What Is an "Underride" Truck Accident?

 Posted on February 19, 2026 in Truck accidents

Sometimes the term "underride accident" gets thrown around in the context of semi trucks or other very big vehicles. These crashes are among the most dangerous types of truck accidents, and understanding them could one day save your life. If you have questions about the legal effects of different types of truck accidents, a Gonzales truck accident attorney can help.

What Happens in an Underride Accident?

An underride accident is when a smaller vehicle slides under a large truck during a collision. Because semi trucks sit so high off the ground, a car can actually go beneath the truck's trailer or body during a crash. When this happens, the top of the car is often sheared off or crushed. The results are nearly always catastrophic.

There are two main types of underride accidents:

Rear Underride 

This happens when a car rear-ends a truck and slides under the back of the trailer. This is the most common type.

Side Underride 

This happens when a car collides with the side of a trailer, usually at intersections, and slides beneath it.

Both types can cause severe head, neck, and spinal injuries, even at relatively low speeds. Standard car safety features like airbags and seatbelts are often not enough to protect occupants when the vehicle slides under a truck.

Is There Anything That Helps Prevent Underride Accidents?

Federal law requires certain underride protections on large commercial trucks. Under 49 CFR Part 571 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, rear underride guards (sometimes called "ICC bumpers") are required on most trailers. These are metal bars attached to the back of a trailer that are meant to stop a car before it slides underneath.

However, these guards have limits. In 2026, safety advocates continue to push for stronger standards. Current guards can fail in high-speed crashes or in crashes that hit the corners of a trailer rather than the center. Side and front underride guards are not federally required for most trucks, even though these crashes are also deadly and possibly more common. 

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, many rear guards do well in preventing underride accidents when a vehicle hits the middle of the trailer’s rear, but don’t necessarily prevent underride in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear.

What Causes Underride Crashes?

Several factors contribute to underride accidents:

• Poor visibility at night or in bad weather, especially if truck lights or reflective tape are damaged.
• Sudden stops when trucks brake quickly on highways.
• Illegal or dangerous turns when trucks cross lanes of traffic.
• Driver inattention from either the car driver or truck driver.
• Defective or missing underride guards.

What Kind of Compensation Could I Be Entitled to if I'm in an Underride Accident?

If you are injured in an underride crash, you may be entitled to significant compensation because of the severe nature of these accidents. The damages you could recover include:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
• Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional trauma you have experienced
• Property damage to repair or replace your vehicle
• Wrongful death damages if you have lost a loved one, including funeral costs and loss of support

Underride accident cases often involve multiple liable parties. The trucking company, truck driver, trailer manufacturer, or cargo loading company could all share responsibility. This means there may be multiple insurance policies available to cover your damages, potentially resulting in larger settlements or jury awards than typical car accidents. This also means that it’s worth having professional legal guidance to help you understand all the parties that could be liable. 

Call a Comal County Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you have been hurt in a truck accident, do not wait to get legal help. At The Bettersworth Law Firm, our Gonzalez truck wreck lawyers bring 25 years of experience handling complex commercial vehicle accidents. We keep our caseload intentionally low so that we can give every client our full attention. You will have direct, regular contact with the lawyer handling your case. You will not fall through the cracks.

We are aggressive in the courtroom and compassionate with our clients. We have recovered millions for injury victims and are proud members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Call The Bettersworth Law Firm at 830-606-0404 today for a free consultation.