Highway Traffic Stalled by Rollover Accident Involving Tanker Truck
A tanker truck experienced a rollover accident in Sacramento on April 15 that interfered with traffic. The accident happened on westbound Highway 50, close to the off-ramp for Stockton Boulevard, around 10:00 a.m. No injuries were reported in the single-vehicle crash, which left the tanker truck lying on its side.
Hazmat Crews Called in to Clean up Fuel Spill
Authorities with the Sacramento Fire Department said that fuel spilled onto the roadway, and Hazmat crews were called to the scene to clean it up. Three lanes of westbound Highway 50 were shut down while the spill and overturned truck were removed. The lanes reopened shortly after 12:30 p.m. No information was provided on the cause of the accident.
Accidents Involving a Tanker Truck
An accident with a tanker truck can result in severe injuries and even death due to its large size and hazardous cargo. Those who have been injured by the negligence of a tanker truck driver can make a claim for compensation to recover their medical bills and other losses. A trucking company may also be held accountable when the driver is not properly scheduled to allow sufficient time to make deliveries or maintenance on the vehicle is neglected.
Accident Investigations Involving Tanker Trucks
If you or a family member has been injured in a tanker truck accident, an attorney familiar with handling this type of collision can obtain the evidence needed to support your claim. To collect evidence as soon as possible, we dispatch investigators to the accident site. The collection of evidence to show fault by the other driver includes examining video from traffic cameras to see if they captured the accident, contacting witnesses and retracing the path the collision took.
Furthermore, investigators review the police report for errors and examine the company’s and driver’s backgrounds for prior signs of negligence. In order to provide support for our client’s claim to recover compensation, our lawyers use the gathered evidence to build a strong case.
Collisions With a Tanker Truck Are Dangerous
A collision with a tanker truck is among the most dangerous types of accidents. The liquids and gasses they carry, such as propane or a liquified chemical, are dangerous and often highly flammable, so a spill could require the evacuation of a populated area due to the dangers of fire or explosion. A propane spill was a major cause of the evacuation of 200 people in Northern California in November 2020 due to a tanker truck accident. A tanker truck presents many dangers for drivers, including:
- Jackknife accidents: A tanker truck can jackknife if the vehicle is pulling a tanker instead of the vehicle being one single unit. Jackknifing occurs when the section being pulled moves at a higher speed than the tractor pulling it. A jackknife accident involving a tanker truck can result in a rollover since the liquid inside can slosh and unbalance the vehicle.
- A partially filled tank may cause heavy liquids to move around, resulting in sloshing. Rollovers caused by this can impact nearby passenger vehicles.
- Flammable liquids: Motor fuel, chemicals, oil and gasses are among the flammable liquids hauled by tanker trucks. Accidental spills may cause chemical burns, explosions, or fires.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Collisions with big trucks frequently cause serious injuries. If this happens to you or your loved one, you may be able to recover compensation to pay for your medical costs, pain and suffering and lost wages. You are welcome to contact our injury lawyers for free and friendly advice by calling (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. An online form to contact us is available too. We offer a free consultation to go over your case, let you know about options to recover compensation, and answer your questions. You are welcome to look over our Verdicts and Settlements page to see how we’ve helped others.
Photo attribution: Image by janeb13 from Pixabay
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