Hollywood Semi-Truck Underride Accident Lawyers

Collisions involving semi-trucks are some of the most devastating crashes on Florida roads. Among the deadliest scenarios is an underride accident, where a smaller passenger vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a semi-truck during a crash. Because the frame of the truck is higher than the hoods and windshields of most cars, underride accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Survivors are often left with permanent harm, while families of fatal victims are left grieving sudden, preventable losses.

At Ansel & Miller, we have spent many years representing victims of the most serious accidents on South Florida roads. Our Hollywood semi-truck underride accident lawyers know how to investigate these tragedies, identify every liable party, and hold trucking companies accountable. Just as important, we treat our clients like family, guiding them through each step of the legal process with compassion and personal attention.

Why Semi-Truck Underride Accidents Are So Dangerous

Semi-trucks are designed to haul massive amounts of freight across the country. Their size and weight already make them a danger to smaller vehicles in any collision, but underride accidents carry unique risks. In these crashes, the point of impact is often at or above the level of a car’s hood. Instead of the car’s safety features, such as bumpers, airbags, and crumple zones absorbing the energy of the crash, the windshield and passenger cabin take the brunt of the impact.

This design flaw often leads to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries due to direct cabin intrusion; decapitation or fatal crush injuries, particularly in high-speed collisions; and severe internal injuries that require extensive medical intervention and long-term care. Because the consequences are often catastrophic or fatal, underride crashes are among the most feared accidents on the road.

Types of Semi-Truck Underride Accidents

Not all underride accidents look the same. Depending on how the crash occurs, victims may face different hazards. Common forms include:

Rear underride accidents – A car crashes into the back of a semi-truck and slides underneath the trailer. These crashes often occur at night or in poor visibility when a truck lacks adequate taillights or reflective markings.
Side underride accidents – A car travels into the side of a trailer, often when a truck is making a wide turn or crossing a roadway. Drivers may not realize they are about to strike the trailer until it’s too late.
Offset underride accidents – A partial underride where only part of the vehicle ends up under the trailer, still producing severe cabin intrusion.

Each scenario raises questions about whether the trucking company followed federal safety standards.

Federal Safety Regulations and Underride Guards

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires most large trucks to be equipped with rear underride guards. These steel bars are designed to stop a car from sliding underneath in a rear-end crash. Unfortunately, rear guards are often poorly maintained or too weak to withstand real-world collisions. Even when they are intact, they may not protect vehicles in offset or angled crashes.

Side underride guards—steel rails designed to prevent cars from sliding under the side of a trailer—are not currently mandated under federal law, despite years of safety advocates urging regulators to act. Many experts argue that this regulatory gap leaves drivers vulnerable to some of the deadliest crash scenarios.

When investigating a semi-truck underride crash, it is critical to examine whether the truck had the proper safety equipment, whether it was installed and maintained correctly, and whether missing or defective guards contributed to the accident.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Underride Accidents in Hollywood

While the absence or failure of underride guards plays a major role, many underride accidents involve negligence by truck drivers or trucking companies. Contributing factors include:

Improper truck lighting or reflective markings, making it difficult for other drivers to see the trailer.
Unsafe lane changes or wide turns, placing a trailer in the path of oncoming traffic.
Sudden stops, leaving trailing vehicles with little chance to avoid crashing into the rear of the trailer.
Negligent maintenance, such as failing to repair defective lights, brakes, or guards.

In many cases, trucking companies also pressure drivers to meet strict delivery schedules, increasing the likelihood of unsafe driving behaviors that put others at risk.

Why Legal Representation Is Essential

Trucking companies and their insurers move quickly after a crash. They often deploy investigators to the scene within hours to collect evidence and build a defense. Victims and their families, on the other hand, are usually dealing with emergency medical care or mourning a devastating loss.

This imbalance makes legal representation crucial. At Ansel & Miller, our attorneys conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the crash, including analyzing maintenance records, electronic logging devices, and compliance with FMCSA safety regulations. We work with accident reconstruction experts to demonstrate how the underride occurred and whether safety guards would have prevented it. Our team understands the importance of identifying all responsible parties, including drivers, trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and manufacturers of defective underride guards. With the facts in hand, we pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, long-term care, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages.

Because underride crashes so often involve catastrophic harm, the stakes are high. Victims deserve lawyers who are experienced in serious cases and who will not back down when going up against powerful trucking companies.

Ansel & Miller: Serious Cases, Personal Commitment

At Ansel & Miller, we focus on helping clients through the most difficult times of their lives. We know how life-changing an underride crash can be, and we approach every case with the seriousness it deserves. With decades of combined experience, our lawyers understand trucking regulations, the tactics used by insurance companies, and the evidence needed to win.

But just as importantly, we know that every client is a person, not just a case file. Our firm builds close relationships with clients, keeping them informed, answering their questions, and standing beside them throughout the process. When you entrust us with your case, you gain more than legal advocates; you gain a team dedicated to your recovery and your future.

When life hurts, we make it personal.

Contact Ansel & Miller After a Semi-Truck Underride Accident in Hollywood, Florida

If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck underride accident in Hollywood, Florida, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. The injuries are often catastrophic, the legal issues complex, and the opposition powerful. But with experienced and compassionate representation, you can pursue the accountability and compensation you deserve.

Call Ansel & Miller today for a free consultation. Our team is ready to listen to your story, explain your rights, and fight for the justice you need after a devastating underride accident.