Tanker trucks often carry gasoline or other flammable liquids or materials. These trucks pose a unique hazard to the road, as they carry things that can actually explode and destroy roadway structures such as bridges and overpasses. This can be very dangerous for other drivers or nearby pedestrians if a tanker truck is involved in an accident. Regardless of whether you were a motorist or a pedestrian at the time of the accident, an experienced attorney can help you to carry out the process of filing a claim.
Tanker Truck Driving Hazards
What Causes Tanker Truck Rollovers
Tanker Trucks pose a threat both when
they are overfilled or overloaded and when they are under-filled. When there is not enough of a liquid in a tanker truck, “sloshing” can occur. Sloshing is where the liquid moves back and forth within the tanker, thus shifting the weight of the tanker constantly and making the truck off balance. Because the contents of a tanker truck cannot be tied down or secured like solid cargo, tanker trucks should always be filled at least three-fourths of their capacity. Otherwise, a tanker truck stands a high likelihood that weight shifts will cause the tanker truck to roll over.
Tanker Truck Regulations
Nor surprisingly, tanker trucks have laws regulating them regarding the amount of weight they are permitted to carry at any given time. The weight of a load is often incorrectly calculated by basing the weight of the load off of the standard weight of water. This is an imprecise method of weight calculation because many liquids have different densities, and as such, the weight per volume will often be different than that of water. This can easily lead to an overloaded or underloaded tanker truck.
Truck Driver Training and Misconduct
Tanker truck drivers require specific training and must possess specialized knowledge on the transport of hazardous materials. Indeed, some materials are only permitted to be transported in certain areas, on certain roads, or during certain times of the day. Tanker truck drivers are not permitted to ever leave their trucks unsupervised and trucks carrying hazardous materials are prohibited from parking in close proximity (300 feet) of bridges, tunnels, and houses, as well as other places where there is a high concentration of people. Of course, if it very difficult to enforce such regulations and many tanker truck drivers ignore them.
Contact a Serious Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in a DC tanker truck accident, an attorney can diligently investigate the documentation pertaining to the truck and driver that caused the accident to determine if a successful claim is possible. Depending on what sort of evidence your lawyer uncovers, your claim may be directed at any number of individuals or organizations whose negligence ultimately resulted in the accident that injured you.
Dangers of Tanker Truck Accidents
An explosion or chemical spill can have devastating effects. Not only can physical structures be destroyed, but victims can experience burns, respiratory damage, sexual dysfunction, scarring, amputation, constant pain in areas of the body, and death. There can also be psychological damage resulting from witnessing such a horrific event as well as from the emotional impact of injuries sustained. There can also be environmental impacts, such as the dangerous chemicals and material leaching into soil and water supplies. Such disasters can destroy wildlife, cause whole towns and cities to evacuate, and make air unsafe to breathe.
If you have suffered an injury or property damage as the result of a DC tanker truck accident , please contact a truck accident lawyer in DC today. Call our firm to set up your free consultation.