Yes, underride guards are required by law in North Carolina. North Carolina follows FMCSA federal trucking regulations, which require all commercial vehicles to have rear underride guards, also called Mansfield bars. Proposed state legislation could require trucks in North Carolina to also adopt side underride guards.
Given the size difference between trucks and passenger vehicles, underride accidents can cause severe injuries when guards are defective or missing. If you have injuries from a recent underride accident, a North Carolina truck accident lawyer can help you explore options for recovering financial compensation.
What Are Federal Regulations for Truck Underride Protection?
According to 49 CFR 393.86, all commercial vehicles with a combined gross weight of 10,000 lbs or greater must have a rear underride guard installed.
The sides of underride guards must extend to at least four inches off the side of the vehicle, and the bottom bar must be more than 22 inches higher than the ground. These requirements specifically apply to vehicles that were manufactured after January 26, 1998.
North Carolina state law also has provisions requiring rear underride guards on commercial trucks. N.C.G.S 20-115.1(3) states that all semi-trailers longer than 48 feet must have a rear underride guard equipped.
How Effective Are Underride Guards?
When properly designed and installed, underride guards are extremely effective at preventing death and injury.
According to one study from the NHTSA, underride guards may reduce fatality risk of rear underride accidents by as much as 83%.
However, the effectiveness of underride guards depends on several factors, most notably the speed and angle of the collision. For instance, collisions with the corner of the underride guard bars are more deadly than collisions with the center.
Are Trucking Companies Responsible for Missing Guards?
Underride guards are supposed to prevent a vehicle from getting wedged underneath the tractor-trailer during a collision. However, these guards may have material defects or be installed improperly, which can cause them to fail during an accident.
The trucking company can be liable for this failure if it neglected to maintain its fleet and that neglect caused the accident. Trucking companies must perform regular inspections, including right before and after trips. If the company knew about underride guard damage but failed to fix it, it could be liable for any injuries.
Trucking companies must keep detailed records of all maintenance and repairs performed on their fleets. A lawyer could obtain maintenance reports to determine whether the company negligently ignored the defective underride guard.
Do Semi-Trucks Have to Have Side Underride Guards in North Carolina?
Underride guards are required in North Carolina only on the rear of the tractor-trailer. However, many underride accidents happen on the side of commercial trucks, like in T-bone collisions at intersections.
There have been recent legislative pushes to require trucks to also have side underride guards. The Stop Underride Act 2.0 is a proposed bill that would mandate side underride guards on all large commercial vehicles. The bill was introduced into Congress in 2026, and its proponents claim it could prevent hundreds of deaths nationwide from underride accidents.
In addition to requiring side underride guards, the proposed law would require the Department of Transportation to fund further research on reducing underride accidents and fatalities.
What Should I Do if I Get Into an Underride Accident?
The immediate chaos after a truck accident can be disorienting, but you must take active steps to strengthen your ability to file an insurance claim:
- After checking yourself for injuries, start documenting the accident scene. Take pictures of any vehicle damage, as well as your injuries. Make sure you also take pictures and recordings of the underride guard, and note the manufacturer.
- Next, go to a doctor and get a diagnosis for your injuries. You will need medical records to send to the insurance company when making a claim. The more evidence the better, so get copies of your intake forms, lab reports, test results, doctor’s notes, and discharge paperwork.
- You can then talk to a lawyer. An attorney can contact the trucking company to preserve evidence and initiate the next steps of the insurance claims process. They can also help you gather additional evidence to strengthen your claim for financial damages.
DeMayo Law Offices: North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer
Even though underride guards are required by law in North Carolina, accidents can lead to extreme injuries.
If you have injuries from a recent underride truck accident, the team at DeMayo Law Offices wants to hear from you. We can determine whether the company violated federal laws regarding underride guards and hold responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
Contact our offices today or call us by phone to learn more about how a North Carolina personal injury lawyer can help. Consultations are free, and we only take a fee if we win your case, so there is no risk to getting in touch.
