Earlier this week, a tanker truck filled with petroleum collided with an SUV on Route 152 near the I-95 northbound exit ramp, causing numerous emergency personnel to respond. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the accident occurred on January 3rd at 9:08 in the morning and drew three fire trucks as well as a team of paramedics due to the volatile nature of the truck’s cargo.
The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries, but is expected to recover. The driver of the tanker trailer was uninjured. There was no active leak discovered; however a hazmat team was called to assist in transporting the truck away from the accident scene. All precautions were taken until the truck was removed from the scene.
Dangerous Cargo Can Turn a Semi-Truck into a Bomb
Semi-trucks are enormous vehicles that have the potential to inflict immense amounts of damage due to their size alone. However, fill up the same semi-truck with flammable liquids such as petroleum and the potential disaster becomes even larger.
For this reason exactly, federal law regulates what kinds of materials certain trucks can transport and requires that the cargo be registered with the government. For example, if a truck driver is going to be transporting hazardous materials then the driver must take additional precautions when driving the truck, such as:
- The driver must not smoke within 25 feet of the truck.
- The driver must begin and end each leg of his or her journey by checking all the tires on the truck to ensure they are properly inflated and in good working condition.
- The driver may not park the truck within a certain distance of public roads, bridges, highways, or tunnels.
- The driver must remain within 100 feet of the truck and its cargo at all times.
In addition to the federal laws, Maryland has its own set of laws that apply to the transportation of hazardous materials. These requirements range from requiring those who transport hazardous materials to obtain a special license, to the subjects covered in the federal laws. When a Maryland law and a federal law conflict, a truck driver is bound by the stricter of the two laws.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you have recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you may be eligible to receive monetary compensation for your medical bills, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering caused by the accident. To find out more about the specific requirements that all truck drivers face, and to further discuss the facts of your case, you should speak with an experienced Maryland truck accident attorney immediately. The personal injury firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has over 17 years of experience defending the rights of Maryland truck accident victims and knows what it takes to obtain a favorable verdict for their clients. To speak to an experienced personal injury attorney, contact the firm online, or call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
Court Rejects Trucking Company’s Appeal Following Fatal Tractor Trailer-Pedestrian Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published December 9, 2013.
U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Wilhem Test, Expert Testimony Unnecessary to Prove Back Injuries In Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 20, 2013.