufficient time to slow down and avoid a collision. In some cases, a rear underride accident can even happen when a disabled tractor-trailer is stopped on the road and the driver failed to display their warning or hazard lights.
The other type of accident you see in this category is a side underride truck accident. This is where the passenger car slides into the side of a commercial truck, which then causes the smaller vehicle to become partly or completely trapped underneath the larger vehicle. Side underride accidents are among the deadliest types of collisions involving commercial trucks in the United States.
Side underride accidents are far more likely to occur at night or in low-visibility conditions caused by inclement weather. Oftentimes, such accidents result from a truck driver attempting to make a U-turn without checking to see if there is a driver approaching in the opposite direction. In other cases, side underride accidents occur while the truck driver attempts to merge onto a highway or turn in front of another car. Other common reckless actions, such as speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, can also significantly increase the risk of a truck driver causing an underride accident.
Our Miami Truck Underride Accident Attorneys Are Here to Help
Damages in truck underride accidents are often far more serious than the typical Florida car crash. As a result, victims can go beyond their own no-fault auto insurance and file a personal injury claim directly against the negligent truck driver, truck company, and others whose actions caused the accident. In order to preserve and assert your rights as a victim, however, it is best to work with an experienced Miami truck underride accident attorney who can investigate what happened and act on your behalf. Contact Pike & Lustig, LLP, today at (561) 291-8298 to schedule a consultation.
