Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorneys Discuss Accidents Involving Fuel Tankers

A recent Mississippi accident involving a fuel tanker closed roads near the accident scene for hours while emergency personnel cleaned up the debris and the spilled fuel. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the truck and ran into the median. This accident illustrates the dangers of tanker truck accidents, particularly tanker truck accidents involving tankers that are carrying fuel or other hazardous materials.

Tanker trucks that carry liquid cargo are at risk for being involved in an accident any time they are out on the road, just like any other vehicle. The accident risks that apply to other vehicles, such as driver error, distracted driving, and driver fatigue apply to these trucks, and they also have some unique characteristics that can pose additional accident risks. The driver of any type of tractor trailer can lose control of their vehicle when the load in or on the trailer shifts. In the case of a tanker carrying liquid cargo such as fuel, the liquid can slosh from side to side, increasing the risk of a rollover. This risk can be reduced by driving the truck with a full tank, taking turns slowly, and braking slowly and steadily, but those things are not always possible. For that reason, many tankers are designed with baffle systems inside of the tanks which can reduce the amount of liquid cargo movement and consequently reduce the risk of a rollover accident.

Accidents involving tanker trucks can cause serious injury and death. Sometimes, the only vehicle involved in the accident is the tanker truck. At other times, though, passenger vehicles are involved. Drivers who share the roads with tankers and tractor trailers should be aware that accidents involving tractor trailers and tankers bring more people to the accident scene than police, firefighters, and emergency rescue personnel. When a tanker or a tractor trailer is involved in an accident, the trucking company that owns the truck sends its own accident response team to the accident scene to collect information.

What drivers need to know about people associated with trucking company accident response teams is that their presence at the accident scene is solely for the benefit of the trucking company. Accident response teams often include investigators, attorneys, and other professionals. When they arrive at the accident scene, they begin collecting information that they can use to defend the trucking company against claims for liability, such as the claim that you might file if you were injured in the accident. Since the members of the accident response team work for the trucking company, they do not have your best interest in mind. You are under no obligation to speak with any of them. You may either politely refuse to speak to them altogether or you may ask them to speak with your truck accident lawyers. If you can, gather information about the accident on your own by taking pictures of the accident scene and making notes as soon after the accident as possible, so that you can remember the details of the accident at a later time.

Giddens Law Firm, P.A.: Trucking Accident Attorneys Serving Clients Throughout Mississippi

The attorneys who represent trucking companies are skilled at defending their clients against the claims of trucking accident victims. Fortunately, the Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorneys at the Giddens Law Firm, P.A. can help you to build a strong case of your own.  To learn more about how we can help you, please call our office today, at (601) 355-2022.