When cars slide underneath 18 wheelers, the results can be horrific.
Underride crashes are collisions in which victims experience life-threatening injuries to their heads and torsos when their vehicles run under an 18-wheeler. This is known as passenger compartment intrusion (PCI). PCI can result in traumatic brain injuries, decapitation, facial fractures, severe crush injuries, as well as burning to death from fiery crashes.
How many people are injured or killed by underride crashes?
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that since it began collecting data on underrides, there have been 7,850 side underride crashes and 8,950 corresponding fatalities, averaging 179 per year.
Why are side underride collisions so dangerous?
Side underride fatalities are caused because the sides of semitrailers are much higher than the bumpers, crumple zones, and restraint systems of passenger cars. When a passenger car runs under a semi, the car’s safety components do not prevent passenger compartment intrusion or protect the driver. According to the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection (ACUP), crashworthiness research and standards are useless in protecting passenger lives due to the size mismatch between the semi-trailers and passenger cars that causes underrides.
Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are even more vulnerable and can be crushed to death under the rear axles of large commercial trucks and trailers due to the lack of a physical barrier preventing them from sliding under tractor-trailer trucks.
What are the other costs associated with side underride collisions?
Not only are side underride deaths horrific, they are extremely costly. According to the ACUP, municipal emergency medical services and police incur much greater strain on resources when underrides occur compared to crashes that do not involve underride. More emergency personnel must be assigned to underride crashes for longer periods of time. The trucking industry also pays a high price for underrides, in the form of delayed delivery of transported goods, vehicle damage, civil lawsuits, loss of commercial driving license, and even jail time.
ACUP found that most long-haul carriers have the ability to install underride protection systems without exceeding their weight limits. ACUP also found that physical underride guards, known as rear impact, side impact, and front impact guards, are necessary. They further found that the effectiveness of the side underride guards will be increased when combined with conspicuity tape and automatic emergency braking on trucks.
What can be done to prevent side underride collisions?
ACUP’s recommendations include that:
- NHTSA should require all new semitrailers and single-unit trucks to be equipped with side guards capable of preventing injurious passenger compartment intrusion (PCI) when struck by a midsize vehicle at any angle, at any location, and at any closing speed up to and including 40 mph
- NHTSA should require side guards to also prevent a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist from passing underneath the guarded vehicle in an interaction with the side of the vehicle.
When robot s rule the road, who's responsible for safety?
The crash at the intersection of Lake Woodlands and Grogans Mill knocked the wheels right off the Ford F-150.
On February 18, 2026, an accident involving a motorcycle and two other vehicles occurred on Aldine Westfield Road near Wood River Drive, Fox26 Houston reports. An off-duty officer was operating the motorcycle and was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite the efforts of EMS and firefighters, they were unable to save the deputy. The investigation into the crash is being handled by the Precinct 4 accident investigation team, and all lanes on Aldine Westfield Road were shut down due to the incident. The driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene and was not impaired at the time of the accident. It is not yet clear if the crash was related to the arrest of a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy at the scene, who was charged with DWI.
February 12th, 2026, Houston: An 18-wheeler rollover on Southwest Freeway near Chimney Rock Road blocked multiple outbound lanes, leading to major delays for commuters, KHOU reports. The truck rolled onto its passenger side, crushing a pickup truck and dragging it approximately 100 yards. Fortunately, the pickup truck’s driver escaped unscathed, and there were no reported injuries. Fire officials also noted that the semi-truck did not lose its load during the incident. If you have been injured in a serious truck or 18-wheeler accident in Texas, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108 .
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When robot s rule the road, who's responsible for safety?
The crash at the intersection of Lake Woodlands and Grogans Mill knocked the wheels right off the Ford F-150.
On February 18, 2026, an accident involving a motorcycle and two other vehicles occurred on Aldine Westfield Road near Wood River Drive, Fox26 Houston reports. An off-duty officer was operating the motorcycle and was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite the efforts of EMS and firefighters, they were unable to save the deputy. The investigation into the crash is being handled by the Precinct 4 accident investigation team, and all lanes on Aldine Westfield Road were shut down due to the incident. The driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene and was not impaired at the time of the accident. It is not yet clear if the crash was related to the arrest of a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy at the scene, who was charged with DWI.
February 12th, 2026, Houston: An 18-wheeler rollover on Southwest Freeway near Chimney Rock Road blocked multiple outbound lanes, leading to major delays for commuters, KHOU reports. The truck rolled onto its passenger side, crushing a pickup truck and dragging it approximately 100 yards. Fortunately, the pickup truck’s driver escaped unscathed, and there were no reported injuries. Fire officials also noted that the semi-truck did not lose its load during the incident. If you have been injured in a serious truck or 18-wheeler accident in Texas, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108 .
On February 5, 2026, a dramatic rescue unfolded on Highway 290 near Mason Road in Cypress, Texas, when a woman found herself trapped in her vehicle after a major two-vehicle crash. The crash caused significant delays, with two westbound main lanes on Highway 290 remaining closed. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported that when emergency services arrived at the scene, they discovered the woman wedged underneath a truck . This type of accident is called a Side Underride Crash , and car manufacturers face pressure to install additional safeguards. Thanks to the efforts of first responders, the woman was safely removed from her vehicle and taken to the hospital for further care. If you have been injured in a serious car accident in Houston, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108.
A new video released after a fatal crash in the Texas Panhandle shows a truck on US 87 crashing into four young women from the Houston area. The women had to reduce their speed due to a flat tire, and had turned the hazard lights on. Despite their precautions, an 18-wheeler transporting produce for the San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B collided with the Nissan Altima, tragically killing the driver and three passengers. Long hours, insufficient training and lax monitoring make commercial vehicle and big rig accidents all too common on Texas roadways.
On the afternoon of June 28th, a truck driver allegedly fell asleep while driving an 18-wheeler on I-20 east of Dallas , causing him to crash into four cars and three 18-wheelers. This accident resulted in five deaths and an unknown number of injuries. This crash caused I-20 to be closed for several hours on Saturday while the victims were treated and the vehicles were removed from the scene. The driver was arrested the next day after admitting to falling asleep while driving, and is facing five counts of manslaughter along with a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 18-wheeler accidents have become a near daily occurrence, putting many drivers at risk. It is important to obtain counsel immediately if you have been in a collision with an 18-wheeler to ensure evidence is preserved and the accident is investigated thoroughly. If you have been injured in a serious 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident in Texas, call Wham & Rogers at 832-592-1108 for a free consultation.
We often receive phone calls from people whose attorney won't return their calls, won't help them find medical care, or won't give them any advice about property damage. When I ask who this lawyer is, they usually don't know. Invariably, I find out that they hired the lawyer through a service that contacted them. A shocking number of these solicitation companies are breaking the law. They are committing the crime of barratry . Attorneys who hire companies to illegally solicit business for them are focused on quick, easy settlements. They’ve already taken an illegal shortcut to get your business. They want to settle your case with the least amount of effort. They do not want to spend time answering your questions and helping you with anything that won’t make them a quick buck. I’ve learned of situations where lawyers hired through solicitation companies settled cases without their client’s consent — and even situations where the client’s settlement check bounced. If you hire a lawyer who contacts calls you personally or through a service, you may be hiring a lawyer who is breaking the law. This is not who you want representing you. If you did hire a lawyer through one of these services, you may be the victim of barratry and there are lawyers who will pursue these claims for you. ( Our firm does not handle barratry claims ) When you need a personal injury attorney, do your research. Check the reviews for the firm. Call to talk with the lawyers. If you can’t get a lawyer on the phone to talk with you, that is a sign you may need to look elsewhere. Our client reviews will attest that we provide personal, caring service to our clients. If you want attorneys who will treat you like family, call Wham & Rogers.
Austin, Texas - Texas is already one of the most dangerous states for fatal 18-wheeler crashes, and major disruptions from trucking collisions are a near-daily occurrence. This morning, an 18-wheeler and six other vehicles collided near the Austin-area suburb of Georgetown . The severity of any injuries sustained in the commercial vehicle wreck has not yet been reported, but the crash and recovery efforts have led to the complete closure of southbound lanes on Highway I-35. The Texas Department of Transportation warns that traffic will be disrupted for hours. Just last month, commuters on I-35 suffered a major, multiple-fatality accident when a driver for an Amazon delivery contractor crashed his 18-wheeler into 17 other vehicles . Investigations continue into the cause of the crash. Despite the frequency and severity of 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle crashes in Texas, the State Legislature is considering new laws that would protect trucking companies from liability in these wrecks . When combined with other new legislation capping damages that result from these serious 18-wheeler accidents, Texans would be left even more vulnerable. If you have been injured in a serious truck or 18-wheeler accident in Texas, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108 .
Texas has led the nation in large truck crashes since 2017. Despite this, the Texas Legislature is considering bills that would sacrifice Texans' safety for commercial trucking and insurance company profits
