(845) 802-0047One of the most dangerous and deadly types of New York trucking accidents is a carriage underride crash. This occurs when a smaller passenger vehicle is sucked underneath the trailer of the truck and becomes trapped. The smaller vehicle could slide or be dragged by the tractor trailer until it stops. In some instances, the smaller vehicle could be dragged to the wheels of the tractor-trailer which can inflict massive crushing injuries. Occupants of the passenger vehicle usually sustain catastrophic personal injuries or are wrongfully killed in this type of crash because the bottom of the trailer undercarriage is at eye-level for occupants in the passenger vehicle.
While most commercial vehicles like tractor trailers, big rigs, tankers, 18 wheelers, and other box trucks have carriage underride protectors or shields, some do not or have faulty protection devices. Other commercial trucks only have these shields on the end of a tractor trailer to prevent a vehicle who rear-ends the tractor-trailer from sliding under the trailer, however, no shields are placed on the sides which are even more dangerous for a vehicle to slide under.
Causes of New York Carriage Underride Trucking Accidents
There are several ways that a carriage underride trucking accident can occur. These include errors by the truck driver, another motorist, or the trucking company due to maintenance mistakes. While not all reasons will result in liability, whenever an underride carriage trucking accident occurs, a victim and his or her family should contact a New York trucking accident lawyer.
Some of the most common causes of carriage underride trucking accidents include the following:
- Improper turn by a truck;
- Failing to safely merge onto or off of a highway by a tractor-trailer;
- Negligent braking by a truck driver causing the trailer to slide or shift out of lane;
- Failing to use emergency hazards or warning signs after commercial vehicle pulls off into the shoulder;
- Jackknife trucking accidents;
- Reckless driving on inclement weather such as snow or ice;
- Failing to yield to the right-of-way;
- Improper left turns;
- Running a stop sign or red light at an intersection; and
- Many other causes.
Personal Injuries in a Carriage Underride Trucking Accident
Given that the height of the bottom of the trailer is at eye-level to occupants of smaller, passenger vehicles, the personal injuries in a New York carriage underride trucking accident are usually catastrophic and fatal. This is because a smaller vehicle usually has its roof ripped off or crushed inwards and into the occupants. Most times occupants are not able to duck low enough or in time to avoid the top of the trailer which results in fatal head injuries. Those that are lucky enough to duck may be crushed as the vehicle slide underneath the truck and sustain injuries from twisted metal.
Some of the most common personal injuries in a New York carriage underride trucking accident include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Decapitation;
- Orbital blowout fractures;
- Back and cervical spine injuries;
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia;
- Broken bones;
- Amputations;
- Significant disfigurement;
- Wrongful death; and
- Many other types of serious injuries.
Injured in a New York Carriage Underride Trucking Accident? We Can Help
If you have been seriously injured or if a loved one has been wrongfully killed in a carriage underride trucking accident, please call our New York trucking accident attorney to learn how we can help protect your rights to compensation. Even if you or a loved one rear-ended the tractor-trailer there may still be negligence on the behalf of the truck driver or trucking company for stopping short, not using appropriate warning flashers and signs, or having improper, inadequate, or even no underride shields. We offer FREE case evaluations so there is no risk to you.