All large commercial trucks pose a threat to other small passenger vehicles on the road because of their sheer weight and size. In a collision with a large commercial truck, usually, the truck driver remains safe while the occupants of the smaller cars may suffer devastating injuries. Collisions with trucks that are carrying hazardous materials are especially dangerous and can cause life-altering disabilities if not death for others on the road. Trucks that carry hazardous materials are called HAZMAT carriers. All drivers and operators of HAZMAT carriers must have extensive specialized training and must strictly follow additional regulations for travel. If a HAZMAT carrier driver or truck company fails to act safely in transporting hazardous materials and causes an accident, a Coweta County truck accident attorney can help victims receive full compensation for their likely devastating losses.
Hazardous materials include materials that are:
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These types of materials often need to be transported from one place to another, though their transport may put lives in danger. Therefore, HAZMAT drivers must have a special license with extensive training to operate a HAZMAT carrier.
HAZMAT collisions can be so dangerous because, even if other motorists survive the impact of the collision, the hazardous materials may catch or explode and cause separate injuries. Furthermore, if a HAZMAT carrier is in an accident all by itself, such as hitting a barrier or rolling over, the effects can be devastating for all other motorists on the road at that time. In these cases, if the HAZMAT carrier had been carrying regular cargo instead of hazardous materials, these motorists may not have suffered any injury at all. Therefore, the investigation must be made into the cause of the accident and the compliance of the HAZMAT driver and company with all regulations regarding the transport of hazardous materials.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a HAZMAT carrier, you should contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to start working on a possible case. Call Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656