Some trucks that are on the road contain cargo that is hazardous. These trucks pose all of the usual dangers of other tractor trailers and trucks on the road, plus the additional danger that would be created if the hazardous cargo were to be ejected or spilled from the truck in an accident. Trucks that haul hazardous materials have a great deal of potential to cause death, injury, and physical and environmental damage than other trucks hauling benign substances.
The accident scenarios that involve hazardous materials are just as varied as reports of accidents involving other types of trucks. In some accidents involving tractor trailers, the trailer disconnects from the cab. Ordinarily, that could result in the trailer tipping over and spilling its contents on the road or in the surrounding area. The same thing can happen with a truck full of a hazardous substance, and one such accident did occur in Nashville, Tennessee. When the trailer full of sulfuric acid disconnected from the truck, the acid spilled out and hazmat teams had to clean it up quickly in order to reduce the likelihood of harm and to contain the threat to the public. When the driver of a tanker filled with hazardous material fell down an embankment and into a creek, a lengthy cleanup process was required to restore the area where the spill had occurred.
Hazardous materials are substances which can harm people, the environment, and animals, if they are released. Hazardous materials have properties like toxicity, radioactivity, corrosiveness, explosiveness, and flammability. They are often transported in tanker trucks or tractor trailers which carry colorful placards that describe the hazardous characteristics of their cargo. Various types of materials can cause different types of damage. Poisonous substances can produce fumes which can harm people in the surrounding area. Poisonous substances can hurt people at the accident scene if they come into contact with them, and they can cause long-term environmental damage if they get into the soil and/or water in the area. Explosive materials could cause severe damage to a large area, depending upon the type and amount of explosive substance that is involved in the accident. Radioactive substances can have a far-reaching effect on the health of people, plants and animals if they get into groundwater flammable material create a great danger to everyone who is near the including the emergency personnel who respond to the accident.
Barrett Law PLLC: Protecting the Rights of Those Who Are Hurt by Hazardous Cargo
Hazardous cargo from trucks can cause serious injuries and fatalities, in addition to the injuries and deaths that are caused by the accident that causes the cargo to fall or spill out of the truck. If you have experienced an injury or a loss in connection with a Mississippi trucking accident, the experienced and dedicated Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help you. Please call us today, at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free, initial consultation.