One of the most dramatic and traumatizing types of New Mexico trucking accidents is a carriage underride crash. This is because smaller passenger vehicles and motorcycles can get swept underneath the trailer of a truck which cause catastrophic injuries and devastating damage. Smaller vehicles could be run over and crushed, dragged and shredded, or both which result in horrific injuries to occupants and likely wrongful deaths. Learn more about New Mexico carriage underride crashes due to the negligence of a truck driver from our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers.
What are Underride Crashes?
Underride crashes are when vehicles get caught underneath the trailer of a large commercial vehicle. While some trucking companies have shields and other defectors, this costs money and some companies believe it reduces fuel efficiency. Thus, the gap created by the top of the trailer, wheels, and roadway surface is exposed. Smaller vehicles like passenger cars or motorcycles can get sucked into that space.
When smaller vehicles do get swept into that space, catastrophic injuries are likely because the vehicles could be dragged great distances before the truck stops. This dragging could result in their vehicle being shredded and grated across the top of the roadway which means the passengers could be seriously injured as well. Vehicles could also be crushed and run over by the truck’s many wheels which would result in catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
Why Carriage Underride Accidents Occur
Carriage underride accidents occur because truck drivers and trucking companies negligently operating and manage their large commercial trucks. The most obvious reason why these accidents occur is when trucking companies fail to put side shields or deflectors to prevent vehicles from getting swept under the tractor trailer.
Some of the other negligent reasons why New Mexico carriage underride crashes occur include the following:
- Improper lane changes and last second lane changes or maneuvers;
- Taking fast turns, hard turns, or too wide turns;
- Failing to yield the right of way to other vehicles like running a red light, stop sign, or yield sign;
- Aggressive driving;
- Drunk driving or drugged driving;
- Hours of service violations causing fatigued or sleepy driving;
- Improper mergers;
- Jackknifing; and
- Other possible causes.
Victims of New Mexico Carriage Underride Trucking Accidents
Carriage underride trucking accidents are likely to result in serious personal injuries and even wrongful death given the mechanism of injury being dragged or run over by an 18 wheeler’s trailer and wheels. Here at the Mark Caruso, our experienced Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers fight to protect your rights against some of the largest trucking companies in the United States. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in any trucking accident, please call to schedule your FREE appointment with our lawyers at the Mark Caruso by dialing (505) 308-1556.
We handle causes throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Roswell, Cuervo, Rio Rancho, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Albuquerque where our office is located, and anywhere else throughout New Mexico. Please call to schedule for FREE appointment by dialing (505) 308-1556 or contact us through our website’s easy to use and convenient contact box available here.
