Trucks are a lot longer, wider, and taller than other vehicles on the road. Some large commercial trucks can be 14 feet tall, while the average height of a passenger vehicle typically ranges between 4 and 5 feet. However, trucks aren’t just taller. They sit higher off the ground, too. Some tractor-trailers have as much as 4 feet of clearance between their floor and the ground. Often, there’s more than enough room for a passenger vehicle to fit under the back of a trailer or the front of a large rig.
As a result, there are times when a passenger vehicle finds itself trapped under the massive weight of a large truck in traffic. Depending on how the vehicle is trapped, these are known as underride truck accidents or override truck accidents.
Both types of truck accidents can be catastrophic since the smaller vehicle is often crushed and dragged through traffic until the large truck comes to a complete stop. As a victim, it’s important to speak with an experienced New York truck accident attorney to ensure that you’re able to exercise your rights and recover compensation for your losses.
What Is an Override Truck Accident?
Override truck accidents occur when a large truck drives over a smaller vehicle, either partially or completely. Override accidents can happen if the driver of a large truck doesn’t have the time or space needed to brake safely. This can happen when:
- A truck driver follows another vehicle too closely
- Trucks speed or drive too fast for road conditions, especially on hills or in bad weather
- A truck driver falls asleep at the wheel, is intoxicated, or otherwise impaired while driving
- The truck’s brakes fail
- A truck driver is texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise distracted
- Trucks exceed permissible weight limits
- Truck cargo isn’t loaded or secured properly
- A smaller vehicle cuts off a larger truck and fails to leave adequate space for the truck to stop if there’s an abrupt change in traffic
Vehicle defects – especially those related to braking systems – can also contribute to override truck accidents in New York.
What Is an Underride Truck Accident?
Underride truck accidents are essentially the inverse of override accidents. Instead of being driven over by a larger truck, underride accidents occur when a vehicle drives underneath and gets caught under a truck.
There are two types of underride accidents: side and rear. Side underride accidents happen when a car gets caught under the side of a tractor-trailer.
While rear underride accidents occur when a car gets caught under the rear of a large 18-wheeler. It’s common for vehicles to get caught under large trucks if:
- Vehicle brakes fail
- A truck jackknifes
- Drivers tailgate commercial rigs
- Truck drivers brake check a vehicle behind their rig
- Truck drivers change lanes without notice or without checking blind spots for smaller cars
- Truck drivers back up without checking for other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists
- A truck is driven well below the speed limit, especially on roads with blind curves
- A truck is parked on the side of the road, where it blocks the flow of traffic
- Drivers are distracted, drunk, or otherwise impaired and don’t detect that a large truck in front of them has stopped
Some large trucks are required to install underride guards to stop these types of accidents from happening. However, there are still a lot of large trucks that don’t have rear impact guards – either because the rigs aren’t subject to those requirements or because of willful violations of FMCSA regulations.
As a result, underride truck accidents happen more often than they need to. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, roughly 400 people are killed in underride truck accidents every year. However, research suggests that underride accidents, injuries, and deaths are widely underreported – especially in New York – which indicates that the number of deaths attributed to these serious types of truck accidents may be considerably higher.
What Should I Do After an Underride Truck Accident or Override Truck Accident in NYC?
The steps you take after an underride or override truck accident matter – both for your physical health and your financial future. If possible:
- Call 911 to report the truck accident to the NYPD
- Document the scene by taking pictures of the collision, the scene of the truck accident, and other details that might be important (e.g., tire tracks, infrastructure)
- Seek immediate medical attention if you’re not transported from the scene by an ambulance
- Refuse to provide an insurance company – yours or the trucking service’s – with a recorded statement
- Resist the temptation to apologize or admit any blame for the truck accident, even if pressed to do so by other parties
- Call an experienced New York truck accident attorney for immediate legal assistance and representation
Underride and override truck accidents can be devastating, leaving occupants of the smaller vehicles to struggle with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, severe burns, amputated limbs, other catastrophic trauma, and the wrongful death of loved ones. As the victim in New York City, it’s important to know where to turn for help. Know that The Platta Law Firm is always available to provide the exceptional legal representation you need in these difficult times.
Our New York City truck accident lawyers have 150+ years of collective experience handling high-stakes, complex legal disputes for the injured. As fierce and unwavering advocates for justice, we’ve helped our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary awards. We’re here to lend the resourceful and impassioned legal representation you’ll need to maximize your recovery after an underride or override truck accident, too. Call our New York City law office at (212) 514-5100 to schedule your free consultation today.