Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Discusses Lateral Protection Devices on Commercial Trucks
Pedestrian Injury Lawyer: Lateral Protection Devices Save Lives
Pedestrians and cyclists face serious risks in collisions with large commercial trucks. Semi-trucks tower over most other road users and can cause catastrophic injuries in a truck accident with a pedestrian. As a pedestrian injury lawyer, our law firm understands how small design changes can make the difference between life and death.
One safety innovation that has gained attention in recent years is the Lateral Protection Device (LPD). It is a barrier mounted along the sides of trucks to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being pulled under their wheels. Below, we explain how these devices work, why they matter, and what role they play in making Kentucky and Indiana roads safer for everyone.
What Are Lateral Protection Devices and How Do They Work?
Lateral protection devices are metal or composite guards installed along the sides of large trucks, typically between the front and rear wheels. Their primary function is to shield pedestrians and bicyclists from falling beneath the truck’s undercarriage in the event of a pedestrian collision.
When a truck without LPDs strikes a pedestrian or cyclist, the victim can be dragged or crushed under the rear wheels. LPDs act as a physical barrier that deflects the person away from the truck instead. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation literature review, these devices are especially effective during passing or overtaking maneuvers when both the truck and the pedestrian or cyclist are moving in roughly parallel directions
Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Explains Why LPDs Matter
The numbers highlight why LPDs are so important. In 2017 alone, nearly 6,000 pedestrian deaths and 780 cyclist fatalities occurred in traffic accidents in the United States. While most fatalities involved cars, large truck accidents accounted for dozens of deaths every year including an average of 26 pedestrian fatalities and 22 cyclist deaths in side-impact collisions with commercial trucks.
Field studies from the United Kingdom, where LPDs have been mandatory since the 1980s, found that these devices reduced cyclist fatalities by up to 74% and pedestrian deaths by roughly 17%–27% in side-impact crashes. Those figures show how much safer our roads could become if the U.S. adopted similar standards.
Even one life saved makes these devices worth it from the point of view of a pedestrian injury lawyer. For families who have lost loved ones in preventable truck collisions, that difference is everything.
How Other Countries Use Lateral Protection Devices
Lateral protection devices have been required in Europe, Japan, and many other countries for decades.
- Japan introduced truck side guards in 1979.
- The United Kingdom followed in 1986.
- The United Nations adopted Regulation 73 in 1988, setting minimum standards for more than 40 countries.
By comparison, no federal LPD requirement exists in the United States. However, several cities, including Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago, have implemented local rules requiring side guards on municipal or contracted trucks. These city initiatives often follow Vision Zero policies, which aim to eliminate all traffic deaths through engineering, enforcement, and education.
Although still limited, these U.S. efforts have already led to thousands of truck installations. A pedestrian injury lawyer knows that each one represents a potential life saved.
Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Discusses Safety Benefits Beyond Side Guards
Lateral protection devices are only one part of a larger safety strategy. A truly effective approach to pedestrian protection combines multiple technologies and design features, such as:
- Improved visibility tools, including cameras, mirrors, and sensors that alert drivers to nearby pedestrians and cyclists.
- Collision avoidance systems, which automatically apply brakes when a person or object is detected in the truck’s path.
- Better infrastructure, such as separated bike lanes, protected intersections, and well-marked pedestrian crossings.
- Together, these measures can dramatically reduce the risk of fatal accidents. Still, side guards remain a proven, low-cost technology with immediate benefits.
Why the U.S. Lags Behind and What Needs to Change
Unlike Europe, the United States regulates rear impact guards but not side guards. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has studied LPDs, yet no national rule has been adopted. Without federal action, cities and states must set their own standards, leading to inconsistent coverage and slower implementation.
As a pedestrian injury lawyer, we have seen how this regulatory gap leaves people vulnerable. Trucking companies sometimes argue that LPDs add weight or cost, but studies show that properly designed guards are affordable and have negligible impact on fuel efficiency or payload. When balanced against the potential to save dozens of lives each year, the benefit is clear.
Advocates continue to call for stronger national safety requirements. Wider adoption of LPDs could align the United States with international best practices and demonstrate a true commitment to protecting pedestrians and cyclists.
Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Warns of Legal and Safety Implications
Truck operators and contractors that ignore safety advancements may face liability when preventable injuries occur. In personal injury and wrongful death cases, failure to equip trucks with known safety features can demonstrate negligence or reckless disregard for public safety.
Truck accident attorneys representing victims often use federal research, including the 2020 DOT study, to show that the industry has long known about the benefits of LPDs. As more cities mandate them, courts may increasingly view LPDs as part of the standard of care for safe trucking operations.
If a trucking company’s failure to install or maintain these guards contributed to a fatal crash, the victims’ families deserve justice.
Looking Ahead: Making Kentucky and Indiana Safer for Pedestrians
Kentucky and Indiana have both experienced steady increases in pedestrian deaths over the past decade. As urban areas expand and commercial traffic grows, so does the need for proactive safety measures.
Adopting lateral protection devices on state and municipal trucks would be an important first step. Collaboration between lawmakers, trucking companies, and safety advocates could bring these proven devices to local fleets. Combined with modern driver assistance systems and infrastructure improvements, LPDs could help prevent some of the most devastating pedestrian accidents on our roads.
Safety innovations like these prove that technology and policy can work together to save lives. The more awareness communities have about these devices, the closer we move toward a future with fewer pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Speak with a Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Near Me Today
If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a pedestrian or truck accident, you have legal rights. At Stein Whatley Astorino, PLLC, our pedestrian injury lawyers fight to hold negligent truck drivers, companies, and manufacturers accountable.
Since our lawyers handle truck accident cases too, we investigate the cause of each crash, work with safety experts, and pursue full and fair compensation for your losses. Whether your case involves a commercial vehicle, a construction truck, or a delivery fleet, a pedestrian injury lawyer is ready to help.
Let our experienced team fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact Stein Whatley Astorino, PLLC today for a free and confidential case review.
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