Truck Underride Accidents in San Diego: Devastating Injuries and Unique Challenges Victims Face Fighting for the Compensation They Deserve

Truck underride accidents frequently turn San Diego highways into danger zones. An underride crash happens when a smaller passenger vehicle slides underneath a large commercial truck—often crushing the car's safety cage and causing catastrophic injuries to anyone inside. The consequences are devastating.

If you or a loved one is a victim of an underride accident, you’re facing a complex claims process. The insurance companies may do everything they can to try to deny your claim or reduce the amount they have to pay you. 

At the Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, APC, our experienced San Diego truck accident lawyer understands the unique challenges you face to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We’re here to fight the unfair tactics the insurance company may try to use to dispute your claim.

What Makes San Diego Underride Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

Underride crashes are uniquely deadly because of the size difference between trucks and cars. When a passenger vehicle rear-ends a semi-truck and gets lodged underneath, the top of the car typically gets sheared off or crushed. That demolishes the car's built-in safety features and leaves occupants vulnerable to severe head and neck injuries, spinal cord damage, and death.

The Deadly Mechanics of an Underride Crash

Several factors make underride accidents so devastating:

• Crash forces focused on the upper half of the car. Unlike other wrecks where the crumple zone absorbs impact, underride collisions direct the brunt of the crash into the passenger area.
• Truck guards often fail. Many trucks lack strong underride guards, so cars slice right through and get crushed.
• High-speed impacts on highways. Most underride crashes occur at full speed, as neither driver has time to brake before impact. The violent dynamics of an underride accident make these wrecks disproportionately deadly. But the risks don't stop there.

Common Causes of Underride Truck Accidents in San Diego

Several factors contribute to the high rate of underride crashes in San Diego. In most cases, truck driver negligence and the violation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations are involved. Here are the leading causes of tragic underride accidents:

• Insufficient underride guards. Federal law requires rear guards on most large trucks, but outdated standards mean many guards aren't strong enough to prevent underride in a crash. Gaps in the regulations also allow many trucks to operate without any guards at all.
• Improper truck maintenance. Trucking companies often delay critical repairs to maximize profits. Faulty brakes, worn tires, and broken taillights all increase the risk of an underride collision, especially if the truck stops suddenly or isn't visible to approaching drivers due to broken lights.
• Careless truck operation. Truck driver fatigue, distraction, and aggression lead to abrupt lane changes and unexpected stops. That leaves other motorists with no time to react and no way to avoid slamming into the back of the truck.
• Poor visibility at night. Most underride accidents happen in the dark when it's harder to judge a truck's speed and distance. Trucks parked on the side of the road are particularly hazardous if they fail to deploy reflective triangles or flares to alert oncoming drivers. 

Crashes caused by negligent truck maintenance or operation are particularly infuriating, as they could have been prevented if trucking companies had followed the law and invested in safety. Instead, their profit-driven shortcuts continue to put San Diego families at risk.

Why Are Underride Truck Accident Claims So Complex?

Truck accident cases are already challenging. Underride accidents add even more complications for victims and families seeking justice. Here are a few of the reasons you could have to fight longer and harder for the damages you deserve for your injuries:

Severe Injuries Lead to Substantial Damages

The catastrophic injuries common in underride truck accidents mean you could face a lifetime of pain, disability, and emotional trauma. You may require millions of dollars' worth of medical treatment, ongoing care, and support services. Proving those extensive damages takes in-depth legal knowledge, strong evidence, and the tenacity to fight for your rights—even if it means taking your case to a jury trial..

Multiple Companies Try to Dodge Liability

Truck accident claims often involve multiple liable parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and third-party contractors. Each one may try to minimize their responsibility and shift blame onto others, especially given the high value of your claim. It could take our skilled truck accident lawyer longer to reach a settlement with them all that fully compensates you for your injuries. 

Trucking Companies Fight to Protect Profits

Commercial trucking is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Trucking companies and their insurers will do whatever it takes to avoid paying underride accident victims the full value of their claims. They deploy armies of corporate attorneys to deny liability and try to bully you into accepting a lowball settlement. That’s one reason hiring our dedicated truck accident lawyer is essential to level the playing field and protect your rights.

What Compensation Should You Receive If You’re a Victim of a San Diego Underride Truck Accident?

Money can't undo the trauma of an underride crash, but it can provide critical support to help you and your family rebuild your lives. Depending on the circumstances, our attorney may recover the following compensation for you:

• Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, medication, medical equipment, in-home care, and future medical needs
• Lost income for missed work during recovery, as well as lost future earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work
• Pain and suffering for the physical pain, emotional anguish, and lost enjoyment of life caused by the accident
• Punitive damages in cases of egregious negligence to punish the trucking company and deter future misconduct 

Every case is unique, so there's no set formula for calculating the value of an underride accident claim. Fortunately, our truck accident lawyer has the experience settling and trying these claims to assess your full damages and fight for every dollar you deserve.

Getting the Justice That You Deserve for a San Diego Underride Truck Accident 

Nobody expects to get hurt in an underride crash, but it happens frequently in San Diego. If you've been injured, don't let the trucking companies take advantage of you. 

At the Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, we've been battling trucking companies for decades to protect underride accident victims across San Diego. We understand the insurance companies’ tactics and possess the knowledge, experience, and resources to advocate for you effectively. Let us help you obtain the justice and compensation you need to get your life back on track.