New Law Calls for Side Underride Guards
February 28, 2018
Truck accidents are among the most serious and catastrophic type of accidents due to the sheer size and weight of the average tractor trailer. The most serious truck accidents involve a collision where the passenger vehicle hits the rear or side of the truck with such force that the car ends up under the truck. When this happens, the safety features of the car are rendered worthless, and the passengers often suffer fatal injuries. To address this issue, a bipartisan bill has been introduced that will require all new semi-trailers to be equipped with re-engineered rear underride guards, as well as underride guards on both sides of the truck. The proposed legislation aims to prevent such catastrophic accidents from happening in the future.
Tragic Loss Inspires Stricter Laws
The bill was inspired by a campaign that was initiated by two mothers who lost their daughters in a tragic truck accident involving an underride crash. To raise awareness of the dangers of underride crashes and lobby for change, Marianne Karth and Lois Durso authored the Roya, AnnaLeah & Mary Comprehensive Underride Protection Act of 2017. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Marco Rubio, and others introduced a law requiring all trucks to be equipped with underride guards. As she presented the bill for consideration, Gillibrand commented that too many lives have already been lost. This legislation will make our roads safer and help prevent tragic underride accidents from happening.
Many of today’s trucks are already equipped with rear underride guards, but side underride guards are less common. Side guards are an effective safety device that covers the space between the undercarriage of the truck and the road. In the event of a truck accident, the side guards will prevent the passenger vehicle from sliding under the truck.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has been testing the safety of rear underride guards for several years. Their research has offered concrete proof that rear underride guards are effective at preventing a car from sliding under the side of a tractor trailer. This, combined with the passenger vehicle’s airbags and seatbelts, can protect the vehicle occupants from severe and fatal injuries in the event of a wreck. In fact, according to the IIHS, side underride guards are shown to reduce the risk of injury by close to 75 percent in truck accidents involving a side collision.
Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims of Tractor-Trailer Accidents
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a truck accident, it is in your best interest to contact the Baltimore truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. We understand the latest federal regulations, including those that apply to rear and side underride guards. Our dedicated and experienced team is on your side and we will take every step necessary to determine who is responsible for your injuries. We will secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve, protecting your legal rights every step of the way. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, do not hesitate to call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
