Senator calls for stricter truck underride guard improvements

On behalf of Greenberg & Walden, LLC posted in Truck Accidents on Monday, July 31, 2017.

Many New Jersey residents have driven up Interstate 81 through northern New York. Early this month, a multi-fatality crash occurred on the interstate that has prompted a call by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer for new truck safety regulations, including underride guards.

The crash occurred on July 5 when the driver of a milk tanker truck swerved to avoid hitting a deer. The truck jackknifed on the two northbound lanes of the interstate. Two vehicles that could not stop in time went under the truck. Four men between the ages of 50 and 63 were killed in the crash.

Sen. Schumer, who met with family members of the victims, spoke out about the need for federal laws requiring trucks to be equipped with underride guards. He noted that the National Transportation Safety Board has found these energy-absorbing guards to be effective in preventing fatalities. They help prevent vehicles from ending up underneath a truck in a crash.

Specifically, Schumer is seeking three safety improvements regarding underride guards:

  • Require all trucks to have side underride guards.
  • Update the current rear underride guard standards that aren’t effective with many late model vehicles that have crumple zones
  • Research what type of front underride guard standards should be implemented.

Schumer says that with stricter regulations regarding underride guards on trucks, “hundreds, hundreds each year of fatalities like this one would be preventable.”

Crashes with trucks can cause severe and often fatal injuries. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident involving a truck, it’s essential to seek legal guidance from an experienced New Jersey attorney who can determine what individuals and/or companies should be held liable and fight for the compensation you deserve.

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