Dangers Of Truck Spills

When Someone Gets Hurt Due To A Trucking Company Or Operator’s Negligence, The Person Who Caused The Damage Should Be Held Accountable For The Injuries That Result.

Truck spills are a subject most people don’t think about. However, semi-trucks transport vast quantities of liquids and hazardous liquids every day. In a crash, these substances can spill onto the highway, quickly causing a pileup of vehicles.

Earlier this year, two major truck spill crashes occurred in Canada on the same day. In one case, a truck spill in Ontario caused a 30-vehicle pileup after a truck crashed, spilling fluorosilicic acid across the road. One person was killed and 27 others were injured. Many of the injury victims experienced side effects related to the acid, which causes irritation to the nose, throat, and respiratory system.

The same day, another truck spill occurred in Quebec. In that crash, a dozen vehicles were involved in a pileup caused by a tanker truck spilling about 20,000 liters of sodium hypochlorite on the highway. The substance, which is toxic, has the same properties as bleach.

Representatives from the Ontario Safety League expressed concern that many truck operators who transport hazardous substances don’t fully understand the dangers of what they’re hauling.

A Map Of 2016 Truck Spills

Although trucking industry reps claim that truck spills are rare, a map from Atlas Obscura reveals just how often they occur. In 2016 alone, there were nearly 50 major truck spills in the United States.

In September 2016, a tractor in Texas swerved and flipped onto its side, spilling hundreds of bricks onto the highway.

In April 2016, a truck carrying animal intestines crashed in Wisconsin and spilled a quarter ton of hazardous waste.

Although 60,000 pounds of beer spilling from the back of a truck may be the stuff of fantasy for many football tailgaters, it created a slippery, dangerous mess when a truck in Colorado crashed on a highway overpass, sending the beer crashing to the ground below. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

In October 2016, a truck overturned in Florida, spilling 80 gallons of bleach, resulting in a clean-up that took over two hours.

1-800-Truck-Wreck ® lawyer Amy Witherite states: “These are just a handful of the serious truck spills that occurred in 2016. Whether a truck spills toxic chemicals, food, or hard substances like brick or stone, motorists can get seriously hurt and even killed.”

In some cases, truck spills happen because the trucking company or its operator cut corners or skipped important safety checks in the interest of time or their bottom line. When people get hurt due to a trucking company or operator’s negligence, they deserve to be held accountable for the injuries that result.

If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, or you have lost a loved one in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries or losses. Don’t wait to speak to an attorney about your rights. Call an experienced Texas truck accident lawyer right away to discuss the next steps in your case. Let us help you Keep Life Running!