When Trucks Spill Liquids on the Road

Not a week goes by without a news report of a large, commercial truck causing a disastrous spill. Recently, in Suffield, Connecticut, a truck carrying milk crashed into a person’s house. In March of this year, a “tidal wave of beer” poured from a truck in Las Vegas. Even human waste leaked out of a commercial vehicle in Michigan in 2016. Even though these stories offer some comedic value, truck spills are often nothing to laugh about.

Dangers of liquid spills

Trucks transport large amounts of liquid across the country in a few different ways. You have normal tractor-trailers that carry beverages, like soda and juice, or other packaged liquids. If these trucks crash or rollover, and the liquids spill out, the surrounding roads could become slick. A slick road is more dangerous for other drivers, and they may not be prepared to encounter such conditions. You can have a multi-car pile-up in a matter of minutes.

What’s even more dangerous is the tanker truck. These vehicles often transport non-packaged hazardous materials, including:

• Gasoline
• Oil
• Diesel
• Industrial chemicals
• Pesticides

If a flammable material gets loose, a fire could spark up in the middle of the road. Other vehicles could crash or catch fire. Drivers and passengers who breathe in hazardous materials could be at risk of respiratory infections. People may suffer chemical burns if a dangerous liquid touches their skin.

Even a tank truck carrying non-hazardous liquids (that aren’t packaged), like molasses or liquid sugar, could become menaces on the road if a spill occurs. A sticky or slick road creates perilous conditions for the vehicles immediately behind the truck.

Furthermore, even if no liquid actually spills from a truck, the liquid splashing could cause an imbalance in the truck. The driver could lose control, leading to a rollover, jackknife, or another type of an accident.

Truck accidents can be quite serious. The sheer weight and force of a truck causes fractures, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries to drivers who are impacted by an accident. When you add the dangers of liquid spills, those injuries could become life threatening or even fatal.

Injured parties should seek compensation to cover medical costs, lost wages, and the pain and suffering they endured as a result of the accident.

For legal help in Nashville, Gallatin, or Knoxville, contact the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today. Our Nashville truck accident attorneys have successfully represented victims of devastating crashes. We are Gladiators in Suits—and we are ready to fight for you. To speak with a highly qualified legal professional today, call 615-425-2500 or use our contact form to make an appointment.