When a passenger vehicle collides with a large commercial truck, the outcome is rarely equal. Due to the significant size and height difference between the two vehicles, smaller cars can slide beneath a truck’s trailer, an event known as an underride accident. These crashes are among the most devastating on New Mexico’s roadways, and understanding how frequently they occur can help drivers recognize the risks they face every time they share the road with an 18-wheeler.
What Is an Underride Accident?
An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle travels beneath the body of a large truck, either from the rear or the side. Because the trailer rides high off the ground, a car’s front end can slip under it during a collision, bypassing the vehicle’s front crumple zones and safety systems entirely. The result is often catastrophic structural damage to the passenger compartment and severe, sometimes fatal, injuries to the vehicle’s occupants.
There are two main types of underride collisions: rear underride, where a car strikes the back of a truck, and side underride, where a vehicle slides under the side of a trailer during a turn or lane change.
How Common Are These Accidents in New Mexico?
New Mexico consistently ranks among the more dangerous states for large truck crashes. The state’s long stretches of interstate highway, including I-10, I-25, and I-40, carry heavy commercial truck traffic year-round, connecting major freight routes between the Southwest and the rest of the country. That volume of truck traffic increases the statistical likelihood of serious accidents.
According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, large truck crashes account for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities statewide. While underride accidents are not always categorized separately in state crash data, federal studies have consistently found that underride collisions represent a significant percentage of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in truck crashes nationwide, with some estimates placing the figure at over 20% of all fatal truck accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires rear underride guards on commercial trailers, but these guards are not always well-maintained, and regulations for side underride protection remain limited. Poorly maintained guards, improperly loaded trailers, and trucks making unexpected stops or turns all contribute to the frequency of these accidents.
Why Are Underride Accidents So Severe?
The physics of underride collisions work against occupant safety in ways that frontal or rear-end crashes between similarly sized vehicles do not. When a car slides beneath a trailer, the truck’s frame can shear off the roof of the vehicle, causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and fatalities even at relatively low speeds. Airbags and seatbelts, which are designed for impact with similarly positioned structures, offer limited protection in these scenarios.
Survivors of underride accidents frequently face extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and permanent disabilities. Families who lose loved ones in these crashes are left navigating both grief and complex legal questions about who can be held responsible.
Who May Be Liable After an Underride Accident?
Determining liability in an underride accident often involves multiple parties. The truck driver, the trucking company, a trailer manufacturer, or a maintenance contractor may all share responsibility depending on the circumstances. Common contributing factors include:
- Defective or missing rear underride guards
- Inadequate trailer lighting or reflective markings
- Driver fatigue or distracted driving
- Improper maintenance of the vehicle
- Unsafe lane changes or sudden stops
New Mexico follows a system of comparative fault, meaning that even if an injured party is found partially responsible, they may still be entitled to recover compensation proportional to the other party’s fault.
How Ruhmann Law Firm Can Help
At Ruhmann Law Firm, our legal team has handled serious truck accident cases for clients throughout New Mexico and the surrounding region. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these accidents take on victims and their families, and we are dedicated to pursuing the accountability and compensation our clients deserve.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, we encourage you to learn more about your legal options by visiting our truck accident attorney page or our page on underride accidents. Our team is ready to review your situation and help you understand the path forward.