Underride Accidents

Dedicated Lawyers for Truck Crash Victims in Wheaton and Schaumburg

Underride truck accidents can result in catastrophic lifelong injuries. In the most severe situations, these accidents can be fatal. If you or a loved one has been involved in an underride accident that you believe was caused by negligence, let our skilled Wheaton and Schaumburg truck accident attorneys help you pursue damages for the harm you have suffered. At Therman Law Offices, our team is committed to holding negligent truck drivers responsible for the wrecks that they cause, and helping our clients seek the justice and compensation they need to move on with their lives.

Underride Accidents

Since truck trailers are so high off the ground, it is possible for a smaller vehicle to slide underneath the trailer in the event of an accident. This is exactly what an underride collision is – when a smaller vehicle, such as a passenger car, pickup truck, van, or motorcycle slides underneath the rear end or side of a tractor-trailer. Because of the nature of these accidents, the trailer can crush or shear off the upper part of the passenger vehicle, putting its occupants at risk of severe or fatal injuries.

Liability for Underride Accidents

Underride accidents often occur due to negligence on the part of the truck driver. Negligence happens when a person or entity fails to take proper care when doing something, resulting in an accident and injury to another. Proper care refers to the level of care that a similarly situated person or entity would use under the same circumstances. An example of truck driver negligence would be if a truck driver fails to repair a broken brake light and a driver is not able to see the trailer, leading to an underride accident.

Trucking companies have the legal duty to act in a reasonably safe manner for others as well as to comply with all federal and state regulations. When a company violates this duty, and this violation is the cause of injury, the company may be liable. For example, a truck company may be accountable if it failed to provide truck drivers with proper training or failed to inspect or maintain the truck properly. In many cases, a trucking company may also be liable for a truck driver’s negligence if the accident took place while the trucker was on-duty.

Safety guards on the rear or side of a trailer can prevent other vehicles from becoming lodged underneath a trailer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s testing of side underride guards showed that these guards can help save lives. While these guards can be effective, the reality is that they often fail due to poor manufacturing or negligent maintenance. If this is what happened in your case, you may be able to hold the manufacturer of the guard or the owner of the trailer accountable for your harm, and a skilled truck accident lawyer can help you determine who may be responsible.

Damages in Truck Accident Cases

The losses suffered in a truck accident can be extensive. For this reason, Illinois law requires truck drivers to carry a certain amount of liability insurance to be able to cover losses in the event of an accident. Common examples of compensable losses include, but are not limited to: medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, costs of rehabilitation, damage to property, disability, and compensation for any other losses arising from the accident. The specific dollar amount that a plaintiff will be entitled to will vary based on the nature and extent of the harm suffered.

Seasoned Truck Accident Attorneys Helping Wheaton and Schaumburg Residents

Underride collisions often lead to serious, even fatal injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in this type of accident, contact a reputable and hard-working Wheaton and Schaumburg lawyer to help you understand your rights. At Therman Law Offices, we have years of experience helping truck accident victims resolve their cases in a fair and efficient manner, and we may be able to help you as well. We proudly serve clients from Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Arlington Heights, Elgin, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Bartlett, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, and Roselle. For a free consultation, call us today at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.