Walmort Road Accident in Wilton Causes Dangerous Roadway Spill
A tanker truck accident east of Elk Grove on January 3, 2021, interfered with traffic when it experienced a rollover after colliding with another vehicle. The accident happened at Walmort Road and Alta Mesa Road in Wilton at about 8:47 in the morning. The police report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that when the tanker truck overturned, it spilled around 1,000 gallons of propane in the roadway. Fortunately, the spill did not affect any nearby waterways, and the driver was able to get out of the vehicle safely.
Traffic Closed Down After Tanker Truck Accident Spill
Traffic was closed down along Alta Mesa and Walmort while the accident site was cleaned up. A tow truck was called to remove the tanker truck, which was estimated at weighing approximately 50 tons. Minor injuries were reported. The tanker accident is being investigated by the CHP to find out how it occurred.
Collisions With a Tanker Truck
Because of their large size and potentially dangerous cargo, a collision with a tanker truck can cause severe injuries and fatalities. If negligence on the part of the driver or owner of the tanker truck is responsible, an injured person may place a compensation claim to recover their medical and other losses. In some cases, the trucking company that employs the driver may also be found responsible due to irresponsible scheduling, poor maintenance on the vehicle and driving in unsafe conditions.
Tanker Truck Accident Investigations
An injury attorney experienced in handling tanker truck accidents can help by investigating the crash to obtain the evidence needed to support a client’s claim. We send out investigators to the accident site as soon as possible to gather that evidence. It includes performing accident reconstruction, which details how the collision occurred, looking for traffic cameras that may have captured the crash on tape, and talking to witnesses.
In addition, the investigators check the background of the company and driver to look for previous signs of negligence or accidents and review the police report for mistakes. Once the evidence is gathered, our lawyers use it to build a strong case in favor of our client’s claim.
Dangers of a Tanker Truck Accident
Few accidents are as dangerous as a collision with a tanker truck. Because they carry dangerous and often highly combustible materials such as propane, a populated area may have to be evacuated if a spill occurs. In November 2020, 200 people living within a mile of a propane tanker truck accident in Northern California were forced to evacuate when a large spill caught fire. Some of the reasons a tanker truck is a danger on the road include:
- Underfilled tanks can lead to a rollover: Heavy liquids move when the tank is not completely filled and can start sloshing from side to side. This can cause a rollover, affecting passenger vehicles on the road nearby.
- Jackknifes can occur: A tanker truck accident involving a jackknife can occur if the truck cab is connected to the trailer instead of being in a single unit. Because the tank itself is much heavier than the truck cab, the driver has little to no control over it, leading to a tanker truck accident.
- A tanker truck can carry flammable liquids: Many tanker trucks are hauling flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, chemicals, and gases. A spill in an accident can cause chemical burns, explode, or create a fire.
Elk Grove Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove truck accident lawyer. Those inside a passenger vehicle can suffer severe injuries in an accident with a tanker truck. If the truck driver was at fault, they may be able to obtain compensation to pay for their medical bills and other losses. Call me at (916) 694-0002 or (800) 404-5400 if you would like my free, friendly advice. You can also reach me by messaging me online.
My law office has helped the people of Elk Grove with obtaining accident injury compensation since 1982 in all kinds of car collisions, traumas such as brain injuries, and in wrongful deaths.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/truck-tanker-water-carrier-metal-945364/
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