Accident on I-80 May Have Involved an Intoxicated Driver
A tanker truck accident on May 2 caused injuries to one person in Sacramento. The collision was reported shortly before 7:00 a.m. along eastbound I-80 at the eastbound Madison Avenue on-ramp. The incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated the collision occurred when an SUV swerved into a gasoline tanker truck that was hauling diesel fuel.
Toxicology Test Ordered for Driver Involved in Tanker Truck Accident
The driver of the tank truck pulled over to the right-hand side of the road, while the SUV went off the road into a ditch. Officers investigating the collision said it appeared that drunk or drugged driving might have been a factor in the crash, and a toxicology test was planned to determine this. One injury was reported, however, no details were provided. The collision is under investigation to determine what happened.
Dangers of a Tanker Truck Accident
Collisions with a tanker truck are potentially among the most dangerous traffic accidents that can occur. A cargo tank may be carrying a hazardous material such as the following:
- Gasoline
- Ethanol
- Diesel
- Peroxides
- Pesticides
- Propane
- Compressed oxygen
- Industrial chemicals
What Problems Can Be Caused by an Accident With a Tanker Truck?
An accident with a truck carrying hazardous substances can lead to devastating injuries and fatalities that can affect a wide area. These include:
- Spills from a ruptured container can contaminate groundwater and provide a fire and safety risk for other motorists. It only takes one spark to ignite some substances, such as gasoline.
- A big rig can experience a rollover if the tanker isn’t full because the liquid inside can slosh back and forth until the tank becomes unbalanced.
- Some items that are transported can easily catch on fire or cause an explosion. Even the fumes can burst into flame, which can affect other motorists nearby or require an evacuation of the area.
- Toxic exposure to many chemicals can cause eye, skin, or lung damage.
- Chemical burns can occur from flammable or corrosive materials being hauled in a tank truck.
Negligent Motorists as the Cause of a Tanker Truck Accident
Although big commercial vehicles can cause accidents, drivers of passenger cars can also, which can carry catastrophic consequences for other motorists nearby. Some of the ways in which the driver of a passenger vehicle can cause a dangerous accident include:
- Drunk driving is still a serious problem that can lead to an accident.
- Distracted driving is the number one cause of traffic collisions, and texting or talking on a cell phone is the main distraction.
- Fatigued driving causes accidents because the driver has trouble maintaining their focus on the road and can fall asleep.
- Disobeying traffic laws such as speeding, running a red light and other problems often result in accidents.
Investigating an Accident
When accident injuries occur, it is necessary to investigate and gather the evidence needed to support a client’s compensation claim. We send out our investigators to gather that evidence such as:
- Traffic surveillance cameras are checked to see if the accident was captured on video.
- Witnesses are interviewed, and the police report is checked to look for errors.
- Accident reconstruction is performed, which can point toward who was at fault.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Accidents involving negligent drivers can cause devastating injuries. If a negligent motorist injured you, please contact me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. You can also reach me online.
For more than 37 years, my legal team and I have helped people in Northern California to get fair compensation for their claims involving wrongful deaths, all varieties of traffic collisions, and other types of cases. Call to see how we can help you.
I am honored to belong to the Million Dollar Advocates and Top 1 Percent.
Check the links that follow to discover more about how my law firm has helped others:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/truck-tanker-water-carrier-metal-945364/
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