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In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded about 5,936 fatalities and 160,608 injuries in accidents involving large trucks nationwide. In Colorado, large semi-trucks commonly traverse the highways. These commercial vehicles play a vital role in the state’s economy as they help transport goods and support main industries. Despite their role in economic growth, they also pose a serious threat to the safety of other road users.
A fully loaded commercial truck can have a total weight of up to 80,000 pounds. It can be far more destructive in a collision than passenger cars, which typically weigh around 3,000 pounds. At Bowman Law, our truck accident lawyers understand the unique dangers trucks bring to other motorists. One of these risks is underride truck accidents. In this article, we will discuss underride truck crashes in Colorado.
What is a Truck Underride Accident?
A truck underride accident is a catastrophic collision that happens when a smaller vehicle, such as a passenger car, crashes into the rear or side of a large truck or trailer. The smaller vehicle then partially or completely slides underneath the truck. Generally, this type of crash is extremely dangerous due to the height and size differences between trucks and passenger cars. Truck underride accidents can result in life-threatening injuries or fatalities because the protective structure of the passenger compartment of smaller vehicles is significantly compromised.
Types of Underride Truck Accidents
Several kinds of trucks can be involved in underride collisions. These commercial vehicles can include tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, tanker trucks, and other vehicles that are larger than standard passenger cars. The three main types of underride truck accidents in Colorado are:
Rear Underride Accidents: These are the most common type of underride accident, which occur when small vehicles crash into the back of a truck or trailer. Rear underride collisions take place due to a truck coming to a sudden stop on the road, a slow-moving truck on highways, and poor visibility of the rear of the truck at night or in adverse weather conditions. Impairment, fatigue, or distracted driving can also cause these crashes.
Side Underride Accidents: These take place when a smaller vehicle collides with the side of a truck or trailer. Side underride accidents often occur at intersections as trucks turn, during lane changes especially in truck blind spots, and on multi-lane highways as cars pass trucks. These types of crashes are risky at night or in low-visibility conditions and usually more severe than rear underride. High speeds and other negligent acts, such as distracted driving or failure to yield, can also lead to these collisions.
Front Underride Accidents: These are the least common form of underride accidents, which occur when a truck hits the back of a passenger vehicle. The impact causes the smaller car to become wedged underneath the front of the truck. Negligence like speeding, driving under the influence, or failure to yield can contribute to these crashes.
Injuries in Colorado Underride Truck Accidents
Occupants of the smaller vehicle involved in underride truck accidents suffer severe injuries due to the strong impact and the nature of the crash. As the passenger car slides underneath the truck, the compartment may be crushed or sheared off. The head and upper body areas of the drivers and passengers may be significantly harmed. The most common injuries in underride truck accidents include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): These injuries occur when the skull or brain is damaged due to the impact of the collision. In underride truck accidents, the roof of the smaller vehicle can be crushed, which can lead to direct trauma to the head.
Spinal cord injuries: In underride truck crashes, the neck is exposed when the roof ends up crushed. The force of the impact can cause damage to the spinal cord and result in partial or complete paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia).
Decapitation: This can happen when the impact of the collision completely crushes the roof of the smaller vehicle, forcibly removing the head of the victim. Underride truck accidents are one of the rare types of crashes where decapitation is a significant risk due to the height differences between the vehicles.
Facial and Skull Fractures: These injuries result from the severe force applied to the head and face of the occupants of passenger vehicles. Fractures in underride truck collisions happen when the roof collapses, or the windshield shatters.
Chest and Abdominal Injuries: In underride truck accidents, the impact can cause severe crushing injuries to the chest and abdomen. The force of the crash can result in broken ribs, damage to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs, and internal bleeding.
Limb Amputations: The bodies of smaller vehicles may collapse in underride truck collisions, causing the limbs of the occupants to be trapped or crushed in the process. In severe cases, traumatic amputation or surgical amputation may be needed due to irreparable damage to the victim.
Severe Lacerations and Fractures: In underride truck crashes, shattered glass, crushed metal, and the collapsed roof can cause deep cuts, lacerations, and compound fractures.
Pelvic and Hip Injuries: The impact of underride truck accidents can lead to fractures in the pelvis or hips. These injuries can occur if the lower part of the body becomes pinned under the steering wheel or dashboard of the smaller vehicles.
Burns: These take place when the underride truck collisions lead to a fire or explosion.
Psychological Trauma: Victims of underride truck accidents suffer significant emotional and psychological trauma due to the extreme nature of the crash and the injuries they incurred. Survivors may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and long-term emotional distress.
Fatal Injuries: Sadly, fatalities are common in underride truck collisions. Most of the deceased victims were sitting in the front of the smaller vehicle.
Damages for Victims in Underride Truck Accidents
In underride truck accidents, victims can pursue damages to compensate for the losses and injuries they have sustained. These damages involve:
Medical Costs: Victims can obtain compensation for hospital bills, medications, surgeries, rehabilitations, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care for permanent disabilities.
Lost wages: Victims can seek compensation for lost income during their recovery period. They can also file a claim for loss of future earning capacity if they are permanently disabled or unable to return to their work.
Property Damage: Victims can pursue damages for the repair or replacement of their vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the underride truck collisions.
Funeral Expenses: In cases of fatalities, the surviving families of the deceased victims can obtain compensation for funeral and burial costs.
Pain and suffering: This includes compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering due to the accident and injuries incurred by the victims. This also involves long-term discomfort, chronic pain, or loss of enjoyment of life.
Emotional Distress: Victims of underride truck crashes are entitled to compensation for emotional and mental health impacts.
Loss of Consortium: Families of victims can obtain compensation if the injuries affect their relationships, seeking damages for loss of companionship, affection, or intimacy.
Punitive Damages: These damages can be awarded to victims if the negligence or wrongdoing of the truck driver, trucking company, or another party caused the underride truck accidents.
Disability and Disfigurement: Victims who sustain permanent disabilities or disfigurement are entitled to compensation for the impact these injuries have on their quality of life, future mobility, and appearance.
Contact our Colorado Truck Accident Lawyers
At Bowman Law, our Colorado truck accident lawyers recognize the overwhelming and distressing impact of the underride truck accidents on the well-being of the victims and their families. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success in holding negligent trucking companies and drivers accountable and obtaining compensation for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an underride truck accident, it is important to seek legal guidance to help you navigate your case. We encourage you to contact our Colorado truck accident lawyers at 720-863-6904 and let us fight for you. Our underride truck accident lawyers will protect your rights and tirelessly seek the justice you deserve.
Jerry Bowman, J.D., M.A., Owner and managing attorney of Bowman Law LLC, takes his responsibility to the legal profession seriously and dedicates his time and effort to providing quality and competent legal representation to clients in Denver and throughout all of Colorado. He holds an MA in Political Science from Wayne State University and earned his law degree in two and a half years from Michigan State University College of Law.
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