West Palm Beach Truck Underride Accident Attorney
Underrides are terrifying accidents which are preventable. Too many truckers drive recklessly, and tractor-trailers are not outfitted with side guards. The results are serious, life-threatening accidents. At Pike & Lustig, we can help anyone who was injured in an underride accident or who lost a family member in this type of crash. Reach out to our law office today. A West Palm Beach truck underride accident attorney will discuss your right to compensation.
Anatomy of an Underride Accident
Underrides happen because the trailer on an 18-wheeler sits high up off the road. There is enough space for a smaller car to wedge in underneath the trailer. However, the edge of the trailer will strike the windshield, often peeling back the roof of the car and exposing occupants to fatal head injuries.
Guards on the back of the trailer are standard and, if working properly, can prevent a truck from sliding underneath. However, these rear guards are sometimes defective or rusted out and will fail in a high-speed collision.
Most trailers lack guards on the side, which is a serious problem. A motorist can crash into the side of a trailer, especially if the trucker makes an illegal U-turn on the highway. Efforts to require these side guards have routinely failed, and the industry fights any attempt to make them standard.
An underride accident often results in catastrophic injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial fractures and permanent disfigurement
- Severe neck injuries
- Permanent nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
- Paralysis
- Coma
Underrides can also result in fatal injuries, including decapitation. This is one of the most horrifying accidents involving large trucks. Ambulances race to a grisly accident scene to pull survivors from the wreckage.
An underride accident is often the fault of a trucker who makes some dangerous maneuver on the highway. Illegal U-Turns or running a light are common reasons for these collisions. Motorists must exercise extreme caution around big rigs.
Contact Our West Palm Beach Truck Underride Accident Attorneys to Discuss Possible Compensation
Pike & Lustig can investigate your accident to determine whether you can seek financial compensation. If a trucker or transportation company is at fault for your wreck, we can sue for compensation. We can also bring a wrongful death claim under Florida law if you lost a close family member in an underride accident.
Call our office. Many survivors are so disabled they cannot even begin to handle their own claims. Their injuries are severe and prevent them from leaving their homes or the hospital. Our legal team can fan out and begin collecting evidence, including any video from the truck or other data.
Contact our office for compassionate legal advice. Pike & Lustig has handled all types of truck accident claims for people struggling with moderate to catastrophic injuries. We know no two cases are alike, so we want to hear your unique story. A West Palm Beach truck underride accident attorney can meet for a free consultation at our office if you call or send your details online.
