Accidents involving fuel trucks often lead to severe, life-threatening injuries, especially since they may result in explosions. Victims can sustain first, second, and third-degree burns from the explosion, aside from the impact of the collision itself.
If you or your loved one suffered harm in this manner, a Hialeah fuel truck accident lawyer from our firm could help you file a claim lawsuit and fight for fair compensation.
Negligence Can Lead to Fuel Truck Accidents
Similar to many traffic collisions, fuel trucks are susceptible to accidents under these conditions:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Consuming alcohol or illicit drugs before or while driving is dangerous. The driver’s cognitive capabilities are impaired, and such a driver may not react well to potential risks, like a car swerving without signaling.
- Distracted Driving: Even the most experienced driver can cause an accident if their mind is not focused on the road. Using your phone, eating, grooming, adjusting mirrors, etc., may seem harmless, but they are distractions that can trigger accidents.
- Imbalanced Cargo: It is crucial to adhere to best practices when loading a fuel tanker to avoid mishaps on the road. Overloading to save on trips can make the truck harder to control and send it rolling down a hillside, especially when cruising at high speeds.
- Novice Drivers: Commercial truck drivers need extra training to handle these huge vehicles. There is a learning curve for new drivers to become accustomed to the car and the road, knowing the blind spots.
Truck Drivers Can Fail in a Number of Ways
Accidents involving a truck driver’s negligence can happen in the following ways:
- Sideswipe Accidents: This occurs when the driver forgets to check their side mirrors or signal when switching lanes.
- Overturning: This accident happens when the driver loses control or fails to yield when turning, and the truck flips over.
- Rear-end Crashes: Driving at high speeds or tailgating are the leading causes of this sort of accident.
- Head-on Collisions: Brake failure, refusing to yield, or driving on the wrong side of the road can make the truck crash into oncoming traffic.
- Cargo Spills: Gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and other hazardous materials may spill after a crash.
- T-bone Crashes: These accidents usually happen after a fuel truck driver refuses to yield when making a turn.
What You Should Do After Fuel Truck Accident
There is an imminent danger of an explosion following a fuel truck crash, and you may feel disoriented from the impact. If you are in a position to, please take the following measures soon after the accident:
Call 911 and Report the Accident
It is vital that you contact the police to come to the scene and start an investigation. Please let the dispatcher know if you or anyone else sustained injuries so they can deploy first responders. Request a police report as this is a prerequisite for filing a claim.
The adrenaline rush from an accident can mask the pain for days, so be on the lookout for discomfort in the coming days. More so, severe injuries and their ramifications on the body are not easy to diagnose, and you may need several checkups by a qualified physician.
Exchange Contact Information
There could be witnesses at the scene willing to help, but they won’t remain there for long. Get their account of events and note their contact information if you need to interview them again. Do the same for other motorists, first responders, and police officers. Your legal team might need these contacts to follow up on a few things.
Document the Scene
Accident scenes eventually get cleaned up, and the normal flow of traffic resumes. Take photographic evidence of injuries you and other passengers sustained, vehicle damage, skid marks, and other damages, like broken guardrails.
These images will support your claim that someone else’s actions caused the accident, harming your person and property. Refrain from sharing any pictures or videos on social media, as this will only hurt your case.
Maintain Records
Seeking compensation for your injuries, lost income, and other items is not easy. Your team of lawyers will strive to ensure you get a fair settlement. Keep all essential evidence, like the accident report, surveillance footage, expense records (e.g., hospital bills, medical equipment, transportation), black box data, dashcam footage, and so forth.
Inform the Insurance Agency
Your insurance company needs to know what happened even when you suspect the accident could be your fault, even if partially. They will request a police report and other supporting evidence for their consideration. Do not speak to the other motorist’s insurance representative before seeking legal counsel.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for Legal Counsel
Were you injured in a fuel truck collision? Our fuel truck accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will guide you through every step of the legal process.
We are also ready to represent you in court if necessary. Our clients get responsive legal counsel with answers to their pressing queries and concerns. Let us handle your case while you focus on recuperating. Contact our Hialeah truck accident lawyer today for a free case review and legal counsel.
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