The Dangers of Underride Truck Accidents, AKA Mansfield Bars

If you’ve ever driven behind a big semi-truck, you have probably seen steel bars dangling from the back of the trailer. These are Mansfield bars, or underride guards, designed to prevent some of the most dangerous accidents on the road.  While they offer critical protection, they have limitations. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we’re here to explain how these safety features impact the risks of truck accidents in Houston, TX.

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What Are Mansfield Bars on Trucks?

Mansfield bars, also known as underride guards, are steel barriers attached to the rear of semi-trucks. Their primary function is to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath a truck during a rear-end collision, a scenario that often results in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. This safety feature was adopted following a widely publicized 1967 accident involving actress Jayne Mansfield. While these bars have saved lives, they are not without their problems. Mansfield bars are intended mainly to deter rear underride crashes but do not offer protection against side underrides. 

Why Are They Called Mansfield Bars?

The Mansfield bar’s name is a reference to the horrific car crash that killed actress Jayne Mansfield. In 1967, the Hollywood star was involved in a rear-end collision with a semi-truck while out on the road in Louisiana. Her car went under the trailer of the truck, killing her and two passengers. The gruesome crash spurred national attention on the dangers of underride crashes, in which smaller vehicles slide under the back or side of a large truck or trailer.

The accident had immediate repercussions, and the NHTSA quickly jumped into action. In 1968, regulations mandated that commercial trailers be equipped with rear underride guards that would prevent smaller cars from sliding underneath in similar crashes. Mansfield bars became the umbrella term for these safety features, serving as a sad reminder of the tragedy that resulted in their implementation.

This moment is a vivid example of how out of loss comes progress. It also shows the value of public outcry and subsequent regulatory action to put in place lifesaving protocols. While Mansfield bars are not a perfect solution, they have saved lives and continue to play a crucial role in road safety. However, for families who have lost loved ones in underride accidents, these measures are not enough. We understand the devastating impact of these crashes and are here to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Are Mansfield Bars Safe for Other Vehicle Drivers?

Mansfield bars offer some level of protection but are not perfect. These devices, which are intended to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath a truck in a rear-end accident, are primarily meant to prevent fatalities in such crashes; however, that effectiveness depends on proper installation, maintenance, and specifications compliance.

• Limitations: Mansfield bars do nothing to stop side underride crashes, where a vehicle becomes wedged underneath the side of a trailer. Technology is out there, but the inclusion of side underride guards hasn’t been mandated in the U.S., leaving a conspicuous hole in its safety net. These deficiencies are especially concerning in high-speed or complex traffic environments where underride events are most likely to occur.
• Defective Design: A poorly maintained or improperly designed Mansfield bar made from substandard materials may fail to function effectively at high speeds, putting drivers and passengers at serious risk. As a result, bar composition standards continue to evolve—sometimes improving, sometimes declining. When these guards are broken or missing, safety takes a backseat, and regulatory enforcement can become inconsistent, leaving lives on the line.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most fatalities in large truck crashes involve passenger vehicle occupants. The weight and size disparity between large trucks, which often weigh 20-30 times more than passenger vehicles, creates significant risks in collisions.

Common Injuries Caused by Mansfield Bars

Accidents involving Mansfield bars can result in devastating injuries. These high-speed collisions are associated with serious trauma. These are the most frequent injuries:

• Head and Neck Trauma Underride accidents often lead to traumatic injuries to the head and neck. The magnitude of the structural impact itself commonly leads to concussions, skull fractures, or significant cervical injuries when the truck structure intrudes into the passenger compartment.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The impact between a vehicle and a truck during a collision may result in a passenger being thrown under the truck. These injuries may include herniated discs to paralysis and can significantly impact the victim’s normal way of life.
• Lacerations and Broken Bones: The force of the collision often shatters windows and crumples vehicle frames, causing deep cuts from shards of glass and serious fractures from the impact of the crash.
• Internal organ trauma: The crushing nature of underride accidents can lead to internal organ damage as well, which may require immediate medical attention and years of follow-up care.
• Fatalities: With many small cars lacking sufficient crash-protection structures, these collisions often result in fatalities, leaving families to cope with an unimaginable loss.

Awareness of these injuries underscores the need for stronger safety measures on the road and a greater understanding of underride risks among motorists.

Please read: What to Do After an 18-Wheeler or Trucking Accident

Truck Accident Statistics

Truck accidents continue to be a major problem for Texas roads, including Houston. While large commercial vehicles are critical to transporting goods throughout the state, their size and weight make them especially hazardous in the event of a collision. 

In 2022, there were more than 34,000 commercial motor vehicle crashes in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. They claimed thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths. TxDOT data also shows a large percentage of those crashes are rear-end crashes, one of the top scenarios for which Mansfield bars are expected to help keep the vehicle safe.

Nationally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that around 5,000 people are killed each year in crashes involving large trucks. Rear-end crashes play an outsized role in these deaths, and passenger vehicles cannot always escape a deadly outcome with the height and weight difference between cars and trucks.

Texas remains the undoubted leader in truck-related deaths, and Houston is among the most dangerous cities for truck-related accidents. The problem is exacerbated by high traffic volumes, large numbers of commercial vehicles, and urban congestion.

Providing an overview of truck accident statistics highlights the urgent need for better safety measures, stricter regulations, and strong victim advocacy. Enhancing Mansfield bars and other underride guards is crucial to reducing these tragic numbers and ensuring safer roads for everyone.

Need Help After a Truck Accident? Call Us Today

At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we are committed to securing justice and compensation for truck accident victims. Contact us today at 832-402-6637 for your free consultation.

Scott Armstrong

Scott Armstrong obtains remarkable results for his clients. He has successfully tried numerous cases to favorable verdicts and reached significant settlements on his clients’ behalf, recovering millions for them. Our lawyers have 25+ years of combined experience.

Scott is known for his aggressive approach to every case. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, an accolade awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under forty and practicing for less than ten years. Houstonia Magazine, H-Texas Magazine, and others have recognized Scott as a “top lawyer” in Houston.

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