Underride / Override Accident Lawyers in Augusta

Were you injured in an underride or override accident with a commercial truck? If so, you should contact a lawyer who specializes in underride and override accidents from the Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta, GA to discuss your case. Call (706) 863-6600 or use our contact form and our office will contact you right away.

Due to the large size of commercial trucks, anytime a truck and passenger vehicle collide, it is expected that there will be extensive damage, both to the people involved and to the vehicles. Because of how high trucks sit off the ground, there is the likelihood of what is called an underride or override accident. An underride accident occurs when a car slides underneath the truck trailer when they collide. An override accident occurs when a truck runs over the top of a passenger vehicle.

The Chris Hudson Law Group is the go-to law firm for trucking injury claims in Georgia. We are dedicated to representing injured people and fighting for their rightful compensation. The Chris Hudson Law Group understands that, in addition to your injuries, you are probably dealing with the weight of mounting medical bills and with emotional distress from the accident itself.

Our lawyers are compassionate and want to help you get the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries after an override or underride truck accident. Call the Chris Hudson Law Group today at (706) 863-6600 or fill in our contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Why You Need a Lawyer that Specializes in Truck Accidents

Are you not getting any answers from the trucker’s insurance company? Our truck accident lawyers have experience with both large trucking companies and their insurance companies and can get them to respond. Insurance companies know that individuals without representation aren’t experienced in these types of claims, and they will do anything they can to pay you less than what your claim is worth. The Chris Hudson Law Group won’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. We will stand up for your rights and fight for what is rightfully due to you.

Why Choose The Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta, GA to Handle Your Case?

We genuinely care about your case and your well-being. Our lawyers will keep you informed throughout your entire case. We will take care of everything for you. Insurance companies can be incredibly intimidating, but don’t let the insurance companies bully you into a lowball offer. Protect yourself. Hire a truck accident lawyer to deal with them on your behalf.

The Chris Hudson Law Group will thoroughly investigate your claim. We can gather all available evidence and put it together to build the strongest possible case for your claim. We will negotiate with the insurance company for a full and fair settlement in your case. Should negotiations break down, or should the insurance company offer less than what your claim is worth, the lawyers of Chris Hudson Law Group will not hesitate to take your case to trial.

The days and weeks after you have been in a trucking accident can be scary and stressful. Let us handle your case for you. Call us today at (706) 863-6600 for a free consultation.

What Is an Underride Accident?

An average of about 219 underride deaths occur annually, according to the United States Government Accountability Office. These numbers are likely lower than the actual amount, as underride accidents are under-reported. This under-reporting is due to police officers not being trained on how to identify and document these types of accidents.

An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle collides with a truck and is wedged under the trailer of the truck. This usually happens when the trailer is higher than the hood of the passenger car. This type of accident often causes what is called a “passenger compartment intrusion”, where the trailer of the truck enters into the passenger area of the smaller vehicle, which is usually fatal for the driver and passengers.

There are two types of underride collisions: side underride collisions and rear underride collisions. A side underride collision often occurs when a truck is making a u-turn or is turning onto another street. The side underride collision occurs when the passenger vehicle hits the side of the truck’s trailer and slides underneath.

A rear underride collision occurs most often when a truck stops suddenly or is parked on the side of the road. A passenger vehicle hits the back of the trailer and slides underneath. Both of these underride collisions can be fatal and cause tremendous amounts of harm.

To help prevent these types of accidents, the federal government issued regulations that require rear impact guards on certain truck trailers. This helps stop passenger vehicles from sliding underneath the trailer when a collision occurs. There is no requirement for side-impact guards at this time.

How Underride Accidents Occur

A trucker may be driving negligently and cause an underride accident. A few situations where this could occur are:

The driver does not have tail lights or brake lights.
The required underride guards are missing or damaged.
The driver reverses without using his mirrors to check for other vehicles.
The driver fails to use turning signals when changing lanes.
The driver improperly parks on the shoulder of the road.

What Is an Override Accident?

An override accident occurs when a truck is unable to stop in time and runs over a smaller passenger vehicle that is in front of it. The smaller vehicle can end up being dragged by the truck. Besides dragging the vehicle, another result of this type of accident is that the top of the vehicle may be cut off. This results in tragic injuries.

What Causes Override Accidents

There could be multiple reasons why a truck runs over another vehicle. Some of these causes include:

Brake failure
Driving while fatigued or driving more than the allowed amount of daily hours
Truck maintenance is not done regularly
Careless driving techniques
Difficulty seeing other cars due to hazardous weather conditions
Following too closely behind another car
Exceeding the speed limit
The car in front of the truck stops suddenly

Possible Injuries from an Override or Underride Accident

Due to the sheer size of a truck compared to an average passenger vehicle, when a truck runs over one or causes a car to slip underneath the trailer, there will be significant damage to the passenger vehicle and its occupants.

Some injuries that may occur from an override or underride accident include:

Paralysis
Burns
Broken bones
Spinal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Skin lesions
Internal injuries
Loss of limbs
Death

These injuries will cause significant medical bills and even emotional distress. Let us help you gain compensation to pay for these damages. You matter to us. We want you to get the justice and compensation you deserve for these injuries that were not your fault.

Who Is Liable in an Override or Underride Accident?

You may be able to seek damages, or compensation for your losses, in an override or underride accident from multiple parties. The truck driver, trucking company, and trucking manufacturer may all be at fault. The truck driver may have been driving negligently. The trucking company may not have supervised the driver correctly or used proper hiring and training processes. The trucking manufacturer may also have installed a part of the truck wrong or a part may be defective.

Georgia is a comparative fault state. That means that if another party is determined to be at fault, you can recover compensation from these different parties as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident.

To determine who is at fault, there will be an investigation into the accident. Chris Hudson Law Group will fully investigate your claim to help you recover the maximum amount possible. Some things we look into during an accident investigation include:

Truck driver driving records
Witness statements
Police statements
Scene of the accident evidence
Photographs or video evidence

Call us as soon as possible so that we can ensure that this evidence is preserved for your case. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that evidence could be lost or destroyed. The more evidence we have to build a strong case for you, the better your chances of getting the full and fair compensation to which you’re entitled.

Possible Financial Compensation in an Override or Underride Accident

Due to the nature of an override or underride accident, extensive damages occur. Some of the damages that you may be able to get financial compensation for include:

Physical suffering and mental anguish
Medical expenses
Damage to your vehicle
Lost wages
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship
Loss of earning capacity
Punitive damages

What are punitive damages, and when are punitive damages awarded in a case? Punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party for their extremely dangerous behavior. These types of damages are meant to deter the at-fault party from acting in the same way again. They are awarded when there is deliberate neglect or willful action by the at-fault party. An example of when punitive damages can be awarded is when the at-fault party is under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident occurs.

Contact An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer from The Chris Hudson Law Group Today

The Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta, GA cares about you and wants to help you receive the financial compensation you deserve. We promise to be extremely responsive about your case. We will persistently pursue your case so that you can rest easy.

We understand that this is a situation that you may have never been in before. Let our experienced truck accident lawyers help you navigate this difficult time.

Call us today at (706) 863-6600, or fill in our contact form and a member of our team will contact you right away.