Nashville Trucks Carrying Hazardous Materials
Semi-Truck Collision Lawyers Advocating for People Injured in Nashville
In Davidson County, a truck driver’s negligence can result in a devastating collision with another vehicle, resulting in the victim(s) to suffer injuries, which may include broken bones, lacerations, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and more. What happens if the truck that collided with the other vehicle was transporting hazardous materials? Depending on the contents of the truck’s cargo tank, the victim(s) could possibly inhale noxious fumes, suffer chemical burns, or be exposed to excessive amounts of radiation. If the hazardous materials explode or catch fire, the result could be fatal. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a truck carrying hazardous materials, you should contact the Nashville truck accident attorneys of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. We may be able to assist you in bringing a lawsuit against the truck driver and trucking company to recover damages for your injuries and losses.
The Dangers of Trucks Carrying Hazardous Materials
The hazardous materials some trucks transport could be toxic, radioactive, explosive, flammable, or corrosive. If such materials were to leak, they could harm many people. For example, let us say that you are driving along Interstate 65 while it is raining. In an adjacent lane to you is a tanker truck transporting thousands of gallons of gasoline. The truck driver gets distracted by his cell phone and fails to stabilize his truck when it starts hydroplaning, resulting in his truck colliding with your vehicle and others. The truck ends up rolling over and leaking gasoline. In a matter of seconds, the leaked gasoline has caught fire and reached other vehicles. You and the other victims involved sustain serious injuries as a result.
When pursuing economic and non-economic damages for your injuries and losses, you will likely have to establish the negligence of the truck driver, which involves multiple steps: One, you must illuminate the fact that the truck driver owed you a duty of reasonable care. Next, you have to prove that the defendant breached the duty that was owed to you. Further, you must show that the truck driver’s negligence caused you to sustain your injuries. An experienced truck accident lawyer in the Nashville area can help you establish the trucking company’s liability for the accident as well. The defendant’s employer may be held vicariously liable for the truck driver’s conduct if the truck driver’s negligence can be proven to have happened within the course and scope of their employment.
An attorney can also defend you if the truck driver tries to accuse you of comparative fault, e.g. the truck driver saying that you were driving in one of his blind spots for a prolonged period of time. The State of Tennessee operates under modified comparative negligence, so your recovery could be reduced by the percentage of blame attributed to you by a jury. You can still recover partial damages as long as your portion of fault does not exceed 49%. If it exceeds 49%, you may be barred from your recovery altogether.
Hire an Experienced Big Rig Wreck Attorney in the Nashville Area
Collisions involving trucks carrying hazardous materials have the potential to be catastrophic for those involved directly in the accident as well as anyone nearby. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we are committed to asserting your rights to the fullest extent and fighting for the compensation you deserve. Our firm helps people injured in trucking accidents throughout Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Contact our office by calling us toll-free at 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to set up a free consultation with a truck wreck attorney. If you need a Nashville lawyer, NST is the way to go.
2323 21st Avenue South
Suite 500
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-235-0766
Fax: 615-257-6797