Interstates and major highways across the state of Kentucky are heavily used by tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles. Drivers of smaller passenger vehicles need to be extra cautious when sharing roadways with these massive trucks. Many fatal truck accidents happen when smaller vehicles slide underneath the trailers Fortunately, more trailer manufacturers are taking precautions to prevent these kind of accidents from happening.
More manufacturers are making sturdy metal bumpers that hang from the back of semi-trailers to keep cars from sliding underneath the trailers in a rear collision. Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) swayed many of the largest manufacturers of semi-trailers to make these guards standard on their trailers. The IIHS released data that showed sub-par performance of older under-ride guards. Reportedly, many of these guards could break off or buckle in a crash.
Last year, federal regulators agreed to begin inspecting rear guards on semi-trailers. Also, the IIHS established safety tests to evaluate where the guards could be improved. It was recently announced that nine trailer companies have passed these safety tests. These efforts should help to save lives on roadways across the country.
Tractor-trailers are massive vehicles, and it can be quite intimidating to drive alongside these big trucks. In Kentucky and elsewhere, the surviving family members of those killed as the result of truck accidents can take action by seeking the services of a seasoned legal representative. A lawsuit, if successful, could result in much-needed financial relief to help families with monetary losses and end-of-life expenses.