Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Types of Personal Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents (Part A)
Truck accidents can cause horrific personal injuries, many of which can result in permanent disabilities.
According to the Department of Transportation, more than 100,000 people are injured in truck accidents every year. While the types of injuries vary based on the circumstances of the accident, there are some common injuries typically sustained in truck accidents.
Underride Injuries
Truck underrides cause some of the most serious personal injuries for occupants of passenger vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).
In an underride, the passenger vehicle goes underneath the truck – at least partially. Unfortunately, this type of truck accident is very common, and the IIHS estimates that an underride occurs in half of all truck accidents that result in a fatality.
While underrides can be very deadly, they also cause severe personal injuries for those who survive. This type of truck accident can result in head trauma and crushing injuries, often leading to brain damage and permanent disabilities.
Regulations to Stop Underrides
Most of the time, truck underride crashes are very preventable. According to the UnderrideNetwork.org, underride guards can be installed on the back and side of large trucks to prevent passenger vehicles from being forced underneath a truck in an accident.
Europe has required all new trucks to have underride guards, including on the front of the truck. This safety standard has not yet been introduced in the United States. While U.S. regulations require trucks to have rear underride guards, UnderrideNetwork.org claims that these guards are too flimsy to prevent underride truck accidents.
Since underride truck accidents can cause such severe injuries, many organizations are trying to improve underride safety standards for tractor trailers and semi trucks.
If you have been injured in an traffic accident in Massachusetts, you should consult with a Boston trucking accident attorney that specializes in underride collisions.
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