Truck Safety Standards Under Scrutiny
According to reports, new crash test data and analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed that occupants in automobiles are at risk of serious injury, decapitation and death if the vehicle they are travelling in underrides a heavy-duty trailer or truck.
According to IIHS investigations, frames or “underride guards” fitted to the rear of most trucks simply are not strong enough to keep cars from sliding underneath these vehicles, even at relatively low speeds. In a March 1, 2011 statement, the IIHS said, “Underride makes death or serious injury more likely since the upper part of the passenger vehicle’s occupant compartment typically crushes as the truck body intrudes into the vehicle safety cage.”
Trucking accidents are a serious problem and can give rise to complicated legal claims. In 2009, 70% of the 3,163 people who died in all large truck crashes were occupants of cars or other passenger vehicles. If you, or someone you love, have suffered serious injuries as a result of an accident involving a truck or trailer it is important to talk to an experienced truck-accident attorney as soon as possible.
