Recent Turnpike Crash: What Is a Truck Underride Accident?

 Posted on November 18, 2024 in Truck Accidents

An October 2024 crash on the Florida Turnpike in Davie between a passenger van and a tractor-trailer injured eight people and produced one fatality. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the van rear-ended the truck. Several rescue units responded to the scene, using jaws of life to remove some of the injured victims from the van.

Semi-trucks are much taller than passenger automobiles. Whether the truck is rear-ended or crashes into the back of a passenger vehicle, a collision can trap the car under the front or rear of the semi. Either type of truck crash can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. If someone else’s negligence injures you, a dedicated Fort Lauderdale, FL lawyer from The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. can help you get the compensation you deserve.

What Are Underride and Override Accidents?

Most tractor-trailers are 13.5 feet tall, with the trailer floor around 5 feet off the ground. The hoods of most passenger cars are approximately 40 inches high. An underride crash is when a car hits the rear or side of a semi-truck. Its hood can travel under the truck’s bed, sometimes becoming wedged and then dragged by the truck. In some cases, the car’s passenger compartment collides with the edge of the trailer, potentially cutting off the car’s top and causing devastating or fatal injuries.

Similarly, an override collision can occur when a semi rear-ends a passenger vehicle. The truck’s cab can travel over the rear end of sedans and lower vehicles, wedging the car and potentially pushing it along.

What Kinds of Injuries Do Truck Accidents Frequently Cause?

Drivers and occupants of passenger vehicles are much more likely to sustain injuries than truck drivers when the two kinds of vehicles collide. Common injuries include:

• Multiple broken bones

• Spinal cord injuries

• Amputations

• Head and traumatic brain injuries

• Organ and soft tissue damage

• Crushing injuries

• Extensive bruising

These and other injuries may require prolonged medical treatment, surgeries, and life-long care. In Florida, you can recover compensation if you are less than 50 percent responsible for your crash. Your damages could include:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Property damage

• Pain and suffering

• Permanent disability or disfigurement

• Other losses that diminish your quality of life

A wrongful death action may yield additional compensation for eligible survivors. Call us to see if you qualify.

Are Truck Accident Claims Complicated?

When commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, cause a crash, there are several potentially liable parties. You must investigate your collision to determine why it happened and who was at fault. Driver errors that frequently cause truck accidents include:

• Distracted driving

• Driver fatigue

• Speeding

• Reckless or aggressive driving

• Improper merging

Unsecured or unbalanced cargo, faulty brakes, and tire blowouts are also common causes of truck crashes. When you partner with The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A., we will investigate your crash, determine fault and liability, and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale, FL Truck Accident Lawyers

To achieve the best possible case outcome after your truck accident, you need effective legal representation. Call The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. at 800-555-4011 to schedule your free consultation with our determined Broward County, FL personal injury attorneys.