Earlier last month in Fall River, Massachusetts, a tanker truck carrying over 11,000 gallons of gasoline toppled over off the side of the highway, creating a near state of emergency for nearby emergency personnel. According to a report by the Herald News, the truck swerved off the road for unknown reasons shortly after 7 a.m. on January 27. Once the truck flipped, it caught on fire and the 11,000 gallons of gasoline began to burn, sending plumes of thick grey-black smoke into the air.
Thankfully, the driver of the truck was the only person to sustain any injuries. She was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to fully recover. Emergency responders allowed the fire to consume the gasoline, rather that attempt to put it out.
Police are not sure why the truck swerved off the road in the first place, and are currently interviewing witnesses to the accident to determine what happened.
The Dangers of Semi-Trucks Are Not Limited to Their Size
When most of us think of Maryland truck accidents and the dangers that they cause, we often think of their giant size. However, an often overlooked danger of semi-trucks is their potentially hazardous cargo. For example, in the accident described above there was potential for catastrophe. It was only a matter of luck that it was avoided.
Due to the inherent dangers surrounding the transport of hazardous materials, the federal government places strict regulations on the carriers of hazardous materials, requiring them to obey a different set of rules than truckers who carry more benign cargo. For example, the following is a brief, non-exhaustive list of rules that truck drivers carrying hazardous materials must follow:
- Distance from the truck: Drivers of trucks carrying hazardous materials must remain a certain distance from the truck at all times to ensure that their cargo remains safe.
- Smoking: Hazardous material carriers are not permitted to smoke near their rig.
- Registration: Transporters of hazardous material must register with the appropriate state and federal agencies before beginning their journey.
- Placarding: Drivers carrying hazardous material must indicate the nature of the hazardous material clearly on the side of the tank or trailer.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Semi-Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland semi-truck accident, you should speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the facts of the case, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages based on the negligence of the truck driver in failing to follow one of the many rules that apply to interstate truck drivers. The Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has the experience and dedication you need to effectively bring your Maryland personal injury suit against the truck’s driver, insurance company, and also the trucking company. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free initial consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Pennsylvania Truck Driver Killed When His Tractor Trailer Runs Off the Road, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 20, 2014.
Two-Truck Accident on Christmas Eve Leaves One Dead in Virginia, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 13, 2014.