Most drivers don’t remember a time when tractor-trailers and semis didn’t have rear underride guards on the back. They are there primarily to prevent cars from going underneath these massive trucks in a rear-end collision. This would likely result in fatal – or at least catastrophic – injuries.
The tragic incident that highlighted the need for rear underride guards occurred in 1967 – and is why they’re sometimes referred to as “Mansfield bars.” Actress Jayne Mansfield was riding in the front seat of a car with her driver and another man when the truck in front of them slowed down.
The car went underneath the truck, killing all three adult passengers. Mansfield’s three young children, including Mariska Hargitay (who became a well-known actress herself), were asleep in the back seat and survived the crash with comparatively minor injuries.
After that, truck manufacturers started including “Mansfield bars” on their vehicles. It was some time, however, before they became a mandatory safety feature. Safety advocates have tried to make side underride guards mandatory. However, they still aren’t.
How rear underride guards can cause serious injuries
It’s important to note that while rear underride guards serve an important purpose, they can also pose their own safety issues. For example, in a rear-end collision, a rear underride guard could potentially cause severe injuries to front-seat occupants of the vehicle in back. Further, if the occupant of a vehicle that rear-ends a truck is thrown from the car and strikes the guard, they can be catastrophically injured.
Finally, if a guard isn’t installed correctly and isn’t close enough to the road, a smaller vehicle like a sports or compact car could still potentially slide under the truck.
The added challenges of getting compensation after a truck crash
People injured in crashes involving large commercial trucks not only face the potential for catastrophic or fatal injuries. Getting compensation when the driver or the truck itself was to blame can be a challenge.
Large trucking companies often have a lot of money to spend on defending themselves in these cases. They can easily try to divert fault to another party – whether it’s the victims or another business, like one that loaded the cargo or was responsible for the maintenance. By getting sound legal guidance as early as possible, victims and surviving family members improve their chances of getting fair compensation.