Semi-trucks travel alongside passenger vehicles every day, but the size difference between these vehicles can make collisions extremely dangerous. Even a low-speed crash involving a large truck may lead to severe injuries or permanent damage.
Safety equipment on commercial trucks is designed to reduce some of these risks. One important feature found on many trailers is the underride guard.
The purpose and history behind underride guards
Underride guards are metal bars attached to the rear of many semi-trailers. Their purpose is to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath the trailer during a rear-end collision. Although underride guards were patented as early as 1913, they did not receive widespread public attention until after the tragic death of actress Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield was just 34 years old when she was traveling to New Orleans with her driver, attorney and three of her children. Heavy fog obscured a slowed semi-truck ahead of them. Her driver could not react in time, and their vehicle slid underneath the trailer in a fatal underride crash. Mansfield, her driver and her attorney tragically lost their lives in the crash.
Underride accidents happen when a passenger vehicle crashes into the back or side of a semi-truck and becomes trapped underneath the trailer. Because the trailer sits much higher than a standard car, the upper portion of the vehicle can be crushed on impact. These crashes often result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage or fatal injuries, even when the collision occurs at moderate speeds.
It would take 31 years after Mansfield’s death for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish rules that mandate that most trailers and semitrailers over 10,000 lbs must be equipped with rear impact guards to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding underneath. Despite these requirements, concerns remain about their effectiveness. Some guards may fail during high-speed impacts or may not provide enough protection in certain crash angles. Side underride guards are also not required on most trucks in the United States, despite safety advocates arguing they could help reduce serious injuries and deaths in side-impact crashes involving cyclists, pedestrians and passenger vehicles.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an underride crash, speaking with an experienced legal professional may help you better understand your options and the steps that can protect your health, finances and future.
