Atlanta Underride Truck Accidents: Know The Risks and How to Seek Compensation
Truck accidents in Atlanta are among the most devastating crashes and can cause severe, potentially life-threatening injuries. Underride collisions, where a smaller vehicle slides beneath a tractor-trailer, are particularly dangerous and deadly.
These accidents are particularly dangerous because they often crush the upper portions of passenger vehicles, leading to catastrophic injuries for drivers and their passengers. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain more about underride crash risks and your rights to compensation.
How Do Underride Truck Accidents In Atlanta Happen?
Underride crashes occur when a car becomes wedged beneath a large truck, often due to a lack of proper safety equipment or reckless driving behaviors. In a 2024 report to Congress, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned that underride accidents pose a serious threat and are one of the most common causes of fatal injuries on roads across the U.S. Common causes include:
- Poor visibility at night and in rain or other adverse weather;
- Sudden braking by a trucker, giving smaller vehicles no time to stop;
- Truck driver inattention and failing to use signals when changing lanes;
- Improper truck maintenance, including broken taillights or reflective markings;
- Following too closely on the part of motorists;
- Lack of rear or side underride guards designed to prevent vehicles from sliding under.
Federal laws require trucks to have rear underride guards. These are often referred to as Mansfield bars after Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield was tragically killed in a horrific underride accident in 1967. However, side underride guards are not yet mandatory.
Your Rights to Compensation After an Underride Truck Accident in Atlanta
If you or a loved one gets hurt in an Atlanta underride truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law allows victims to hold those at fault liable for their losses, even if they were partially responsible. Compensation available in an underride truck accident claim in Georgia includes:
- Medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitation;
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity caused by long-term injuries;
- Pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and reduced quality of life;
- Additional amounts punishing those at fault if their actions were particularly negligent.
Family members of fatal Atlanta truck underride accident victims may also be entitled to compensation. Filing a wrongful death claim in Georgia provides financial relief for medical expenses, lost future income, and the profound emotional impact your family suffers.
For Trusted Legal Representation, Contact Our Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers
Underride truck accidents in Atlanta are among the most catastrophic crashes, often causing severe, life-threatening injuries. These are often among the most complex causes because multiple parties may be held liable.
At Shiver Hamilton, LLC, our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers can investigate the crash, determine fault, and fight to get you the maximum compensation. Serving clients in Savannah, St. Simons Island, Alpharetta, Decatur, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and all of DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2024-07/report-to-congress-june-2024-side-underride-protection.pdf
csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetyplanner/MyFiles/SubSections.aspx?ch=22&sec=64&sub=138
georgiacourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Apportionment-of-Damages-Terry.pdf
