An underride collision is a destructive accident that involves a car going underneath a semi, which often leaves victims with catastrophic injuries. As your underride truck accident lawyer in Stallings, we level the playing field against powerful trucking companies and their insurers.
Our Stallings truck accident lawyer at DeMayo Law Offices can help you recover compensation. With over 250 years of combined legal experience, our team has secured more than $1 billion in settlements for people harmed by negligence. A right without a remedy is just a suggestion™.
What An Underride Truck Accident Means For Drivers
In Stallings, drivers frequently share the road with massive tractor-trailers moving cargo through the region. An underride crash occurs when a passenger vehicle slides partially or completely underneath the trailer of a large truck. Since trailer height often aligns with a car’s windshield, these impacts bypass standard safety features like airbags.
The results are life-altering and require extensive medical treatment. If you were hurt on our local roads, our Stallings personal injury lawyer is ready to help. We understand the unique dangers of our transit corridors and protect your rights from the moment you call.
What Makes Underride Crashes Different From Other Truck Wrecks?
In a standard collision, vehicle bumpers absorb the force of the impact. In an underride crash, the truck’s high clearance allows the car to go beneath the trailer. This often leads to passenger compartment intrusion, where the trailer enters the space where the driver and passengers sit.
These wrecks are often fatal even at low speeds. While federal law requires rear underride guards, these bars can fail if they are poorly maintained. Side underride crashes are especially dangerous because many trailers lack side impact guards, leaving passenger cars vulnerable during broadside collisions.
For a free legal consultation with an underride accident lawyer serving Stallings, call (877) 333-1000
What To Do Right Now If You Were In an Underride Crash in Stallings
If you have been involved in an underride accident, your actions now are important for your health and your case. Here’s what our underride truck accident lawyers in Stallings suggest:
- Seek medical attention: Some life-threatening internal injuries do not show symptoms right away.
- Call the police: Ensure a formal report is filed and document the names of the officers.
- Do not sign anything: Avoid signing any documents from the trucking company without legal advice.
- Contact DeMayo Law Offices: The sooner we begin, the better we can protect the evidence needed for your case.
Stallings Underride Accident Lawyer Near Me (877) 333-1000
Common Causes Of Underride Collisions on Local Roads
High-traffic areas surrounding Stallings, including I-485 and U.S. 74, are common sites for these devastating accidents. Many underride collisions are caused by high speeds and a lack of visibility. Common factors that lead to these crashes in our area include:
- Sudden braking: If a truck driver slams on the brakes unexpectedly, a vehicle may not stop before sliding under the rear.
- Poor lighting: Trucks that lack functional taillights or reflective tape are difficult to see at night or in bad weather.
- Improper lane changes: A truck driver failing to check blind spots can pin a smaller car underneath the trailer’s side.
- Unsafe turns: Wide turns that block multiple lanes create a significant risk for side underride collisions.
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Who Can Be Liable Under North Carolina Law After a Stallings Underride Crash?
Determining fault for an underride wreck is a complex process involving multiple parties. Our underride truck accident attorney in Stallings investigates every angle to ensure all responsible entities are held accountable. Potential liable parties include:
- The truck driver: For negligent behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield.
- The trucking company: For failing to maintain underride guards or encouraging drivers to ignore safety regulations.
- Maintenance facilities: If a third party failed to inspect or repair the truck’s safety equipment correctly.
- Parts manufacturers: If the underride guard itself was defectively designed and failed to withstand a rated impact.
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Your Rights, Deadlines, and North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Rule
In North Carolina, the “pure contributory negligence” rule can be a major hurdle for accident victims. This rule states that if you are found even 1% at fault, you may be barred from recovering compensation. Insurance companies frequently use this to shift blame onto victims to protect their profits.
Our team can help defend against the tactics the insurance adjusters try to use to devalue your claim.
It is also important to be aware of the statute of limitations. In most cases, you generally have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim. However, if a government vehicle was involved, those deadlines can be significantly shorter. Missing these deadlines will permanently end your right to seek justice.
Evidence Our Underride Truck Accident Lawyer in Stallings Can Collect
Evidence in a truck accident can be lost within days of the crash. We act immediately to send spoliation letters to trucking companies, legally requiring them to preserve all data. Important evidence we pursue includes:
- Black boxes: These devices record the truck’s speed and braking patterns in the seconds before the crash.
- Electronic logging device data: This proves whether the driver was operating within federal hours-of-service limits.
- Maintenance logs: We review these to see if underride guards and reflective tape were properly inspected.
- Dashcam footage: Video evidence can definitively show how the collision occurred and if the truck’s lights worked.
Damages You Can Seek in an Underride Truck Accident Claim
The financial and emotional toll of an underride crash can be overwhelming. We pursue a full range of damages to help you move forward. Economic damages cover ambulance fees, hospital stays, surgeries, and medical care. We also fight for compensation for lost wages if you can no longer work.
Non-economic damages address the subjective impact the crash has had on your life. This includes pain and suffering, mental anguish, and permanent disfigurement. In cases involving gross negligence, we may also pursue punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.
Contact Our Underride Truck Accident Lawyer in Stallings
At DeMayo Law Offices, our team can help you recover compensation after your car went underneath a semi truck and you sustained injuries.
Reach out to our front desk today for a free case review. We will listen to your story, explain your options, and help you understand the path forward.
Call or text (877) 333-1000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
