Underride Truck Accident Lawyers in Rochester, NY 

Catastrophic Risks and Your Path to Justice 

Some accidents are worse than others, and underride truck accidents are among the worst. These devastating crashes happen when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a massive truck. The results? You've seen it on the local news. Severe injuries, unimaginable damage, and heartbreak for everyone involved. 

You know how packed Rochester’s busy highways, like I-390, I-490, or NY-104, can get with commercial trucks. The chances of something going wrong skyrocket when you mix heavy traffic, unpredictable weather, and towering 18-wheelers.  

Rochester truck accident lawyers at Horn Wright, LLP, understand how overwhelming a tractor-trailer crash can be. You’re not just dealing with physical pain—you’re also handling emotional and financial stress. But here’s the thing: you have an ally in us. We can work with you and fight for the justice you deserve.

What Makes Underride Truck Accidents So Horrifying? 

Underride accidents aren’t your typical fender-benders. These crashes happen when a smaller vehicle slides under the back or side of a truck, often because the truck doesn’t have proper guards or because those guards fail. 

Think about it: a regular passenger car is no match for a massive semi-truck. The car’s roof can get crushed, and the injuries for anyone inside are often serious—or worse. Federal safety regulations require rear underride guards, but side guards? Nope. They’re optional, and that gap in safety standards leaves too many lives at risk. 

Even when trucks have the right equipment, poor maintenance or defective parts can turn a “what if” into a nightmare. It’s not just frustrating—it’s infuriating to think how preventable these tragedies can be. 

Why Do These Tragedies Happen? The Truth Behind Underride Accidents 

There’s no single cause of underride accidents. Instead, it’s usually a mix of preventable factors. Here are some of the biggest culprits: 

• Truck driver negligence: Everyone makes mistakes, but some mistakes behind the wheel are unforgivable. Speeding, texting, or just not paying attention can have deadly consequences when you’re driving a vehicle that weighs tens of thousands of pounds. 
• Defective or missing underride guards: These guards are supposed to save lives. When they’re broken, poorly designed, or not there at all, they leave smaller vehicles completely exposed in a collision. The FMCSA guidelines require these guards on certain trucks. 
• Shoddy truck maintenance: Trucks are supposed to be inspected and maintained regularly. But when brakes fail, lights don’t work, or tires are dangerously worn, it’s not just the trucker at risk—it’s everyone else on the road. 
• Weather challenges: You already know how brutal the city’s winters can be. Icy roads, heavy snow, and fog rolling in from Lake Ontario can make visibility and traction nearly impossible. Combine that with a speeding truck, and it’s a recipe for disaster. 

The bottom line? Most of these accidents shouldn’t happen. They’re the result of poor decisions or flat-out neglect. You don't have to pay for someone else’s carelessness. An experienced Rochester personal injury attorney will make sure to hold the party responsible accountable.  

The Life-Changing Injuries No One Should Have to Endure 

Underride truck accidents aren’t just physically devastating, they’re emotionally and financially crushing, too. The injuries from these crashes can change lives forever. 

• Traumatic brain injuries: TBIs can leave someone with memory loss, difficulty speaking, or even permanent disability. And it’s heartbreaking for loved ones to see someone they care about struggling to do the things they once loved. 
• Spinal injuries: Paralysis, whether partial or complete, changes everything. Daily routines, careers, and even relationships can be turned upside down. 
• Amputations:  Losing a limb isn’t just a physical loss—it’s an emotional one, too. Victims often face years of therapy and adjustments to reclaim their independence. 
• Internal injuries: These are the kinds of injuries you don’t always see right away. Internal bleeding or damage to vital organs like the lungs or liver can take days—or even weeks—to fully reveal themselves. 
• Fatalities: This is the worst-case scenario no one wants to think about. But fatal crashes with massive trucks do happen. Families are left grieving, picking up the pieces, and trying to figure out how to move forward. 

And it’s not just the visible injuries. The emotional and financial toll can feel endless, too. Medical bills, lost wages, ongoing therapy—it all adds up, leaving families feeling trapped in an overwhelming situation. 

Your Right to Justice: Here’s What You Should Know 

After a road accident, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. You might not even know where to start. But you have rights, and you deserve to fight for them. You can seek compensation for a lot, including: 

• Medical bills (past, present, and future). 
• Recovering your lost income, especially if the injuries affect your ability to work. 
• Pain and suffering—because no one should have to endure this kind of trauma. 
• But getting justice isn’t always straightforward. These cases can be complicated, often involving multiple parties: 
• The truck driver. 
• The trucking company (which might’ve cut corners on safety). 
• The manufacturer of the defective parts. 

New York's comparative negligence laws allow you to recover compensation even if you share part of the blame. Your award might be reduced by your percentage of fault, but it doesn’t mean you’re out of options. 

And here’s a statistic that hits hard: In 2021, large trucks were involved in 9% of all fatal crashes in New York State, as per NHTSA. That’s not just a number—it’s a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone in this fight. 

How Our Team Can Help You Move Forward 

As Rochester lawyers who serve the local community for many decades, we've seen it all. The pain, the frustration, and the uphill battle victims face. Innocent victims like you shouldn't have to pay for them. That’s why we’re here. 

We're committed to making this process easier for you. When you work with us, we’ll handle every detail: 

• Investigating the crash. 
• Finding the evidence to build a solid case. 
• Negotiating with insurance companies who’d rather pay you less than what you deserve. 

We’ll get the compensation you need to rebuild your life and give you the support you deserve along the way. Taking that first step toward justice can be terrifying, but we'll be with you every step of the way.  

Because at Horn Wright, LLP, we put you first. Contact us today for personalized guidance. You deserve better.