The Stop Underrides Act is a piece of legislation that was introduced on December 12, 2017 and is now making its way through Congress. Underride crashes involve passenger cars sliding under large, commercial trucks in highway collisions with often deadly consequences for the occupants of the passenger vehicle. An underride guard is fashioned of metal and fiberglass and it can be mounted on the sides of 18-wheelers and semis to deflect vehicles that might otherwise slide underneath in the high gap between the bottom of the truck and the pavement.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the bi-partisan bill in the Senate, while U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the House.

Rear underride guards have been mandatory following the gruesome death of 1950’s Hollywood bombshell Jayne Mansfield in a car crash where the vehicle she was traveling in collided with and under rode the rear of a large tuck killing her instantly. Following that high-profile crash, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) made rear underride guards mandatory for large trucks. Unfortunately, that mandate did not include side underride guards. Safety experts estimate that about 300 people die each year in the United States in underride crashes.

Determined moms turn the tide

The NHTSA has failed to support requiring side underride guards because a cost-benefit analysis concluded that they would cost more than what would be reasonable to spend per life saved. (WUSA9.com) The federal agency tasked with keeping our highways safe has decided that 300 people’s deaths each year is an acceptable price to pay rather than requiring trucks to add a component that would prevent those deaths.

Marianne Karth and Lois Durso are two mothers who suffered the loss of their children in underride crashes. They have been advocating underride guard legislation for years, and they developed a bill, called the RAMCUP Act, which has evolved into the Stop Underrides Act. RAMCUP is an acronym for the names of their children, Roya, AnnaLeah, Mary Lydia Comprehensive Underride Protection Act of 2017. The two moms went door-to-door on Capitol Hill trying to gain support for their bill.

Marianne Karth said, “I am the survivor of a terrible truck crash. I’m the mom of two daughters, AnnaLeah & Mary, who did not survive. The difference? Their part of the car went under the truck; mine did not. When I learned that hundreds of people die each year from underride and that something could have been done to prevent their deaths, I became a mom on a mission to make truck crashes more survivable.”

Collisions between large commercial trucks and smaller, passenger vehicles can be deadly and cause life-altering injuries to those who survive. When you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash, you need the determined advocacy of a skilled Sevierville truck accident lawyer to protect your right to recover compensation for your losses.

At Delius & McKenzie, PLLC, we represent our clients who have been injured in a truck crash. Our experienced Sevierville truck accident lawyers will answer your questions and they will fight for justice on your behalf. You may call (865) 428-8780 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We proudly serve clients in Sevierville, Seymour, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge.