A statistic provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that nearly 500,000 truck accidents occur each year in the United States. As a result of these accidents, there have been 5,000 fatalities.
Many of these fatalities are caused by the large size differential between an 80,000 pound tanker trucks versus the average passenger vehicle weighing 3,000 pounds. In addition, these tanker trucks often carry extremely flammable, dangerous and hazardous materials, which can cause a greater risk for injuries due to an accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a tanker truck accident, the victim could be entitled to compensation for their losses. Our law firm believes that it is the responsibility of these negligent individuals to pay for damages and losses they have caused to an innocent individual.
For additional information, fill out the Free Case Review form on this page Its Absolutely FREE.
Types of Tanker Trucks
In essence, a tanker truck is an automobile designed to carry liquid, gas, or dried bulk on our roadways. These trucks are known to vary in size and form, as there are many different types of liquids that must be transported. In most cases, tank cars all seem to be large vehicles and can be designed for multiple loads or single loads. These vehicles are also very difficult to drive due to their higher center of gravity and moving liquid.
There are two common types of tanker trucks which include:
- Large tank trucks These trucks range from a carrying capacity of 5,500 to 11,600 US gallons and are commonly used to transport gasoline to gas stations around the country, however they are also used to transport milk, concrete and chemicals.
- Small tank trucks These trucks have a max carrying capacity of 3,000 US gallons and are usually used to transport lightweight cargo in local areas. These trucks usually include septic tank trucks, liquid petroleum trucks, and aircraft fuel trucks.
As these large vehicles operate much differently, we must pay attention for them while we are driving on our Tennessee roadways.
Tanker Accident Causes
As any other auto accident, tanker truck accidents can have many different causes. These causes can often be put on the tanker truck driver for not operating the vehicle in a specific manner. Often times, trucking companies are very complex when it comes to accidents, thus it is imperative to have legal guidance during these sorts of accidents.
A few common causes of tanker truck crashes include:
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Illegal traffic maneuvers
- Overloaded trucks
- Speeding
- Unfamiliar loads
- Driver inexperience
- Inadequate training
- Negligent driving
As these accidents are usually related to a driver error, or negligent action of the driver, most victims may be eligible to receive compensation for their losses and damages. At Greg Coleman Law, we have the knowledge and experience to help you receive the compensation you may deserve in the court of law.
Tanker Accident Injuries
Recognizing that the size of these vehicles far outweighs the size of a regular passenger vehicle, it is clear that these vehicles can cause major damage to other vehicles in their path and individuals traveling in them. In addition, if these tanks are to puncture during an accident, there is a huge concern of further injuries occurring. This is one of the reason over 5,000 deaths occur due to truck accidents in the United States each year.
Some common tanker truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Dental injuries
- Dislocated joint injuries
- Facial injuries
- Herniated discs
- Internal injuries
- Orthopedic injuries
- Psychological injuries
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Wrist injuries
just to name a few
If you or another person involved in an accident is experiencing any form of injury, it is imperative to seek the attention of a medical professional immediately. In any case, it is important to have a physician perform an examination to determine if there are any unseen injuries that could cause further complications, such as a concussion for example.
Need Help? Contact An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been involved in an automobile accident, it is a good decision to speak with a lawyer prior to speaking with insurance agents or any other person. By using the services of an experienced lawyer, they will seek to obtain the maximum compensation benefits that you are entitled to from your accident.
At Greg Coleman Law, our goal is to protect the rights of injured victims and help them discover and accomplish the justice they deserve in the court of law.
With our headquarters in Knoxville, we are able to serve the entire state of Tennessee.
A few Knox County locations include:
- Lonsdale
- West Haven
- Marble City
- Deep Creek
- Arlington
- Forest Hills
- Pleasant Hills
- Cumberland Estates
To learn more about our law firm and how our lawyers can help you win justice, or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation, contact us at (865) 247-0080 and a member of our intake team will gather the details of your case and connect you with one of our reputable truck accident attorneys.
Begin now, simply fill out the Free Case Review form on this page Its That Easy!
