Tanker truck accidents in Marion can lead to life-changing injuries, fatalities, and costly property damage. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a tanker truck accident, contact the skilled truck accident attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda.
Our seasoned team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff has helped many clients collect the compensation they deserve after an auto accident involving big rigs and tanker trucks. Schedule your free consultation today.
About Tanker Truck Accidents
In an average year, North Carolina drivers are involved in 200,000 to 300,000 accidents involving big rigs. Of them, at least 150 cause fatalities.
Why Are Tankers So Dangerous?
A loaded tanker truck weighs about 80,000 lbs. And whether that tanker is filled with water, milk, or hazardous material, the load is fluid and will slosh around. Unlike 80,000 pounds of something solid, the weight inside a tanker shifts when the truck makes turns or drives up and down hills.
That’s why tanker truck drivers need special endorsements on their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to haul tankers and additional endorsements for hazardous materials.
Insurance Requirements for Tanker Trucks
In addition to extra training and licensing requirements for tanker drivers, some tankers must carry additional liability insurance, particularly when transporting hazardous materials. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires up to $5 million in liability coverage for those trucks.
This makes sense, as liability insurance helps cover damages a tanker truck may cause, including property damage, personal injury, and environmental damage. Tanker truck accidents in Marion can become huge slippery messes on a highway or flaming environmental hazards.
What to Do After a Tanker Truck Accident
Call 911 immediately. Move vehicles and passengers out of the way of traffic if it is safe to do so.
Be very cautious about moving injured people. Some injuries are apparent, but some neck, spine, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are not so obvious.
If anyone is bleeding, cover the wound and apply steady pressure to slow the bleeding until an ambulance arrives.
The tanker driver, if they are feeling well enough, will set up orange safety cones around the accident area and likely make several phone calls as well.
If possible, stay far away from the tank’s spilled contents. Both fumes and liquids can be flammable or otherwise dangerous to your health.
Drivers should swap licensing and insurance information and take cell phone photos of damage and injuries while they wait for law enforcement to arrive.
Never admit fault after a traffic accident. North Carolina follows an at-fault system for traffic accidents, but fault laws are complex. Law enforcement may determine that the tanker driver was distracted or impaired. Admitting fault to law enforcement or an insurer may undermine your ability to recover damages.
As soon as you are well enough to do so, call an experienced attorney who has dealt with tanker truck accidents in Marion before.
Contact an Attorney Who Has Experience With Tanker Truck Accidents in Marion
At Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, we have represented many individuals injured in tanker truck accidents in Marion. We could assist you in pursuing compensation for injuries, medical treatment, future therapy, lost wages, property damage, and more. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to helping your family through this challenging time.
