Every year, hundreds of Americans are killed in one of the most preventable and least publicized types of truck crashes: underride accidents. When a passenger car slides beneath a tractor-trailer, the results are almost always catastrophic. The roof is sheared off. Occupants suffer fatal or life-altering injuries. And in too many cases, families are left asking why nothing was done to prevent it.
Congress is asking the same question. In February 2026, lawmakers reintroduced the Stop Underrides Act 2.0, a bill that would require side underride guards on newly manufactured commercial trucks — a change safety advocates and grieving families have been pushing for nearly a decade. If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a truck accident in Alabama, the attorneys at Fob James Law Firm are ready to help.
What Is a Truck Underride Accident?
A truck underride crash occurs when a smaller passenger vehicle collides with a large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer or single-unit truck, and slides underneath the truck’s body due to the significant height difference between the vehicles. Because the truck’s trailer sits well above the hood of a typical car, the vehicle can slide under the trailer bed rather than absorbing the impact through its front crumple zones, bypassing all of the safety systems designed to protect occupants.
There are three main types of underride crashes:
- Rear underride — the most common; a car strikes the back of a stopped or slow-moving trailer
- Side underride — a car slides under the side of a trailer during a broadside collision or a truck’s wide turn
- Front underride — less common, but devastating; a vehicle goes under the front of a truck
Federal regulations currently require rear underride guards on most trailers. However, there are no federal requirements for side or front underride guards, a gap that the Stop Underrides Act 2.0 seeks to close.
How Many People Are Killed in Underride Crashes Each Year?
The true death toll from underride crashes is hard to pin down, and that’s part of the problem. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, an average of approximately 219 fatalities from underride crashes involving large trucks were reported annually between 2008 and 2017 in official federal data. But that number is almost certainly an undercount.
Crash investigators and safety advocates have long argued that many underride crashes are misclassified by state and local law enforcement because police accident report forms in most states (including Alabama) don’t include a dedicated checkbox for underride crashes. Some estimates put the actual death toll at 300 to 600 people per year in the United States. Thousands more suffer catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
In Alabama alone, an average of 111 fatal truck accidents occur every year. The state’s mix of rural highways and interstate corridors, including I-65, I-20, and I-59, create significant exposure to truck crashes, including underride events.
The Stop Underrides Act 2.0: What You Need to Know
On February 5, 2026, bipartisan members of Congress introduced the Stop Underrides Act 2.0 in both the House and Senate.
In the Senate, the bill was introduced by Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with cosponsors including Senators Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, and Elizabeth Warren. In the House, Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced companion legislation.
The bill’s key provisions include:
- Side underride guards: Requiring NHTSA to finalize rulemaking mandating
- Restarting the DOT’s Advisory Committee on Underride Protection to study how to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities
- Directing the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the full prevalence of underride crashes, including front-of-truck underrides
- Instructing the GAO to evaluate the implementation of NHTSA’s 2022 rear underride rule and recommend improvements
- Requiring NHTSA to review its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and correct underride crashes that were misclassified
- Creating free law enforcement training to help officers better identify and document underride crashes
- Directing DOT to publish a public website making underride research accessible to advocates, researchers, and the public
Previous versions of the Stop Underrides Act were introduced in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Underride provisions were included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, but a comprehensive side guard mandate was not enacted. The 2026 version represents a renewed push with expanded data collection and research requirements.
Industry Opposition and the Road Ahead
The trucking industry has historically opposed mandated side underride guards, arguing that no official crash-test-approved standard exists for side guards, that installation would add significant weight and cost, and that additional weight could reduce payload capacity, leading to more truck trips overall.
Industry groups like the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have consistently opposed previous versions of the legislation.
Safety advocates and victim families, however, argue that the human cost of inaction is far greater than the economic burden. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted crash tests demonstrating the effectiveness of side underride guard systems in protecting automobile occupants, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued recommendations in favor of comprehensive underride protection including rear, side, and front guards on tractor-trailers.
As of early 2026, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Who Is Liable in an Alabama Truck Underride Accident?
Truck underride accidents are often far more complex than standard car accident claims. Multiple parties may share liability, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the trailer manufacturer, a fleet maintenance company, or even a shipper who improperly loaded cargo.
An experienced Alabama truck accident attorney will investigate every angle, including:
- Whether the rear underride guard was damaged, improperly maintained, or non-compliant with federal standards
- Whether the truck’s reflective tape and lighting were adequate under federal safety regulations
- Whether driver fatigue, distraction, or hours-of-service violations contributed to the crash
- Whether the trucking company failed to properly inspect or repair underride guards
- Whether a defective or inadequate guard design contributed to the severity of the crash
In Alabama, truck accident victims can pursue economic damages (medical bills, lost income, future care costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium). In cases of egregious negligence, punitive damages may also be available. For a full overview of how Alabama truck accident claims work, visit our guide on Birmingham trucking accidents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Underride Accidents
What is the Stop Underrides Act 2.0?
The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 is federal legislation introduced in February 2026 that would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize a rule requiring side underride guards on newly manufactured commercial trucks. It also includes provisions for improved data collection, independent research, and law enforcement training related to underride crashes.
Are rear underride guards already required on trucks?
Yes. Federal regulations already require rear underride guards (also called rear impact guards) on most trailers. However, research shows these guards are not always inspected during routine commercial vehicle inspections, meaning damaged or non-compliant guards may still be on the road. There are currently no federal requirements for side or front underride guards.
How many people die in truck underride crashes each year in the U.S.?
Official federal data has reported roughly 219 underride fatalities per year, but safety advocates and researchers widely believe that figure significantly undercounts actual deaths due to inconsistent state reporting practices. Estimates from advocacy groups and recent news investigations suggest the true annual death toll may be 300 to 600 or more.
Can I sue after a truck underride accident in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama law allows truck underride victims — and families of those killed — to pursue civil claims for damages against the truck driver, the trucking company, and other potentially liable parties. Evidence in these cases moves quickly, so it’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact Fob James Law Firm for a free case evaluation.
What is a side underride guard?
A side underride guard is a barrier installed along the lower side of a truck trailer that prevents or limits how far a passenger vehicle can slide underneath the trailer during a broadside collision. Side guards also protect pedestrians and cyclists who might otherwise be run over by the rear wheels of a turning truck.
Talk to an Alabama Truck Accident Attorney — Free Consultation
Truck underride accidents are among the most devastating crashes on Alabama roads and the legal cases that follow are among the most complex. At Fob James Law Firm, we handle serious truck accident cases across Alabama, including underride crashes on I-65, I-20, I-59, and rural state highways. We work on contingency, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win.
Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Fob James, IV
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large national firm for several years, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society. Many of Fob’s cases are high profile and have been featured in, among others: Bloomberg News, PlanAdvisor, AL.com, PlanSponsor, InsuranceJournal, and BusinessInsider. For his work in obtaining numerous multi-million dollar outcomes for his clients, Fob has been recognized by: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, SuperLawyers Rising Star (2020-2025), Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Law (2023-2025), and TrustAnalytica – Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Alabama.