Thousands of commercial trucks travel Bay Area highways daily, whether on I-80 through Oakland, Highway 101, or the Bay Bridge. When a smaller vehicle slides beneath a semi-truck’s trailer during a collision, the results are often catastrophic or fatal. These underride accidents happen when safety systems fail, leaving occupants vulnerable to severe head, neck, and upper-body injuries.
At Berg Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped Northern California families rebuild their lives after catastrophic truck accidents since 1981. If you or someone you love was involved in an underride crash, our experienced attorneys can help you pursue justice and the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Understanding Truck Underride Accidents
An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle collides with a truck and slides underneath it. Because of the height difference, a car’s safety features often can’t protect occupants from the trailer’s rigid underside, leading to catastrophic head, neck, and upper-body injuries.
There are three main types:
- Rear Underride: A car strikes the back of a truck, often in low-visibility conditions
- Side Underride: A vehicle slides under the side of a trailer during lane changes or at intersections
- Front Override: A truck runs over a smaller vehicle from behind, typically when following too closely
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, hundreds of underride fatalities occur nationwide every year. Federal law requires rear underride guards, but many are inadequate—and no federal rule mandates side guards, which could prevent many deaths.
Common Causes of Underride Collisions
Truck underride accidents can happen anywhere, including busy Bay Area freeways, fog-covered coastal highways, or city streets with limited visibility. The most common causes include:
- Poor visibility or inadequate lighting on trucks
- Missing or defective underride guards
- Driver fatigue, distraction, or impairment
- Sudden stops or unsafe lane changes
- Weather and driving at night
- Improperly maintained brakes, tires, or reflective markings
Even a moment of negligence can turn deadly. Trucking companies and drivers are legally required to maintain their vehicles and follow strict federal and state safety standards. But too often, those rules are ignored in the name of efficiency or cost savings.
High-Risk Trucking Routes in the Bay Area
Northern California’s highways carry some of the heaviest commercial truck traffic in the country. Certain routes see particularly high volumes of semi-trucks and pose elevated risks for underride collisions:
- I-580 Through the Altamont Pass: This major freight corridor connecting the Central Valley to the Bay Area sees constant truck traffic, often in dense fog and high winds. The steep grades and sharp curves make sudden stops common, increasing underride risk.
- I-80 Westbound Approaching the Bay Bridge: Heavy congestion and frequent lane changes as trucks merge toward the toll plaza create dangerous conditions, especially during morning and evening commutes.
- Highway 101 Through South San Francisco: The stretch near SFO handles high volumes of freight trucks serving the airport and Peninsula. Poor visibility during fog season and sudden traffic slowdowns contribute to rear-end collisions.
- I-880 Through Oakland: This route connects the Port of Oakland to distribution centers throughout the region. Trucks often travel at high speeds, and exits can be abrupt. The corridor has a history of serious truck accidents.
- Highway 17 Over the Santa Cruz Mountains: Narrow lanes, steep downgrades, and tight curves make this mountain pass particularly hazardous when trucks lose braking control or drift into adjacent lanes.
If you were injured in an underride accident on any of these routes or anywhere else in Northern California, our attorneys can investigate the circumstances and help you pursue compensation.
Severe and Catastrophic Injuries
Underride collisions are among the most devastating types of vehicle accidents. Survivors often face permanent, life-altering injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Severe facial or cranial trauma
- Crush or amputation injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Permanent disfigurement
Tragically, many underride crashes are fatal. Families who lose loved ones in these accidents may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the emotional toll of their loss.
Liability in Truck Underride Accidents
Determining fault in an underride collision requires a detailed investigation. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including:
- Truck drivers, for speeding, fatigue, or failing to use reflective warnings
- Trucking companies, for poor training, overworked schedules, or unsafe maintenance practices
- Trailer or guard manufacturers, if the underride protection failed or was defectively designed
- Maintenance contractors, for neglecting inspections or repairs
- Government entities, for hazardous road conditions or poor roadway lighting
Our firm works with accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and forensic specialists to analyze every detail, from impact patterns to data logs, to uncover the truth and hold the right parties accountable.
California and Federal Safety Regulations
Federal law requires most commercial trucks to be equipped with rear underride guards that meet specific strength and height standards. However, side underride guards remain unregulated, despite years of advocacy from safety experts.
In California, truck owners and drivers must also comply with state lighting and reflective marking requirements to ensure visibility during night or fog conditions, which frequently affect drivers throughout Northern California’s coastal and inland regions.
When companies cut corners on these safety measures, they put everyone on the road at risk and can be held legally responsible for the consequences.
Bay Area Truck Accident Resources
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in the Bay Area, these local resources can help you get medical care, file reports, and access support:
Trauma Centers Specializing in Catastrophic Injuries
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital: 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110
- Highland Hospital (Alameda Health System): 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center: 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
California Highway Patrol Offices
- CHP San Francisco: 455 Eighth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
- CHP Oakland: 3601 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
- CHP Hayward: 2434 Whipple Road, Hayward, CA 94544
Compensation for Underride Accident Victims
Victims of underride accidents often face enormous financial and emotional challenges. Depending on the case, compensation may include:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and long-term treatment
- Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement or Disability
- Wrongful Death Damages: Including funeral expenses and loss of companionship
Our attorneys fight to recover the full value of your losses, not just the immediate costs. We understand that the impact of these injuries lasts a lifetime, and your compensation should reflect that.
How Berg Injury Lawyers Can Help
With more than four decades of experience, Berg Injury Lawyers has built a strong reputation for taking on complex, high-stakes accident cases across San Francisco and Northern California.
Our team offers:
- Extensive experience with commercial vehicle and trucking regulations
- Local insight into Bay Area highways and freight routes
- Access to respected accident reconstruction and medical experts
- Aggressive negotiation and courtroom representation
- A proven record of results for seriously injured Californians
And with our No Fee Guarantee®, you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case. There’s no cost or obligation to talk with our attorneys and learn your options.
Contact Our Team Today
Truck underride accidents are among the most devastating collisions on California roads, but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. The experienced attorneys at Berg Injury Lawyers are here to investigate your claim, build your case, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
We’ve helped injured people across San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, and beyond since 1981, and we’re ready to help you, too.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and start fighting for justice on your behalf.
