How Accident Cases with Tanker Trucks Work
Many people think of commercial vehicles as haulers of manufactured goods, food, and other solid freight. However, the duty of a tanker truck is different: from place to place, and state to state, it transports liquids and even gases to various destinations. From the fuel that keeps industry going to the gallons upon gallons of water we drink and clean with, these tanker trucks are vital to our way of life.
Yet because of both their shapes and contents, tanker trucks can also be among the most dangerous of all commercial vehicles. On top of all the risks associated with standard 18-wheelers, tanker trucks can also poison or burn victims involved in a crash. Crashes with tankers create unique problems, and that means it's important to have help from a lawfirm familiar with everything these collisions can entail. The truck accident attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have handled truck accidents of all kinds, including tanker wrecks.
Questions Answered In This Article:
- What kind of compensation can I get after a tanker truck accident?
- How are accidents with tanker truck accidents different than accidents with regular 18-wheelers?
- How much insurance do drivers of tanker trucks have to carry?
- How can an attorney help me after an accident?
How are tanker truck accidents different from other 18-wheeler accidents?
All trucking accident claims are based on the injuries or deaths caused by a commercial vehicle wreck, but there are still aspects that make collisions involving tanker trucks distinct. Perhaps the most obvious is the liquids and gases carried by most vehicles of this sort. While not all contents of tanker trucks are hazardous material (liquid food products, for example) many of them are, which in turn makes it that much more important that they be transported only by experienced drivers. Because of the various risks associated with hazardous materials, some of which are discussed below, any trucker who intends to drive one of these rigs must possess a special endorsement in addition to the standard commercial driver's license.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of a tanker truck wreck is evidence enough of why such stringent requirements are needed. Victims most commonly suffer burns as a result of these accidents, whether because of flames from an explosion, having caustic liquids spill on them, or even a combination of the two. Treatment for these injuries is often a long process, and if they are severe enough, like third or fourth degree burns, then the harm caused could be permanent. Obviously there are likely to be substantial medical bills tied to such injuries, to say nothing of potential lost wages and psychological costs.
The dangers of the above are exacerbated when one considers the physical aspects of a tanker truck. For one, the vehicle's sheer size complicates stopping: a completely sudden stop can be incredibly dangerous, and oftentimes a tanker might not be able to stop in time for the driver to avert a catastrophic collision. Furthermore, when liquid is in the tank, a sudden stop could amount to a sudden amount of force being applied to the front of the vehicle - a major reason why the vehicle keeps moving after the brakes are applied. The shifting of weight becomes especially problematic during roll-overs, as the rotating liquid in the tank will promote the rotation of the vehicle itself, leading to upwards of four or five complete 360 degree movements before the tanker comes to a complete stop.
Compensation for Tanker Truck Accidents
The main thing that you need to be aware of with regard to a tanker truck accident is that these vehicles, which transport volatile or potentially explosive substances, are each required to carry a minimum of $5,000,000 in insurance. Because there is so much money on the line in these cases, a company whose tanker truck causes a crash is likely to put up an incredibly aggressive defense, which only an attorney experienced in such cases will be able to overcome.
It should't surprise anyone, least of all an accident victim, that the financial repercussions involved with a tanker truck collision are enormous. From the financial aspects to the physical, mental, and emotional ones, the entire sum of harms dealt to you is worth monetary compensation. Compensation, also known as damages, is financial relief that is vital to recovering losses from a life-altering experience. These recoverable losses include:
- Medical bills: Truck accidents can instantly kill motorists, but they don't always. Sometimes, individuals end up spending a certain amount of time receiving medical care in a hospital before succumbing to their injuries. These medical costs can be staggering when catastrophic truck accidents happen.
- Loss of income: This is often the most substantial compensation. The law understands that you were depending on your or a lost loved one's income. For example, if your wife was an accountant and died at age 35 from a truck accident, we would work to prove what she would have made over the remainder of her working life. One could also be permanently disabled as a result of injuries caused in a crash, which has its own implications for lost income.
- Pain and suffering: In our decades of representing injured victims or the families of those who have lost loved ones in trucking accidents, we have seen the emotional damage and devastation left. We can fight to secure you money not only for the payment for professional treatment, but also for your emotional injuries themselves.
- Funeral expenses: Funerals cost thousands of dollars and are something most people don't think to plan for.
- Loss of Companionship: Losing a loved one is obviously difficult, and the law supports individuals who will no longer have the love and support of their lost loved one.
In order to get to the point of being awarded compensation, an attorney must convey in clear, certain terms how the intangible can be compensated tangibly. Our system may not be perfect, but a dedicated team of truck accident attorneys can work within it to help you receive a judgment or settlement that makes you whole.
Grossman Law Offices is ready to work for you.
Given their inherent dangers, one would think that truckers would be meticulous in their driving of tanker vehicles. But this is not always the case, and may not have been true in your accident either. For that reason, your best option is to retain a veteran tanker truck accident attorney - one such as Michael Grossman. With 25 years of experience, the attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have learned how to determine exactly whose negligence caused your losses, whether it be the trucker or his employer, and win you the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured or killed in a tanker truck accident, we encourage you to seek out our services at your earliest convenience. We pledge to not charge you anything unless we win, and that includes calling us, too, so reach us at (855) 326-0000.
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