One of the most dangerous types of accidents is an underride accident. These are relatively rare, but they can happen when two vehicles collide and one is significantly larger than the other.
For instance, imagine that someone is driving down a city street in a convertible, which is very low to the ground. Ahead of them, a semi-truck driver makes an ill-advised left turn. The convertible strikes the trailer as the truck turns, wedging the smaller car underneath it. This is an underride accident.
Why is it so dangerous?
One reason for the danger is that the smaller car is going to take the brunt of the impact. It weighs far less, so more energy will be transferred into it during the crash. On top of that, the taller vehicle may strike the passenger compartment and the front windshield, so it’s very common for people to suffer head injuries, chest injuries, neck injuries and spinal cord injuries. These can all have catastrophic consequences.
Another danger is that an underride accident can delay the emergency care that victims get at the scene. The small vehicle, when traveling at a high rate of speed, can become stuck under the larger one. It may take a significant amount of time to free the victims or remove the car, and then it takes longer to transport them to the nearest hospital. Even a delay of just a few minutes could be the difference between life and death with serious injuries.
Have you lost a loved one in an underride accident? If so, take the time to carefully consider your legal options to seek compensation from the at-fault driver.
