Underride Accident Lawyer in Buffalo

We hold trucking companies and manufacturers accountable

Some of the most devastating truck accidents on our roads are underride accidents. When a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a tractor-trailer, serious and fatal injuries follow. Holding the trucking companies and other responsible parties accountable for these incidents is a difficult process. An experienced underride accident attorney can help.

The Law Offices of James Morris in Buffalo has a proven track record in high-stakes trucking litigation. We know how to handle underride cases and get real results for victims and their families. If you were injured or lost a loved one in an underride truck accident, contact us today for a free consultation.

What is an underride crash?

Underride is a term for a smaller vehicle, like a car, pickup truck, van or SUV, sliding underneath the trailer of a tractor-trailer. Underride crashes can be extremely dangerous because part of the trailer often enters the upper part of the cab of a smaller vehicle. Fatal injuries are common, as are severe traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, and other life-altering injuries.

There are two main types of underride crashes: side underride and rear underride. A side underride collision happens when a smaller vehicle hits the side of the truck, usually when the truck is making a turn. A rear underride collision involves the smaller vehicle hitting the truck from behind.

What causes underride accidents?

A key factor in many underride crashes is mechanical failure. Modern semi-trucks have underride guards intended to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath the trailer, but those guards can fail, especially if a car hits the truck from an angle. Manufacturing defects or poor maintenance of the underride guards can make the difference between a survivable crash and a tragedy.

In addition, negligence on the part of the trucker often causes underride collisions. If the driver slams on the brakes, for instance, there may not be enough time for another vehicle to avoid crashing into the trailer. Or the truck may be illegally parked or fail to maximize visibility.

Maintenance issues are also a factor in some underride accidents. In addition to failure to maintain the underride guard itself, failure to maintain the truck’s brake lights or taillights can contribute to an underride collision.

An experienced attorney can hold dangerous truckers and trucking companies accountable

An immediate issue in underride accidents is that the truck is usually hit from the back or side, so you might think that the driver of the other vehicle would be at fault. When it comes to commercial trucks, however, it’s not that simple. Many underride crashes happen when the driver is illegally parked in a location with low visibility, such as on an off-ramp. Or the driver may have failed to use their hazard lights, flares, and other tools to maximize visibility, especially in inclement weather.

Liability in an underride accident may also fall on the manufacturer, if the design or placement of the underride guard didn’t provide enough protection in the event of a crash. Holding a truck manufacturer accountable is a difficult process that requires thorough investigation and documentation.

In other circumstances, there may be still other responsible parties, such as the driver of another vehicle who made a dangerous maneuver and forced the truck to come to a rapid stop. That’s why you need an experienced truck accident lawyer to get to the bottom of what happened and hold the responsible party or parties accountable.

Talk to an experienced underride accident lawyer today

The Law Offices of James Morris has the experience and resources to build winning cases for underride victims and their families. We investigate the accident, pore over documents, interview witnesses, and when necessary, hire experts to help us prove that the trucking company or truck manufacturer was responsible for the accident.

We also calculate the full value of your claim, including medical expenses, lost income, and other costs. If you lost a loved one in an underride crash, we can file a wrongful death claim on your family’s behalf. Our job is to help you find accountability and justice so that you can move forward.

The trucking companies and their insurance companies fight hard against underride claims because they know there is a lot of money at stake. Don’t be the only one at the negotiating table without an attorney. Give us a call or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation with a Buffalo underride accident lawyer.