Dallas, TX Underride Accident Attorney

Experienced Underride Accident Attorney Pursuing Recovery for Severe Injuries in Dallas, Texas

Underride accidents refer to collisions where a passenger vehicle gets pinned beneath the trailer of a much larger truck. As you can imagine, these accidents are extremely dangerous, carrying a high risk of serious injury. If you were injured in a preventable underride accident, call a Dallas, Texas underride accident attorney who can advise you on how to respond.

At the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks, we represent truck accident victims across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. With decades of legal experience, our lawyer can investigate the accident to determine how much your claim is worth. We will work to hold all parties accountable, making sure your rights are protected throughout your case.

Common Causes of Underride Accidents in Dallas

An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a semi-truck, either from the rear or the side. The results are almost always severe. Because the trailer sits well above the ground, the top of a passenger vehicle can be sheared off on impact, leaving occupants with little protection. Several factors commonly contribute to underride accidents, including:

• Inadequate or malfunctioning rear guards on the trailer
• Poor visibility due to darkness, fog, or heavy rain
• A truck that stops suddenly without warning
• Missing or broken trailer lights and reflectors
• A truck driver who cuts off another vehicle during a lane change
• Unsecured or improperly marked trailers parked on or near a roadway

Federal regulations require rear underride guards on most commercial trailers, but these guards are not always maintained properly, and side underride guards are not universally required. When a truck is not equipped with functioning safety equipment, the consequences for anyone who collides with it can be fatal.

Compensable Damages in an Underride Accident Claim

The injuries that result from underride accidents are often catastrophic or fatal. Survivors may face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe lacerations, crush injuries, amputations, and permanent disfigurement. The road to recovery, where recovery is even possible, is typically long and expensive. A personal injury claim can pursue compensation for the full scope of those losses.

Compensable damages can include emergency medical care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, and future medical expenses projected over the course of the injured person's life. Lost wages and diminished earning capacity are also recoverable when the injury affects the person's ability to work.

Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life can make up a significant part of the claim as well. In cases involving gross negligence, such as a trucking company that knowingly operated a trailer with defective safety equipment, punitive damages may also be awarded.

Can a Trucking Company Be Held Liable for an Underride Accident?

Trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are properly equipped and maintained before they are put on the road. When a company fails to inspect or repair underride guards, allows trailers with broken lights or reflectors to operate, or pressures drivers into unsafe practices, it can be held liable for the harm that results. In some cases, a company that leased the trailer or a third-party maintenance provider may also share responsibility.

Establishing corporate liability in a truck accident case often requires access to maintenance records, inspection logs, company policies, and internal communications. Trucking companies and their insurers move quickly after a serious wreck to protect their interests, which makes it important to have an attorney working on your behalf just as quickly.

Contact a Dallas Underride Accident Attorney Today

When an underride accident leaves you or someone you love with life-altering injuries, you deserve an attorney who will pursue accountability. Contact our Dallas, TX underride accident lawyer or call 214-427-4417 to schedule your free consultation with the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks today.