Truck Accident Underscores Danger of Toxic Spills
A diesel delivery truck stopped traffic on Interstate 95 recently when it jackknifed and spilled diesel on the road. As the Sun-Sentinel reported, the westbound exit onto Oakland Park Boulevard was closed for a morning while crews cleaned up the spilled diesel. Luckily, no injuries were reported.
Most of us don’t think of cargo spills when we think of accidents with large trucks (also known as tractor-trailers, Mack trucks or 18-wheelers). However, according to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency responsible for regulating the trucking industry, cargo spills are a full 11% of U.S. trucking accidents. Another FMCSA study found that trucks carrying hazardous materials are far more likely than other trucks to roll over or catch fire.
Unlike a crash that pits a truck against another vehicle, cargo spills don’t just harm one vehicle -- they could endanger all the vehicles that are nearby when the spill happens. And in the case of a volatile and toxic cargo like diesel fuel, they can also endanger the wider community by poisoning the air, water and soil, or causing a fast-burning fuel fire. The best result of this type of accident is a temporary evacuation and cleanup; the worst could be a toxic spill that poisons the innocent people unlucky enough to live nearby.
We were lucky this time to avoid a fire or another serious consequence of this diesel spill. But accidents with large trucks happen frequently in Florida, and unfortunately, some are the fault of trucking companies and truckers more interested in profit than safety. If you believe a trucker’s bad decision seriously injured someone you care about, you have the right to hold him or her responsible for the results with a Florida trucking accident lawsuit. Contact Cohn, Smith & Cohn for a free consultation on your case and your rights.
