Accident on Interstate 5 Occurs Between Motor Vehicle and Tanker Truck
A tanker truck collision with a motor vehicle occurred on June 1 on the West Side Highway in Sacramento. The accident happened along northbound Interstate 5 just south of the State Route 99 north connector shortly after 10:00 a.m., as reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the big rig along the right-hand side of the roadway and a Toyota Camry in the center divide facing in the wrong direction. At the time of this report, no information had been released on injuries. The collision is under investigation by the CHP to find out how it occurred.
Common Causes of Accidents Involving a Tanker Truck
Tanker trucks are large and often transport hazardous cargo, so an accident involving one can result in serious injuries or fatalities. When the driver of the truck or owner turns out to be responsible for accident injuries, the injured party may want to claim compensation, which can cover all their medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs. An injury attorney can help. Common causes of tanker truck accidents include:
- Inexperienced drivers cause many tanker truck accidents because the size and bulk of this type of vehicle is difficult to handle, and vision is often obscured.
- Speeding is responsible for around half of all accidents involving tanker trucks.
- Faulty brakes or worn tires often cause accidents because of a lack of truck maintenance.
- Distracted driving is a problem because of long hours on the road.
- Defective parts on a truck can lead to an accident, which means a claim may be placed against the manufacturer through a product liability lawsuit.
Why Accidents With Tanker Trucks Are Dangerous
Tanker truck accidents are among the most dangerous because they are often hauling combustible and dangerous materials such as gasoline, chemicals, and liquid pesticides. An accident involving one not only endangers those in the other vehicles but can affect the entire area, resulting in a need to evacuate the people. Gasoline and other volatile spills can also catch fire easily. Some ways in which a tanker truck accident results in serious consequences include:
- Tanker trucks can jackknife: When the tank truck isn’t a single unit, but the tank is attached to the cab, it can jackknife. Since the tank is full and much heavier, the driver loses control, which results in a jackknife.
- Underfilling the tank can cause a rollover accident: When the truck is in motion and the tank isn’t completely filled, the liquid inside can begin sloshing up one side and down the other. Once the momentum starts, it can increase, overbalancing the tank and causing a rollover. A rollover may impact other vehicles, causing serious injuries or even fatalities.
- The dangers of flammable liquids: Any tanker truck that is hauling a flammable liquid such as oil, gases, petroleum, pesticides, or chemicals can catch fire or explode during a collision.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. When a big rig is responsible for your accident injuries, you might want to find out about filing a claim for compensation. Please contact us at (916) 921-6400 or through the long-distance line at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice on whether you can file a claim. We can also be reached online.
Since 1982, my legal team and I have helped many Northern Californians to get fair compensation for their injuries caused by a negligent driver or other entity. We handle cases involving traffic accidents, government claims, traumatic injuries, wrongful deaths, and more.
The Million Dollar Advocates and Top 1 Percent are several of the groups I’m honored to belong to.
Additional information about my law firm is found at the following links:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/truck-tanker-water-carrier-metal-945364/
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