An underride truck accident is one of the most violent collisions that can happen on a Florida road. When a car, SUV, or pickup slides beneath a tractor-trailer, the trailer can crush the smaller vehicle's passenger compartment. The impact may bypass safety features designed to protect people inside.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck underride accident, you need answers quickly: why the guard failed or was missing, who is responsible, and how to protect your claim while the evidence still exists.
At Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, P.A., our Pensacola truck accident lawyers are here to take on the trucking industry after a serious motor vehicle accident. Our law firm represents truck accident victims across Pensacola, the Florida Panhandle, and the Gulf Coast. Your problem becomes our problem, and you don't pay us unless we recover for you.
Contact our personal injury attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Call (850) 438-4899 for a Free Consultation
What Is an Underride Crash?
An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle slides beneath a large truck or trailer during a collision. The trailer can strike the windshield or roof instead of the vehicle's bumper, leaving passengers exposed to serious injuries. Underride accidents are typically one of two types:
Rear underride accidents
Happen when a vehicle strikes the back of a trailer and slides beneath it. This may happen when a truck slows suddenly, stops in traffic, or parks along a road. Rear impact guards are designed to reduce this danger, but damaged or poorly maintained guards may fail.
Side underride accidents
Happen when a smaller vehicle strikes the side of a trailer. They can occur when a truck makes a wide turn, crosses traffic, or pulls onto a road. Most trailers do not have side underride guards.
Underride Guards and the Law
Federal safety rules require most trailers to have rear underride guards. These metal barriers are designed to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding beneath a trailer during a rear-end collision. Federal standards also address guard strength, and rear guards must be checked during required annual inspections.
The regulatory gap
Federal law does not currently require most trailers to have side underride guards. This leaves a dangerous gap beneath the sides of many large trucks. Even when a trailer meets federal safety standards, its owner or operator may still be responsible for unsafe conditions.
Damaged guards, broken lights, missing reflective tape, and poor maintenance can all contribute to a serious crash. An underride accident investigation may examine whether the trailer met applicable safety rules, whether its equipment was properly maintained, and whether the truck driver operated it safely.
Speak with a Truck Accident Attorney at TWWHB
Common Injuries Resulting from Underride Crashes
Because underride collisions often strike the passenger compartment directly, they can cause catastrophic injuries, and even death. Some people experience permanent disabilities that require ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and personal care. Victims may suffer:
In the most serious cases, underride accidents are fatal. Florida law allows certain surviving family members to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim brought by the deceased person's personal representative. Our attorneys work to account for medical expenses, lost income, future care needs, and other losses allowed under Florida law.
Common Causes of Underride Accidents in Florida
Underride accidents often happen when a truck or trailer crosses another vehicle's path, especially at night or in poor visibility. These hazards can occur on busy highways such as I-10 and U.S. 98, as well as rural roads throughout Northwest Florida.
Among the contributing factors:
Unsafe driving
including blind turns, sudden stops, and trucks parked along highways without proper warning signals
Poorly maintained equipment
including missing reflective tape, broken lights, and damaged rear underride guards may make a collision more likely or increase its severity.
Truck driver fatigue
poor judgment, and failure to watch for approaching traffic
How TWWHB Builds a Strong Case after an Underride Accident
Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating a serious crash almost immediately. Our attorneys work to protect evidence, identify responsible parties, and document the full impact of your injuries.
Depending on the case, our investigation may include:
Preserving evidence.
We send requests to preserve the truck, trailer, underride guard, electronic driving records, and available video before important evidence is lost.
Inspecting the truck and trailer.
We work with qualified experts to examine safety equipment, damage, and possible guard failures.
Reviewing company records.
Maintenance reports, inspection records, and driver logs may reveal safety violations or equipment problems.
Reconstructing the crash.
Accident reconstruction experts can examine vehicle movements, lighting, visibility, and other conditions to help explain what happened.
Documenting your losses.
We examine medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment needs, and other damages when evaluating your claim.
The trucking company may argue that the driver of the smaller vehicle caused the crash. We examine the evidence to determine whether unsafe truck operations, defective equipment, or other factors contributed to the collision.
Important evidence can disappear quickly after an underride crash. Our attorneys can help preserve records, investigate the cause, and identify potentially responsible parties. Contact us at (850) 438-4899 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Why Choose TWWHB as Your Underride Accident Attorney
Underride accident cases can involve serious injuries, complicated safety rules, and multiple insurance companies. At Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, P.A., we represent injured people, not insurance companies. Our attorneys have experience handling complex injury claims and preparing cases for trial when necessary.
Our firm serves clients throughout Pensacola, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, and the surrounding Gulf Coast. We offer free consultations and handle underride accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We encourage you to learn more about our attorneys, read client reviews, and explore our Pensacola truck accident lawyer page. When you're ready, contact our team for a free consultation.
Florida Underride Accident FAQs
Do all trucks have to have underride guards?
Most trailers and semitrailers must have rear impact guards under federal law, though some vehicle types are exempt. Side underride guards are not currently required on most trucks in the United States. A missing side guard may not violate a regulation, but other failures (poor lighting, missing reflective tape, or an unsafe turn) can still establish liability.
What if the trucking company says I hit the trailer, so it's my fault?
The trucking company may argue that you caused the crash. However, unsafe parking, poor visibility, or missing reflective tape may have contributed to the collision. Florida's comparative negligence law allows you to recover if you are 50% or less at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. A thorough investigation is how we answer that argument.
Who is liable for an underride accident?
Truck underride accident cases often involve more than one responsible party. Depending on the facts, liability may extend to:
Can I sue the trailer or guard manufacturer?
Possibly. If a rear guard detached, bent, or collapsed under a force it was designed to withstand, a product liability claim against the manufacturer may be available in addition to claims against the driver and trucking company. Preserving the trailer and guard is critical to proving a defect.
How common are underride accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that roughly 219 fatalities resulted from large truck underride crashes every year (from 2008 through 2017). that underride deaths may be underreported because crash reports do not always identify these collisions correctly.
How long do I have to file an underride accident claim in Florida?
For most negligence claims Florida's statute of limitations is two (2) years from the date of the crash. Evidence deadlines are much shorter (ELD and engine data can be overwritten within days or weeks), so contact our underride accident lawyers as soon as possible.
Should I accept the insurance company's settlement offer?
Not before speaking with a truck accident lawyer. Early offers are usually based on incomplete medical information and do not account for future surgeries, long-term care, or lost earning capacity. Once you sign a release, you cannot reopen the claim. See the harm of settling your personal injury claim too quickly.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing upfront. We handle underride accident cases on a contingency fee, which means you don't pay us until you collect.
Talk to a Florida Underride Accident Lawyer Today
Underride accidents can leave victims and their families facing devastating injuries, mounting expenses, and difficult questions about who is responsible. You shouldn't have to take on a trucking company and its insurers alone.
At Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, P.A., our attorneys investigate serious truck crashes, identify potentially liable parties, and fight for the compensation injured people deserve. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can take steps to preserve critical evidence and protect your claim.
Call (850) 438-4899 for a free case evaluation. We represent underride accident victims throughout Pensacola and Northwest Florida, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Call (850) 438-4899