If you are involved in an accident with a big truck or trailer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you’re in trouble. Whether you’re in a passenger vehicle, on a motorcycle or bicycle, or on foot, you are going to suffer the worst kind of collision. One common accident sees the smaller vehicles going underneath the trailer of a large truck in a side-impact collision, then getting crushed by the truck’s rear wheels.
Thankfully, side-impact collisions could become less dangerous as trucking companies in the United States become more open to installing side guards. These devices cover the open space between the front and rear wheels of the truck, lessening the chances of smaller vehicles and pedestrians going underneath the truck.
According to the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, side guards have been required in many countries worldwide since the 1980s. In the United Kingdom, according to Volpe, studies found a 61 percent reduction in cyclist fatalities and a 20 percent reduction in pedestrian fatalities after the implementation of a side guard mandate.
Side guards work - but it's a battle to get them implemented
Closer to home, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety supports the use of side guards. Two U.S. senators recently introduced a bill to mandate the devices on certain vehicles, according to NBC News. Truck manufacturers have taken notice, too. Morgan Corp. announced the release of improved side and rear-steps, plastic toolboxes and side guard protection devices for truck bodies.
Still, accidents happen. And while 47 countries require the use of side guards, the United States is not one of them. Progress is being made, but in the meantime you could become involved in an accident with a careless trucker behind the wheel of a big truck or trailer that is not equipped with side guards. While the accident is not your fault, that’s little solace after you have collided with an 80,000-pound semi on Interstate 20, I-30, I-35, I-45, I-67, 287 or Loop 820 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
You’re likely dealing with catastrophic damage to your vehicle, life-changing injuries, or even worse, the loss of a loved one. You are facing major physical, emotional and mental trauma that may haunt you and your family for the rest of your lives. And then there’s the financial upheaval – a trucking company and its insurance providers will try to overwhelm you with every tactic in their arsenal to pressure you into accepting a monetary settlement for far less than you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a big truck or trailer accident, you need an attorney on your side who is going to protect your rights. Experienced tractor-trailer personal injury lawyer Coby L. Wooten is a Fort Worth native who knows how trucking companies and their insurance carriers think. Because he has handled many cases just like yours, he also knows that you deserve to be treated with compassion and professionalism. Call (866) 408-0940 to schedule a free consultation today. Or fill out a contact form on our website. We work on a contingency fee, meaning we do not get paid unless we win your case.