Dangers of Tanker Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents are the cause of thousands of injuries and deaths each year. These large, heavy vehicles can create an enormous impact in the event of a crash. While any commercial truck poses a threat in an accident, tanker truck accidents can be especially damaging.
Tanker trucks carry and deliver a wide range of liquid substances, many of which are hazardous or flammable. When an accident occurs, hazardous liquids can explode, making the likelihood of catastrophic injuries or fatalities even greater. The truck accident lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau assist accident victims in the Daytona Beach, FL, and Palm Coast, FL, area in pursuing compensation for damages after a tanker truck crash.
Types of Tanker Truck Cargo
Tanker trucks haul cylinder-shaped trailers (or tanks) that are ideal for transporting liquids. While it is common for tanker trucks to carry liquid substances like gasoline and diesel, not all of the materials they carry are liquid, nor are they all combustible. Tanker trucks may be used to transport a wide range of wet and dry materials, including food and non-food substances. Common types of tanker truck cargo include:
- Grain and flour
- Milk
- Food grade oils (vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, etc.)
- Animal fat
- Ethanol
- Oil and tar
- Dyes and paints
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Acids
- Raw sewage
Dangers of Tanker Truck Cargo
Whether or not a tanker truck is carrying hazardous materials, cargo increases the dangers of a truck accident. Some of the greatest risks of tanker truck accidents include:
- Fire: Flammable materials are highly likely to burn in a tanker truck accident, but even food-grade materials that are pressurized with oxygen during transport and can catch fire in a crash.
- Explosion: Fires are extremely common in a tanker truck accident, but explosions are another risk. In a high impact crash, even a single spark can cause hazardous or flammable materials to explode.
- Spills: During a tanker truck crash, it is common for materials to spill or leak from the tank. Spills can release toxic fumes, or they can create road hazards that put surrounding vehicles at risk, thus increasing the likelihood of a multi-vehicle crash.
- Rollovers: The cargo in a tanker truck moves around easily, especially if the cargo is liquid and the tank is not completely full. As cargo shifts, which is common during an accident, it throws off the truck’s center of balance and increases the risk of a rollover.
Tanker Truck Accident Injuries and Damages
The dangers of tanker truck accidents make it more likely that accident victims will suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. Some of the most common injuries in a tanker truck accident include:
- Severe burns (including chemical burns)
- Smoke inhalation
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Traumatic spinal cord injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Radiation exposure
In addition to these physical injuries, those of our Daytona Beach clients who have been involved in a tanker truck accident are likely to suffer losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, diminished wage earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Liability for Damages
Given the extensive damages that tanker truck accidents can cause, it is especially important that liable parties be held accountable for accident losses. Depending on the details of a crash, liable parties may include the truck driver, the trucking company, the driver of another involved vehicle, or a parts manufacturer. The truck accident lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau gather evidence to establish liability so that our clients can be justly compensated for their losses.
Contact Our Practice
If you have been injured in a tanker truck accident, the truck accident lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can calculate how much damages you may be due. To discuss the details of your crash and the damages it caused, send us a message online, or call our practice at (386) 258-7313.
