Hazmat Trucks & Hazardous Material Spills During a Truck Accident

When a hazmat truck crashes, the results can be severe and devastating. This is because hazmat trucks carry toxic, poisonous, and lethal substances that not only harm those involved but also harm others in proximity to the accident. Sometimes, these substances are flammable and cause fires or explosions to erupt quickly, making these accidents far more catastrophic than typical truck accidents.

What are common hazardous materials transported by semi-trucks in San Antonio?

According to Title 49 of the Code of Regulations § 171.8, hazardous materials are defined as products “capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property.” Various types of hazardous materials can be transported by semi-trucks in San Antonio and the rest of the country, which include:

• Explosives
• Gasses
• Flammable liquids and combustible liquids
• Flammable solids
• Oxidizer and Organic Peroxide
• Poisonous products
• Radioactive products
• Corrosives
• Materials that cause cancer
• Products that cause dangerous fumes

Why are hazmat truck accidents more dangerous than other truck accidents?

Hazmat truck accidents involve hazardous material spills and are more dangerous than other truck accidents for several reasons, such as:

• They are known to lead to fires and explosions.
• They can contaminate the air and environment.
• They can contaminate the water, the soil, and the sewer.
• They can harm and damage plants, growing foods, animals, and various bodies of water.
• They often result in respiratory problems, life-threatening injuries, and other serious injuries and complications.
• They can expose those at the scene and nearby to radiation, which can increase the risk of cancer.

While all truck accidents can be catastrophic, the risk of life-threatening injuries, long-term complications, and death is heightened with hazmat truck accidents. These accidents not only have the same consequences as other truck accidents, but hazardous material spills can cause additional harm to the drivers and passengers involved as well as those living and working nearby.

What causes hazardous material truck accidents?

Many different factors can play a role in hazardous material truck accidents, including:

• Poor driving behavior: Truckers who drive while tired or drowsy, distracted, drunk or intoxicated are considered to be in poor driving behavior, which can cause hazardous material truck accidents. Other poor driving behaviors that can lead to these accidents are reckless driving and aggressive driving.
• Lack of training: Truck drivers who transport hazardous materials are required to have special training, which ensures that they know how to handle and transport these items properly. If they lack the necessary training, they may mishandle the hazardous materials, resulting in a devastating accident.
• Poor maintenance: 18-wheelers transporting hazardous materials must be inspected and maintained routinely. This ensures that they can safely transport the products to their destinations without accidents or spills. If an 18-wheeler does not undergo routine inspections or maintenance, it may have bad brakes, worn-out tires, steering issues, and other problems that could cause a horrific crash and hazardous material spill.
• Loading issues: Hazardous materials must be correctly labeled and placed on the truck properly. If they are not correctly labeled and placed properly on the truck, they may move or shift during the drive, causing the truck to lose balance and experience a rollover. These accidents increase the chances of hazardous materials spilling on the roadway.
• Poor weather conditions: Rain, wind, snow, and sleet can make it difficult for the truck driver to control the vehicle. For example, the semi-truck may skid across a wet, snowy, or icy road, spin out of control, lose its balance, roll over, and spill hazardous materials on anything in its pathway.

What types of injuries do hazardous material spills cause in truck accidents?

Truck accidents alone are often destructive. The results of hazardous material spills and a truck accident are often disastrous. The following are some of the injuries these spills commonly cause in truck accidents:

• Thermal and chemical burns
• Amputations or loss of limbs
• Blindness or loss of eyesight
• Hearing loss
• Lung or breathing problems
• Poisoning
• Organ damage
• Death

Who can be liable for a San Antonio hazmat truck accident?

It is not unusual for multiple parties to share liability for hazmat truck accidents. However, to establish liability, your truck accident attorney will need to investigate to determine what happened, how it happened, and who made a mistake or error. Here are a few of the parties that may be found liable for your accident:

• The truck driver: The truck driver may be liable if it is determined that they were driving recklessly or carelessly. For example, if they were scrolling social media on their cell phone, speeding, or messing with their GPS device, and these behaviors contributed to your hazmat truck accident, they could be liable.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies are responsible for training their drivers, maintaining their trucks, and ensuring all employees follow the laws and regulations put in place to prevent dangerous accidents. If a trucking company fails to do any of these tasks and causes a hazmat truck accident, it could be found liable.
• The cargo loading company: Cargo loading companies must ensure all loads are balanced, secure, and properly labeled. If they fail to do this and an accident occurs, there is a strong possibility that they could be at least partially liable.
• The manufacturer: Sometimes, hazardous spills occur because a manufacturer makes an error when designing or manufacturing the product. If this is the case and it resulted in your accident, the manufacturer could be held accountable for their negligence. It is also possible that a mechanical part on the truck or trailer malfunctioned and caused the accident. In this case, the manufacturer of the specific part would be liable.

How to know if you are driving near a semi-truck that may be carrying hazardous materials in San Antonio

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires all transport trucks carrying hazardous materials in San Antonio and the rest of the country to place an appropriate placard on their vehicle. This placard is in the form of a diamond and usually has a number or a flammable warning on it. If you notice this placard on a semi-truck while driving, you are driving near a truck carrying hazardous materials. When sharing the road with them, it is important to be cautious, focused, alert, and attentive at all times. The last thing you want to do is make a mistake that results in a devastating crash not only for you but for everyone on the roadway and the entire community.

The legal team at Pat Maloney: Accident & Injury Attorney is committed to helping hazmat truck accident victims navigate the legal process’s complexities. Our lead truck accident attorney, Pat Maloney, is board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, which gives our clients peace of mind knowing that he will advocate for their rights, fight for their best interests, and represent them in court if needed. Truck accidents involving hazardous material spills are some of the most complicated cases. If you experience this type of accident, consider scheduling a free consultation. Call our office or submit our contact form today in San Antonio.