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Under-ride protection systems are designed to make up for the height difference between the bottom of a tractor trailer and the top of the hood or trunk of the average passenger vehicle, therefore preventing passenger vehicles from sliding under the truck and protecting them from under-ride accidents.

Under-ride accidents are some of the most gruesome and deadly truck accidents on the road.

Under Ride Defects

Many large trucks are simply not equipped with under-ride protection systems at all. Existing under-ride protection is often faulty, collapsing on impact and failing to prevent passenger vehicles from running under the truck.

In most under-ride accidents, the engine compartment or trunk of a vehicle takes the brunt of the impact, protecting the occupants from the direct force of the collision. Because the bottom of the tractor trailer is higher than the hood and trunk of most passenger vehicles, all of the protective structures of the car pass freely under the large truck. The occupant area of the vehicle takes all of the force, often shearing off the top of the car.

Under-ride accidents frequently result in amputations and decapitations.

In 1996, a law was passed lowering truck bumpers from 30 inches to 22 inches from the ground in an effort to reduce the number of under-ride accidents. These bumpers often fail, and the law only applies to new trucks. Trucks made before the law was passed are not affected.

Experienced Defective Vehicle Representation

The attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers have handled many defective vehicle claims, and we have the experience needed to help you receive the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by a defective under-ride system, we will fight aggressively to ensure that your rights are protected in court.

Please contact our defective vehicle lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. Jacoby & Meyers has offices throughout the U.S.