A Miramar fuel truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could help you get compensation from the guilty entity if you sustained injuries in a crash. Don’t handle the claim or lawsuit process alone. You should focus on your recovery at this time; we’ll handle your case from start to finish.
Fuel trucks are dangerous on many levels, and accidents involving these massive vehicles cause losses in great proportions. These trucks transport flammable liquids, and the cargo shifts when in transit, thus interfering with the balance. When the steering is a challenge, rollover accidents are imminent.
Fuel Truck Accidents in Florida
South Florida Sun Sentinel reported in August 2021 that a tanker carrying 8,000 gallons of gasoline plunged off an overpass near Interstate 595 and the Florida Turnpike. The tanker exploded into a big ball of fire, killing the driver. Motorists near and far could see raging flames and a plume of smoke billowing into the sky. This incident, however, fades in comparison to major oil tanker accidents that typically claim dozens of lives.
Finding yourself in the vicinity of these explosions is unfathomable, let alone being directly involved and hurt. Our Miramar fuel truck accident lawyer can determine if you’re owed compensation by the responsible party and handle the legalities of pursuing such payments.
They’ll also shield you from being taken advantage of by insurance adjusters who employ unsavory tactics to reduce your claim.
Responsible Parties in Your Miramar Fuel Truck Accident
Having seen some of the bodily harm accompanying these crashes, you must understand the potential culprits. In many cases, there’s more than one responsible party. Possible responsible parties include:
The Trucking Company
When people see billowing smoke from a fuel truck explosion, they’re often curious about which company it belongs. The carrier quickly becomes a focal point of the police investigation as they piece together the events leading to the accident.
Your Miramar truck accident lawyer will check to see if the carrier:
- Inspects and repairs its fleet on a chronic basis
- Forces drivers to work beyond the federally mandated limit of 11 consecutive hours
- Trains drivers adequately and if they have the necessary certifications
- Conducts background checks on drivers and other vital hiring practices
- Has a history of road calamities and their respective causes
- Forces drivers to work in inclement weather, e.g., during a blizzard
Mechanics
The next apparent place to look is the people responsible for repairs, whether they’re an in-house team or outsourced. If the mechanic had declared the vehicle roadworthy, an accident linked to mechanical failure exposes them to liability. Shoddy inspections can make them overlook serious issues, exposing them to blame.
The City Government
Fuel truck accidents emanating from poorly maintained roads are the city’s responsibility. The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with operational budgets as funds were diverted to combat the virus. Many cities had to put road maintenance and related projects on hold, and this leaves motorists navigating trucks amidst potholes, poor drainage systems, obscure road signs, etc.
Your lawyer will determine the liable party or parties and pursue them for compensation. They will calculate your damages and ensure you receive the settlement or court award you are entitled to.
Injuries Arising From Fuel Truck Accidents
Colliding with an oil tanker is more dangerous than accidents involving other vehicles, like a garbage truck. These tankers carry unstable flammable liquids, even in the right circumstances. Victims can sustain these injuries:
First, Second, and Third-degree Burns
Fuel truck accidents often end with an explosion upon impact, and anyone nearby can sustain burns. First-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), while second-degree burns affect the epidermis and dermis or the second layer. Third-degree burns are the most severe as they destroy the skin and can harm the tissue beneath.
Patients who sustain third-degree burns always need skin grafting, resulting in scarring. There are cosmetic procedures to correct this, but they come at a hefty price, and there are no guarantees.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
TBIs are common after crashes with large vehicles or during high-impact accidents with any vehicle or motorcycle. As the name suggests, victims suffer some form of damage to the brain, which varies with every situation. For instance, a concussion is a mild form of TBI, while severe TBIs can result in a coma or fatalities.
Falls
Driving a large vehicle like a fuel tanker comes with unique risks. If the driver loses control or encounters other traffic mishaps, it can leave the truck in a precarious situation, like dangling over a bridge. Drivers and passengers can fall overboard through the windshield and land on the ground or asphalt below.
Broken Bones
The impact force can slam victims’ bodies against the metal or eject them from their seats to the ground. Fractured bones are rarely fatal; you can have them reset in weeks. Wearing a cast is not the most comfortable thing, and it has many inconveniences, including forgoing your favorite workout routines like swimming or jogging.
Death
As you can see from the two examples above, accidents involving fuel tankers have deadly consequences. The number of casualties is contingent on how the accident ensued and how many people were in its path. If your loved one perished in this awful manner, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could bring a wrongful death charge to the responsible party.
The investigation of a wrongful death can unearth a pattern of negligence where the at-fault entity breaches its duty of care to drivers and other road users. Secondly, children of the victim are denied parental companionship and financial support, not to mention the emotional fallout that ensues. So, we will fight for the compensation your family deserves.
Connect With Our Lawyers for Legal Counsel in Broward County
Were you harmed in a fuel truck crash in Miramar? The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is adept in negotiating settlements for clients in your predicament. Our attorneys have your best interests at heart and want to help you overcome financial ruin following this ordeal.
When you hire us, you get your attorney’s contact information, regular case updates, and answers to your questions. Call for a free case review today.
We Can Help.
