When cruising down the highway, the last thing any motorist wants to imagine is their car sliding underneath a massive semi-truck. Unfortunately, underride accidents are a terrifying reality.
These accidents happen when a smaller vehicle crashes into and slides under the rear or side of a larger truck. Can a passenger vehicle and its occupants survive an underride accident without serious injury?
Why underride accidents are so dangerous
Picture this: the front of a passenger vehicle goes under the trailer of a semi-truck. In a normal collision, the smaller vehicle would absorb the impact of the collision. However, in this unique collision scenario, the much sturdier, much higher trailer essentially “slices” into the top part of the passenger car. This could be right where the driver and the passengers are sitting. This is why underride accidents are so often catastrophic, even at relatively low speeds.
The safety features built into modern passenger vehicles—like crumple zones and airbags—are mainly designed for collisions with similar-sized vehicles. Unfortunately, they don’t account for a tractor-trailer’s rigid, elevated frame.
What could help passengers survive?
Underride guards can be installed under the rear and sides of a truck. Such guards can help prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath. However, not all trucks have strong and up-to-date guards.
Collisions that happen at a lower speed or less direct angle can also give occupants a better chance to walk away with minor injuries—or sometimes even unscathed. Some newer passenger vehicles have advanced crash avoidance systems (like automatic emergency braking) and better structural designs to manage impacts with larger vehicles. However, even the best technology has its limits in an underride situation.
So, is walking away unharmed possible? Technically, yes—it can happen. But realistically, it’s extremely rare. Motorists who encounter these scary collisions and live to tell the story should enlist legal support to learn how they can hold at-fault parties accountable.