Earlier last month in Garret County, a propane tanker was involved in an accident that resulted in it toppling over on the side of the road. In an abundance of caution, officials in the city of Oakland decided to reroute school bus service and evacuate a part of the town. According to a report by a local ABC affiliate, that accident occurred in the small town of Oakland, which is about 60 miles south of Somerset. Evidently, the accident occurred shortly after 10 a.m.
The local hazmat team was called in to investigate and clean up the accident. Luckily, there were no lives lost, and injuries were kept to a minimum. In addition to rerouting school bus routes, the county jail and 911 center were also evacuated. It is not clear at the moment how the accident occurred, and who was at fault for it. However, an investigation is underway. Currently, police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved in the tanker accident.
Truck and Tanker Spills
On occasion, trucks and tankers carry dangerous chemicals, gases, or other cargo. When these trucks and tankers get into an accident, there is an additional danger, namely that the hazardous cargo will cause harm above and beyond the physical harm caused by the accident.
The accident described above was fairly benign, meaning that there was no explosion or life lost. However, not every time will the town residents be so lucky. Sometimes tanker trailers can get into accidents and then subsequently explode, endangering not only the driver but all those nearby.
Cargo Restrictions and Regulations
Because of the dangers attendant to transporting hazardous materials, trucking companies who transport these materials must register with the proper state and federal agencies. This helps the government keep an eye on the dangerous cargo and ensures that the company has taken all necessary precautions to ensure safe transport of the hazardous material.
On occasion, however, trucking companies will take a short cut and fail to register their cargo as hazardous. This is a violation of the law and can come with serious monetary fines. In addition, it may be one factor to help a jury determine if there should be civil liability on the part of the trucking company. It may also play into whether punitive damages are appropriate in a case, if liability is established.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious Maryland semi truck accident, make sure that you preserve any right to recovery you may have and speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the facts surrounding the accident, the truck driver or trucking company may be responsible. If so, you may be entitled to a substantial monetary award to compensate you for your medical bills and future medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Ten Dead in Tragic California Bus Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published April 22, 2014.
Tractor-Trailer Runs Stop Sign and Crashes into School Bus, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 2, 2014.