Can Some Trucking Accidents Be More Dangerous Than Others?

Did you know that some trucks can be much more dangerous than others when they are involved in accidents? The cargo which is carried by certain trucks can be extremely dangerous, and capable of causing enormous amounts of bodily injury, fatalities, property damage, and environmental damage. Many Americans are unaware of how frequently crashes involving hazardous cargo occur. Between 2004 and 2013, there were over three thousand trucking accidents involving hazardous materials. Ninety one people were killed in those accidents, with many more injured. Over four hundred and fifty million dollars’ worth of damage was caused by the wrecks. Here are a few examples of the types of scenarios which can occur when trucks carrying hazardous cargo crash.

One tractor trailer which was carrying naphtha, a flammable substance, rolled over. The highway where the accident occurred had to be closed for twelve hours after the crash, as traffic was diverted onto other roads and emergency response crews cleaned up the spilled chemicals. The accident also caused injuries, both to the truck driver, and to other motorists who were involved in accidents in the heavy traffic which resulted from the original crash.

Another incident involving dangerous cargo occurred when the refrigeration system of a FedEx Custom Critical delivery truck containing two hundred gallons of liquefied peroxide malfunctioned. Liquefied peroxide becomes flammable at temperatures above fifty degrees, and it is highly explosive. As soon as the truck driver realized what was happening, he pulled over and called for help. Emergency response crews from eight different agencies rushed to the scene and shut down the road. They even evacuated a nearby business, to ensure that no one would get hurt. Their efforts paid off, and the situation was remedied without any injuries.

A third incident in which hazardous cargo caused additional problems during a trucking accident happened when a tanker truck and a pickup truck collided. The tanker overturned, and some of its corrosive liquid cargo spilled onto the roadway. Hazmat crews closed the road and spent a few hours cleaning up the mess, and local residents were asked to stay indoors, so that they would not inhale any fumes from the chemical spill. The road in the area of the crash was closed for several hours, and residents in the area were advised to remain in their homes and not go outside, so that they would not be exposed to chemical fumes.

Many times, we share the road with trucks that are carrying hazardous materials without even realizing it. Unfortunately, when these trucks get into accidents, there is a very large chance that one or more fatalities, serious injuries, and property damage will occur. If you have been injured in a Tennessee trucking accident, the knowledgeable Memphis Trucking Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at (888) 470-9143 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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