A fuel truck is a unique motor vehicle, as it may carry multiple types of liquids that could be extremely dangerous if humans are exposed. If a fuel truck strikes a passenger vehicle, the weight and size of the truck can do significant damage to your car, leading to potentially catastrophic injuries.
If a fuel truck crashed into your car in Newark, New Jersey, you may be facing a long-term prognosis regarding your health and future quality of life. At Morelli Law Firm, our team can help you start the process to receive the compensation you may be entitled to from the at-fault party’s insurer.
With a Newark fuel truck lawyer representing you, you may have a better chance of having your concerns be heard. An attorney can perform negotiations on your behalf, presenting the facts of your case to show how your life may change going forward due to an injury that was not your fault. Call us at (212) 751-9800 for a free consultation.
Possible Danger of Large Fuel Trucks
If a tanker truck strikes a passenger car, the results may be devastating. Sometimes, the driver of the fuel truck may have minimal or no injuries, but those that the truck hit could require emergency care.
The larger size and weight of a truck compared to a car increases the possibility of injury for those in the smaller vehicle. According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC), the maximum gross weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles on the road, including contents, is 80,000 pounds.
Tanker Truck Capacity
A tanker truck is a complex type of hauling truck, containing multiple safety features and compartments so it can perform its job efficiently.
According to a News-Press report from 2017, a semi-truck can carry between 9,000 and 11,500 gallons of fuel. A tanker may carry different kinds of fuel within different sections of its tank, allowing it to bring different blends of gasoline to a fueling station, for example.
Some tanker trucks are smaller, carrying their tanks on the back of a flatbed truck. These tanks may carry specialty types of fuels, such as for use by aircraft, or certain types of chemicals for industrial and manufacturing use.
Leaking Fuel
A fuel truck has multiple safety features designed to prevent leaks. However, if the tanker is involved in an accident, it is possible that the tank could rupture and potentially expose those in the nearby area to a dangerous chemical or fuel. In some circumstances, the toxic substances may lead to a fire or an explosion, further increasing the danger.
Even if you were not directly involved in a crash with a fuel truck, it is possible you may have suffered some sort of exposure through a chemical leak or an explosion. If so, you should consider hiring a Newark fuel truck lawyer to help you negotiate a settlement for compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries, medical bills, pain, and suffering.
At Morelli Law Firm, our team knows how insurers may attempt to treat victims of truck accidents. For a free review of your case, contact us at (212) 751-9800.
Deaths in Large Truck Crashes
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), motor vehicle crashes on American roadways in 2018 involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle resulted in 2,212 deaths. Of those fatalities, 96 percent of the deaths occurred with occupants in the passenger vehicle, and only 4 percent occurred to passengers in the large truck.
If your loved one suffered a fatal injury after being struck by a fuel truck, you may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for the crash.
Newark Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Determining Negligence
A key part of bringing a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit after an accident with a fuel truck is proving that the other party behaved in a reckless or negligent manner. If the truck driver or truck owner could have made a different decision that may have prevented the accident, this shows that negligence occurred.
Part of the service an attorney can provide in a case like this is performing an investigation and determining who should be held responsible for causing the crash in which you were injured. Some of the parties who may be found responsible include:
- Fuel truck driver: where the driver may not have the proper Commercial Driver’s License, as outlined by the MVC, or may have been speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Fuel truck owner: where the owner may have hired a driver who did not have the appropriate training or a CDL to operate the fuel truck safely.
- Maintenance entity: where the shop in charge of maintaining the fuel truck made an error, allowing the truck to go into service with balding tires, faulty brakes, broken safety lighting, or some other significant issue that may have led to the crash.
Let Us Help Your Family Fight for Awards You May Be Entitled To
If you hire a Newark fuel truck lawyer after your crash, they can take care of negotiating with the insurance company of the responsible party, leaving you more time to focus on healing from your injuries and helping your family recover.
Should the insurer refuse to come to a fair settlement offer during negotiations, a lawyer can also stand by your side in a court case. You do not need to pay anything upfront to hire the team from Morelli Law Firm, as we work on a contingency-fee-basis, so our payment comes from the final settlement amount you may receive in your case.
Do not let an insurer bully you into accepting an unfair settlement. Call the Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 for a free consultation.