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Underride crashes kill over 200 people every year in the United States. A Fort Myers truck accident attorney says that underride guards protect potential accident victims from injuries.

In November 2019, a 39-year-old man from Boynton Beach was killed in an underride crash when his vehicle hydroplaned and struck a flat-bed truck at a red light on Boynton Beach Boulevard, according to The Palm Beach Post. The flat-bed truck had a rear underride guard which was found to be inferior and improperly installed. A Fort Myers truck accident attorney believes the passage of an underride protection act that requires inspections would help prevent these crashes.

On March 5, 2019, the Stop Underrides Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate after a previous bill died in Congress in 2017. The 2019 bill required the installation of rear, side, and front underride guards on certain trucks and trailers:

• a trailer or semi-trailer that is more than 10,000 pounds, and
• a single unit truck for which the bottom of the carriage is greater than 22 inches above the ground and that is more than 10,000 pounds.

For rear and underride guards, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must require adherence to a performance standard that requires the guards to be able to prevent intrusion from the body or frame of a trailer, semi-trailer, or truck into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle that contacts the guard while traveling at 35 miles per hour.

In addition, DOT must require drivers to (1) conduct a pre-trip inspection of the underride protection system on their vehicles; (2) identify rusted metal compromising structural integrity, cracked welds, or missing or loose fasteners; and (3) complete any necessary repairs.

DOT must establish a Committee on Underride Protection to oversee the ongoing underride guard rulemaking process.

DOT must publish data on victims of truck underride crashes.

When it was introduced on March 5, 2019, the bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Congress.gov does not show any further recorded action at this time.

“Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, please contact our experienced Fort Myers truck accident attorneys after seeking medical attention. We represent people involved in numerous types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents throughout the state of Florida. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation. We are available to assist you 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact  Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.