The Deadly Peril of Choosing Profit Over Safety

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in truck accidents on Sunday, April 17, 2016.

Drivers pass truckers on the road every day hauling all sorts of goods. We depend on truckers to carry food, medical supplies and building materials. Sometimes truckers transport cargo that seems like it belongs in a science fiction story. One trucker notoriously transported hives containing thousands of honeybees. Another reported being asked to take on a cargo of human brains. Truckers are also sometimes asked to take on the task of transporting hazardous materials such as flammable substances, or dangerous chemicals like ammonia.

Truck accidents are dangerous in and of themselves. Owing to the size and weight of commercial trucks, any accident in which they are involved tends to lead to severe damage and potentially catastrophic injuries. This potential for harm becomes multiplied when the driver is carrying hazardous materials. Chemicals can release gasses that burn lungs. Flammable substances such as gas can explode. Oil spills can create hazardous road surfaces. The list goes on.

Truckers are already in a class by themselves when it comes to having to follow lengthy safety regulations. Truckers transporting hazardous materials must comply with additional rules and regulations set forth by the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety. Yet employers of truck drivers sometimes choose profits over safety.

An employer looking to meet unreasonable deadlines may demand a truck driver drive longer than is reasonably safe, leading to potentially deadly driver error. An overloaded or improperly loaded truck can jackknife or overturn causing harmful substances to leak out.

If you are a truck driver and have been injured in an accident while hauling hazardous chemicals, you may be entitled to compensation. Commercial truck accidents are complicated. They blend a variety of law sub-specialties including product liability and personal injury. It may be best to consult with a lawyer who specializes in these types of accidents.