Bronx Hazardous Material Requirements Accident

Each year large commercial trucks such as tank trucks transport millions of tons of hazardous materials throughout New York and the rest of the United States. The types of hazardous materials that commercial trucks carry vary and can include flammable material, corrosive material, poisonous material, as well as other types of hazardous material. In addition to having a commercial driver’s license, those drivers who haul hazardous material must have a hazardous materials endorsement on his or her commercial driver’s license. Whether the accident is a car accident or a truck accident, if hazardous material is involved, there is more of a chance for the result to be catastrophic. Victims of such accidents often suffer serious personal injury such as a brain injury, contusions, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, paralysis, or spinal cord injury. Sadly, many victims of truck accidents do not survive. If you were injured in a truck accident where the truck was carrying hazardous materials, it is important that you immediately contact a Bronx Hazardous Materials Requirements Accident Lawyer as you may be entitled to compensation for the losses you suffered. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries a doctor, nurse or other member of the medical staff commits medical malpractice and injuries you further, the truck driver or trucking company may be required to compensate you for that as well.

In order to protect those on the road as well as the environment, there are federal and state laws related to handling and transporting hazardous materials such as explosives, gases, and flammable and combustible materials. Some of the rules are:

• Drivers must go through training on handling and transporting hazardous material and must pass a special test.
• Drivers must have commercial driver’s license with a hazardous material designation.
• A placard must be placed on the truck warning that it is carrying hazardous material
• The hazardous material must be property packaged, labeled, and secured in the truck.

The driver is responsible to follow all of the regulations relate to transporting hazardous material. If there is a hazardous material transportation accident, then the truck driver may be legally liable, particularly if he or she failed to follow the rules related to transporting such materials.

Accidents involving the transport of hazardous materials do not only happen on the road when the truck is moving. An accident can also happen during the loading and unloading process. The loading and unloading of hazardous materials is a very complicated and dangerous process, and special training is necessary to do so safely.

Accidents involving trucks that transport hazardous material are especially dangerous, and can be devastating to a victim as well as to the victim’s family. When hazardous material is involved, even low-impact, low-speed accidents can have catastrophic results. Through a personal injury lawsuit, New York law allows you to hold the negligent party responsible for the losses you suffered. Victims who suffer serious injuries in truck accidents have significant medical bills. In addition, because victims of serious injuries often have to miss a great deal of work or are unable to return to work at all, victims have the right to sue for lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If a family member was killed in a truck accident, you may be able to pursue damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit.

Being involved in a truck accident can be devastating. You may have to face not only physical pain and a long recovery process, you may also face financial distress. A proper investigation into the accident will determine the cause of the accident. Contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims resulting from truck accidents, as well as SUV accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.