When a tanker truck crashes, it often results in a hazardous or flammable material spill. Fires, explosions, contamination of water and soil, and the release of toxic gases can all result from a tanker truck accident. Although safety regulations are in place to avoid tanker truck accidents like these, these serious accidents can still occur. When they do, they can result in catastrophic injury and death.
Here are just a few common causes of tanker truck accidents:
Liquid cargo differs from other types of loads. Sloshing liquid and shifting weight can make a tanker truck far more dangerous. As a safety precaution, the tanker truck driver must balance and secure the load to ensure maximum stability. If the tank is less than three-quarters full, the enormous weight shifts can make it difficult or impossible to control, causing rollovers at low speeds.
Tanker trucks are subject to laws governing how much they can carry. Trucking companies sometimes calculate the weight of the load based on the weight of water, but different liquids have different densities. A more dense liquid will weigh more per volume. If the truck is carrying a liquid that is denser than water, this method of calculating can easily result in an overloaded truck.
Drivers who haul hazardous materials must undergo special training and pass rigorous tests beyond the requirements for drivers of other commercial vehicles. Strict hazardous materials can only be transported on certain roads and in certain areas.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a tanker truck accident, you may need legal representation to obtain the compensation you need. Expenses can quickly add up, leaving you wondering how you’ll ever afford the necessary treatment and care required to recover from your injuries.
The truck accident lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C., like firm partners Geoff Pope and Marc Howard, are here to fight for you to ensure you can move forward with your life. Mr. Pope and Mr. Howard began their legal careers representing trucking and insurance companies, giving them crucial insider information they now use to fight for the other side. Just review some of our client testimonials or read results from past cases to see how we have helped others just like you.
With years of experience as trial lawyers, Marc Howard and Geoff Pope represent clients' interests who have been injured or treated wrongly due to the negligence of others. If you have suffered from any of the above wrongs, contact the experts at Pope & Howard P.C. to set up a free consultation. Contact us via our contact form or by phone: 404-885-9999.