Experiencing an accident with a tanker truck can be traumatizing for all involved. Tanker trucks are heavy and hard to maneuver vehicles that can cause fatalities and catastrophic injuries in an accident. Getting into an accident with a truck transporting dangerous cargo can change a victim’s life as well as cause hardship for entire families.
If you or a family member suffer from serious injuries due to an accident with a tanker truck, help is available. You can contact a Naples truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to assess your legal options. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine now for your free case evaluation by dialing (239) 900-3000.
Tanker Trucks Can Be Dangerous
The companies, as well as drivers, carry a great responsibility for other road users, as well as the environment. While some tanker trucks transport food such as wine, milk, and other harmless substances, many tanker trucks carry dangerous materials. Some of the more hazardous cargo of tanker trucks can include fuel, pesticides, toxic chemicals and gases, and radioactive substances, among others.
Accidents with tanker trucks, therefore, do not only carry risks of horrific accident injuries but also the added risk of exposure to dangerous toxic substances causing additional health hazards. Even those not involved in the accident, such as passers-by or those living in the vicinity of the accident, can end up severely injured by a tanker truck accident. Some of the tragic consequences of tanker truck accidents can include:
Explosions and Fires
Since many tanker trucks haul flammable and explosive materials such as industrial toxic chemicals and fuel, explosions and fires can happen with an accident. For any car occupants involved in a tanker truck accident, explosions and fires can cause life-threatening conditions and the potential for suffering extensive and fatal burns.
Chemical Spillages
If any hazardous cargo spills in a crash with a tanker truck, the nearby environment, as well as road users, may experience dangerous conditions. Roads can turn slippery from fuel, for example, causing further accidents. Spillages of toxic substances can also cause dangerous breathing conditions in the vicinity of an accident. Accident victims may suffer chemical burns, lung damage, and other serious short and long-term medical problems as a result.
Rollover Accidents
Especially when a driver speeds or takes a curve too fast, the liquid cargo of a tanker truck can start to slosh around in the tanker and cause a rollover accident. Rollover accidents can cause catastrophic accidents with devastating property damage and horrific injuries. A rollover crash can also cause spillages of cargo, which can pose a further danger to any car drivers involved.
Special Regulations Apply to Tanker Trucks
Federal and state lawmakers have long recognized the need for special laws and regulations when it comes to tanker trucks and other such vehicles carrying hazardous cargo. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers require qualifications and training in addition to their CDL license, such as a HAZMAT endorsement. Drivers for hazardous materials generally need to have a clean driving record and several years’ experience as truck drivers. Truck drivers gain endorsements after passing written exams and certain background checks.
This means that if an accident occurs, and a truck accident lawyer can prove that the driver was not in possession of the right qualifications and/or training for the job, the trucking company, as well as the driver, could potentially be on the hook for your injuries and financial losses.
Trucking companies need to ensure that their entire business is run in accordance with Florida as well as national laws. A trucking company could be liable for many reasons, including:
Negligent Training of Drivers
Drivers need periodic training when driving new vehicles. They may also need updating with certain requirements and policies. The trucking company has to ensure that driver training is up-to-date and complete. If the trucking company neglects to properly train their drivers, they could be responsible for your damages.
Negligent Hiring
Since a tanker truck driver needs to have various qualifications as well as a clean driving record, the company is required to conduct background checks. If they did not check a driver’s record and background, they could be liable in your accident.
Violation of Driving Regulations
A trucking company could be guilty of violating a number of regulations, for example, the mandated rest periods for drivers. If a trucking company demands drivers complete unrealistic driving schedules, or falsify logbook entries, they are breaking the law and could be liable for your accident.
Violation of Service Regulations
There are several federal and state regulations governing the roadworthiness of trucks. If a trucking company attempted to cut corners by skipping the necessary servicing and repair requirements, you could potentially hold the company to account for your damages.
Tanker truck accidents can be complicated; however, having a Naples tanker truck accident lawyer by your side can help you build a case against the responsible parties. If you have any questions about your potential tanker truck accident claim, call the Naples personal injury lawyer today.
Compensation in Tanker Truck Accidents
Tanker truck accidents can cause fatalities as well as horrific injuries that can have long-term consequences such as disability and permanent disfigurement. If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries in a truck accident, you could potentially receive the following types of compensation and others:
- Hospital stays
- Specialist appointments
- Medical devices
- Rehabilitative therapies
- A home health aide
- Future medical costs
- Lost income
- Physical and emotional suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
However, compensation can vary widely and will depend on your specific claim and the circumstances of your tanker truck accident.
Tanker truck accidents can be tough to prove. However, and you do not have to struggle through a complicated lawsuit on your own. A Naples tanker truck accident lawyer can protect your rights and help you with every aspect of your claim.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine now for a free case review to find out if you could recover compensation in a tanker truck accident by dialing (239) 900-3000.
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