Trust an Experienced Attorney With Your Tanker Truck Accident Claim
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has more than 60 years of experience handling serious injury cases involving tanker truck accidents. Our attorneys have represented tanker truck accident victims and their families all across the United States. If you or someone in your family was hurt or killed in a tanker truck crash, our team of truck accident lawyers is ready to help you today.
Call us today for a FREE evaluation of your tanker truck accident case. We can help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You can also fill out our online contact form or click on our Chat button to chat with a representative right now. There is no charge for our initial consultation, and we do not collect a fee unless we win your case.
Tanker Truck Accident Lawsuits Require Trucking Law Experts
A crash with a tanker truck is no ordinary auto accident. Due to their extremely serious and often devastating nature, tanker truck accidents should only ever be handled by a qualified truck accident law firm. While many personal injury firms claim they handle truck cases, only a select few have a successful track record winning them. Even fewer can claim national leadership positions in industry groups and board certification by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. That is what sets Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys apart.
Our truck accident lawyers have been winning groundbreaking victories on behalf of truck wreck victims for decades both in settlements and at trial.
The truck accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are recognized nationwide as leaders in truck accident litigation; we are the team other law firms call on to assist with their most complex and challenging truck cases. Two of our attorneys have served as Chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group. In 2020, the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group renamed its annual award in honor of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys founder Robert W. Munley. We are among the first lawyers to earn board certification in truck law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
We have been ranked by our peers as among the Best Lawyers in America. We have had some of the largest settlements and verdicts in the country for trucking accidents.
What does all this mean? When you have been injured in a tanker truck accident, you need to know who you can trust with protecting your rights and your livelihood. With Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you can rest assured that no one is more experienced, more accomplished, or better equipped to win you the justice you deserve.
What is a Tanker Truck?
Tanker trucks, which are also referred to as gas trucks, fuel trucks, water trucks, and tankers, are large vehicles that transport materials such as gasoline, diesel, ethanol, asphalt, sewage, and household petroleum-based products. Tanker trucks also carry consumer products like milk, liquid sugar, wine, water, and juices.
Not all tanker trucks are the same; tankers have different features depending on the product that they are transporting. They can be pressurized, insulated, and designed for multiple or single loads.
Tanker trucks are used to transport hazardous materials, including:
- Gasoline
- Diesel
- Ethanol
- Industrial Chemical
- Household petroleum-based products
Tanker Trucks Pose Unique Dangers on the Roads
Tanker truck accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries and death. Tanker trucks are often used to haul hazardous, highly flammable liquid, which can erupt into flames and may cause an explosion. Many people involved in car accidents with tanker trucks suffer severe burns and smoke inhalation injuries. Injuries resulting from an accident with a tanker truck can be extremely expensive to treat and cause long-term pain and suffering. Injured tanker truck victims can face painful and expensive recovery. Broken limbs can leave a tanker truck accident victim unable to work for weeks or months. More severe injuries, such as paralysis or traumatic brain injury, can mean a lifetime of medical bills, physical therapy, and disability. The tanker truck accident may completely change life for the victim as well as their spouse, children, and other loved ones.
There are many reasons why tanker trucks cause wrecks. Often the reason is negligence or recklessness on the part of the truck driver or trucking company, such as:
- Improperly or unevenly loaded tanks
- Aggressive driving or tailgating
- Speeding and ignoring reduced truck speed limits
- Long work shifts / unrealistic travel schedules
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving, such as cell phone use
- Impaired driving (i.e., alcohol and drug abuse)
- Failure to inspect tires, brakes, and lights
- Truck wear and tear
What Causes a Tanker Truck to Roll Over?
Because tanker trucks often carry flammable, corrosive, poisonous, or otherwise hazardous materials, tanker truck rollovers, and spills are particularly dangerous. Factors that contribute to rollovers and spills often include:
An improperly filled tank: If the tank is not filled properly, its liquid contents will move freely inside the tanker truck. This can cause the truck's weight to shift and make it very difficult for the driver to control.
Speeding around a curve: Tanker trucks have a high center of balance, and because the liquid cargo moves as the truck moves, tanker trucks can tip or roll over when a driver speeds around a sharp highway curve.
Improperly trained drivers and mechanics: Tanker trucks must adhere to a specific set of regulations different from other tractor-trailer trucks. Because of the hazardous nature of the loads, Tanker Trucks must meet strict engineering guidelines and mechanics for these vehicles must be specially trained.
Stopping short: Tanker trucks require much more time and distance to come to a complete stop than other vehicles. When a trucker stops short, the velocity of the liquid contents of the truck's cargo can cause dangerous weight and energy imbalances.
If the tank is not filled properly, the liquid will move freely inside the tanker truck causing its weight to shift and making the truck very difficult to control. The driver may then lose control causing the Tanker truck to roll over.
Tanker trucks must adhere to a specific set of regulations different from other tractor-trailer trucks. Because of the hazardous nature of the loads, tanker trucks must meet strict engineering guidelines and mechanics for these vehicles must be specially trained.
Negligence on the part of the driver or the people responsible for filling the tanker truck tank can result in a tragic accident. Owners who hire drivers or enforce training protocols can also be responsible for a tanker truck accident.
Why Do Victims of Tanker Truck Accidents Need a Lawyer?
Insurance rarely covers all of the losses and expenses that result from a tanker truck wreck. Trucking, hauling, and leasing companies often seek to minimize a victim's compensation payments by disputing victims' claims. Trucking firms and insurance companies often use tactics that can add to the trauma and expense of being in a tanker truck accident or crash. When negotiations fail to provide adequate compensation for victims, the pursuit of a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the tanker truck company is the proper course of action.
If you have been in a tanker truck accident, do not wait to call a lawyer. You risk nothing by contacting a truck accident attorney for advice, and it may save you from costly mistakes.
After a truck accident, it is important to act quickly in order to preserve and obtain evidence. Especially if you or a loved one suffered serious injuries requiring medical attention, your best course of action is to retain a lawyer to protect your rights while you focus your attention on recovery. Your lawyer will protect your interests and help you recover the financial restitution you need to rebuild your life.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we work on a contingent fee basis. This means that you pay nothing upfront or out of your own pocket. If and when we obtain a settlement or verdict in your case, we collect a standard portion of the settlement plus any additional costs. The contingent fee protects you from financial risk and gives all people access to the best legal representation money can buy.
Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You With Your Tanker Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a tanker truck, you may have a right to recover financial compensation for your medical costs and other losses. The tanker truck accident attorneys of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have dealt with trucking firms and their insurance companies for more than 60 years. Let us put that experience to work for you.
Call us today or use our online contact form. We provide FREE consultations and we only collect a fee if we win for you.
