Underride and Override Truck Accidents

You were driving down the Southwest Freeway in Houston when the semi truck ahead of you suddenly braked hard. Before you could react, your car slid beneath the trailer, crushing your roofline and leaving you trapped until rescue crews arrived.

In a crash like this, the truck’s underride guard can become a critical piece of evidence. Whether it worked as intended, failed, or was missing altogether could play an important role in determining who will pay for your recovery.

Underride & Override Crashes Explained

Underride and override crashes happen when a passenger vehicle is too low to match the height of a truck.

• In an underride crash, the car slides underneath the truck’s trailer.
• In an override crash, the truck can crush the vehicle beneath it.

In 2024, passenger vehicle occupants made up 62% of the 5,340 deaths in large truck crashes, according to the IIHS . These crashes are among the most dangerous types of truck accidents on Texas roads.

What Is an Underride Crash?

Rear underride happens when a vehicle crashes into the back of a trailer and slides beneath it. 

Side underride happens when a vehicle slides underneath the side of a trailer, often at intersections or during lane changes.

Federal law requires most large trailers to carry a rear guard. However, side guards are not currently required by law.

Either type of underride can cause severe head, neck, and upper-torso trauma, especially when the truck’s trailer tears through your vehicle’s roof. 

What Is an Override Crash?

A truck is much taller and heavier than a smaller vehicle, so it can ride over the smaller vehicle during an override crash, especially in rear-end collisions or at intersections.

Since the car’s structure is not strong enough to support the truck’s weight, the truck’s frame can ride over the car and crush the passenger compartment, causing severe crush injuries and allowing parts of the truck or car to intrude into the passenger compartment. 

Federal Rules for Truck Trailer Guards

Federal law requires a rear guard on most large trailers, but it does not require a side guard. This is a common cause of underride crashes across Texas.

Trailers and semi trailers with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more that were built on or after January 26, 1998 must carry a rear guard that meets the federal strength and energy-absorption standard under 49 CFR 393.86 and FMVSS 223. FMVSS 224 mandates the guard’s required height, width, and position.

Operating a trailer without a compliant guard is a violation, but side underride guards are not required under current federal rules. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a rulemaking process in 2023 to consider a side-guard mandate, and a bill directing the agency to finalize one was introduced in Congress in February 2026, but as of this writing, neither law has been finalized.

Missing side guards also show up in other types of truck crashes, including rollover accidents.

Liability for Truck Underride & Override Crashes

In these cases, liability usually falls into one of two categories:

1. Negligence by the people operating or supervising the truck
2. Problems with the truck’s equipment, including the guard itself

Working with an attorney who understands Texas truck accident liability can help you identify which category applies to your case.

Who Is Liable for an Underride or Override Crash?

Driver behavior is often the starting point. Following too closely, driving too fast for road conditions, or failing to slow down in bad weather or poor visibility can all lead to a crash.

A trucking company may also be responsible. Hiring an unqualified driver, providing inadequate training, failing to supervise drivers, or not properly maintaining the truck can all contribute to underride and override collisions.

In some cases, a government entity may also be responsible if a road design flaw or maintenance failure contributed to a crash.

Guard Defects & Maintenance Failures

A missing, damaged, or non-compliant guard can create liability, even if the truck driver was not at fault. A manufacturer or parts supplier may be responsible for a design defect under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 82.005 if the guard did not meet federal strength standards.

A trucking company or maintenance provider may also be liable if the guard was removed, damaged, or not properly repaired.

Texas Comparative Fault Rules Explained

Texas reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible for the crash, then your claim is dismissed entirely, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. This is why it’s worth reviewing how shared fault could reduce your claim.

Types of Compensation for Underride & Override Crash Victims

Victims of underride and override crashes can pursue medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. In fatal cases, their family can pursue wrongful death damages.

• Medical expenses cover current treatment and future or long-term care related to the crash.

• Lost income accounts for the work you missed while you were recovering from your injuries, as well as your reduced earning capacity in the future.

• Pain and suffering compensates you for the physical and emotional toll of a serious injury.

• Families who lose a loved one in an underride or override crash may pursue wrongful death damages. Learn more about how a wrongful death claim works after a fatal truck crash.

What to Do After an Underride or Override Crash

If you take the following steps early, it can help you protect your health and your claim:

1. Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries are not immediately apparent.

2. Document the scene, including the truck’s rear or side guard condition (only if it is safe to photograph it).

3. Preserve evidence and avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney, especially if factors like shifting cargo may have contributed to the crash.

4. Keep records of all your medical bills, missed work, and related expenses.

Talk to an Attorney About Your Underride or Override Truck Accident in Texas

An underride or override crash can leave you facing serious injuries, expensive medical bills and an uncertain recovery. You do not have to handle this alone.

Angel Reyes & Associates has represented injured Texans for more than 30 years. We work on contingency, which means we do not charge a fee unless we win your case. We have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an underride or override crash, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.