The vast network of trucking companies in the United States delivers essential cargo nationwide. They are responsible for shipping food to our grocery stores and gasoline to our gas stations.
However, a truck’s cargo can also contribute to the dangers of trucking accidents. Here are some of the common causes of these accidents and the increased hazards they involve.
Causes of severe cargo spills
There are various causes of accidents involving cargo spills, including:
- Negligent driving: All truck drivers must be careful while transporting cargo. The smallest mistakes could lead to a spill. For example, turning too quickly could cause a truck to tip over.
- Weather conditions: While truck drivers are trained to adjust to dangerous weather conditions or pull over at truck stops, weather can still cause an accident. Rain and ice can easily lead a truck to jack-knife or tip over and spill cargo.
- Negligent loading: Sometimes, the truck driver is not the one at fault for an accident. Employees who load cargo are also responsible for meeting high safety standards. If they do not load trucks properly or secure the cargo, there is a significant risk of cargo spilling out on the roads.
- Improper inspections: Truck drivers are also responsible for inspecting the cargo before driving. They are supposed to check the loading methods and the weight of their haul to ensure it is secure.
Damages can increase after cargo spills
Cargo spills can cause severe traffic accidents and injuries. However, they can also have substantial impacts after an initial crash or spill.
Many trucking rigs carry dangerous cargo, from lumber to other motor vehicles, and industrial waste to gasoline. Spills involving these kinds of cargo can have severe consequences, including:
- Additional traffic accidents
- Secondary injuries from chemical exposure
- Significant environmental damage
- Gas or chemical fires
Compensation is still a possibility
Drivers want to trust that other motorists will drive safely, especially when sharing New Jersey roads with big trucking rigs. However, things can get complicated when drivers also have to entrust their safety to truck loaders who aren’t even on the roads.
Negligence is still a factor in many cargo spills. And reckless truck loaders are just as liable for these traffic accidents as reckless truck drivers. If you suffered an injury in a cargo spill, you could still pursue compensation for your losses.
