Any person who has spent much time on the road has experienced the anxiety created by large commercial vehicles. Even when the drivers of tractor trailers are following all of the traffic laws, the sheer size and potential for danger is intimidating. One woman in North Carolina is now seeking to strengthen federal regulations regarding underride guards after her two daughters were killed in a tragic accident.
Underride guards are placed on the back of trucks in order to prevent other vehicles from sliding underneath the trailer in the event of an accident. The woman seeking stronger safeguards thinks that stronger measures, and stronger enforcement of existing measures, could save lives. In her personal situation, she was traveling with her two teenage daughters in her backseat when her car was struck by a truck. Her vehicle was then propelled backwards underneath a second truck. One daughter died at the scene and the other died a few days later.
Some reports claim that within a one-year time period, 260 people were killed after striking the back of a tractor trailer. Certain reports show that underride guards on some trucks are simply inadequate — they are damaged, missing or improperly attached. Even the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is urging the federal government to toughen existing standards.
Representatives from the trucking industry claim that implementing new standards would be lengthy and costly and that focusing efforts into education to create safer drivers would be more cost effective. However, others disagree. Even safe drivers are unable to avoid some accidents leading to unnecessary deaths.
While many tractor trailers safely traverse the country daily, accidents do still happen. Those who have already suffered serious injuries or the death of a loved one due to a tractor trailer accident do have options. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit could go a long way toward alleviating the financial burdens created by such a devastating event. If a North Carolina civil court rules that a truck driver’s negligence caused an accident, the complainant could be awarded damages for medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and many others. While many tract
Source: theindychannel.com, Mother loses daughters, raises truck underride concerns, Kara Kenney, Sept. 30, 2013