A fuel truck is any vehicle designed to carry dissolved loads on the road. Fuel trucks are also called fuel tankers, and they are one of the heaviest vehicles on the road. Fuel trucks come in the form of semi-trucks and may carry liquid fuel and gasoline. Fuel trucks are large, and when an accident occurs, it can include multiple vehicles, complicating the situation. Also, because the vehicles carry combustible fuels, accidents often become fatal as the fuel can burn or explode. For these reasons, fuel truck drivers must take extra precautions while driving.
The reason why fuel trucks pose a greater danger compared to small cars is because of their heavier weight. The following are some of the reasons why the substantial weight becomes a liability:
- Weight makes it difficult for the truck to stop quickly, and therefore, it is difficult to avoid collisions
- The weight leads to poor maneuverability, and this makes the truck dangerous, especially as the driver increases the speed
- The weight poses a risk to others during a collision because the truck can crash other vehicles or overturn resulting in deaths
Causes of Fuel Truck Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associates commercial driving accidents with fatigued drivers as most of them drive for extended periods, and as a result, they could fall asleep behind the wheel. Inattentiveness caused by sleep or fatigue leads to poor decision making and as a result, the driver puts his life and the life of other road users at risk.
A Wayne fuel truck lawyer will tell you that since there are multiple parties involved in fuel truck cases, it is important to get legal counsel. You can contact our legal team at Morelli Law Firm. We have dedicated our time to handle personal injury claims for victims like you. To have your case reviewed at no charge, call us today at (212) 751-9800.
Fuel Truck Drivers Are Vulnerable to Negligence
Many fuel truck accidents are the result of the recklessness or carelessness of the fuel truck driver. In this regard, the principles of negligence under the law of tort apply. Distraction on the road can result in significant harm. The price of negligence by a fuel truck driver is often higher than in an accident involving only small vehicles. This is because fuel trucks cause more significant damage and injury, which in some cases, results in death.
Some examples of distracted driving behavior include:
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Engaging in any phone-related activity while driving such as making calls or texting
- Taking attention off of the road for any reason
- Adjusting the music system while driving
- Taking off the attention from the road to attend to other persons in the vehicle
Some of these activities seem harmless. In fact, in most cases, fuel truck drivers get away with it, and no accidents occur. However, when accidents do occur, and others get hurt in the process, the driver’s behavior amounts to negligence. As a result, the civil liability rules dictated under the principles of negligence govern the proceedings.
Wayne Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
The Driver May Not Be the Only One to Blame
Notably, in most situations, it is not only the fuel truck driver that takes responsibility. The court can absolve the fuel truck driver of any involvement where there is enough proof showing that they tried to avoid the accident, but the circumstances could not allow it.
Such circumstances include:
- Poorly maintained roads
- Poorly maintained trucks
- Acts of God
Concerning the issue of poorly maintained roads, the at-fault party becomes the government entity responsible for maintaining roads. For poorly maintained trucks, it is usually the trucking company that is liable. The trucking company also becomes vicariously liable for the accident when it is caused by a truck driver in their employ.
A Wayne fuel truck lawyer may be able to help you prove vicarious liability. This will allow you to make a case against the trucking company instead of the individual driver.
If you or a member of your family sustained harm from a fuel truck accident, you may want to retain a lawyer. Contact our legal team at Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800 for a free case assessment.
A Wayne Fuel Truck Lawyer Can Help You
Fuel truck accidents contain a lot of complexities, especially where there are multiple parties involved. The following are some of the most common ways a lawyer can help you on your journey to getting compensation:
- Commencing your case right away by filing the necessary documentation
- Making sure you abide by pertinent statutes of limitations
- Helping you to identify the proper defendants for your suit
- Handling the entirety of your legal case for compensation from start to finish
- Defending your rights all through the legal process
Your lawyer will help you to prove that your injuries were the result of the defendant’s negligence. As a result, you can get compensation based on the degree of harm and loss that you or your family member suffered.
Call a Wayne Fuel Truck Lawyer Today
Fuel truck accidents are catastrophic, and they may result in severe injuries if not death. These trucks carry combustible materials that all too often explode when they become compromised in an accident. In many instances, the accident is the result of the recklessness of the driver, and in many situations, it is the trucking company that is legally liable.
Regardless of who bears responsibility, you may qualify for compensation for the injuries and the harm. Thus, if you or your family member sustained injuries in a fuel truck accident, you may want to seek the counsel of a lawyer.
Let our legal team at Morelli Law Firm assess your case for free: (212) 751-9800.