If you have shared the road with an oil truck, you may have a pretty good idea as to the kind of damage these oversized vehicles could cause in an accident. The sheer size and force oil tanker trucks pack are enough on their own to wreak devastation on the roadways. Combine this with the fact that they are carrying a highly flammable, dangerous substance and you have a recipe for catastrophe when it comes to oil truck accidents.
Oil trucks are large, carry a heavy load, and are entrusted with the transportation of a substance that stands to spark a huge fire should the truck be involved in a crash. As such, they present unique and serious dangers on the road. Unfortunately, whether it is driver error or other contributing factors, oil trucks have been known to be in collisions. It is typically the other vehicles involved, along with their drivers and passengers, that sustain devastating damage.
With the prevalence of the oil industry in North Dakota and the fact that oil trucks deliver across all states, the chances that an oil truck will cross your path at some point are pretty high. If the negligence of another has caused you to be involved in an oil truck accident, you can count on our firm to help you navigate the complex and often frustrating legal process that can follow on your road to pursuing monetary compensation.
What Makes Oil Trucks Dangerous?
While we touched on some of the dangers of oil trucks above, it merits going into detail regarding the threats these oversized vehicles pose. Let’s start with one of the more obvious dangers, which is the fact that oil trucks transport a dangerous substance. The cargo of these trucks is highly flammable. There is, therefore, the inherent risk of an explosion or fire breaking out in the event of a crash. The explosion or fire alone could be enough to result in catastrophic injury to others nearby the accident site.
There is also the fact that these trucks are big and heavy. They carry a significant load and that load puts the truck’s center of gravity higher than most vehicles on the road. When an oil truck is carrying a full tank, it can be extremely difficult to control. It can also increase the chance of a rollover accident occurring. Additionally, the size and weight of these vehicles mean that a collision with another vehicle on the road is likely to result in severe injuries or death for those involved.
Also, oil truck drivers often drive even longer hours than other trucks in different industries, which can only increase the danger these large trucks pose. While drilling companies are under an obligation to take steps to ensure they hire drivers that are certified to transport oil and gas, it has been all too common for trucking companies to take shortcuts in the hiring process because of the constant demand for drivers. As a result, drivers who are unqualified can end up behind the wheel of an oil truck.
Common Causes of A Oil Truck Accident
Like any accident, there can be a number of factors that contribute to causing an oil truck accident. Some of the most common causes of oil truck accidents include:
- Driver inexperience
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Inclement Weather
- Reckless driving
- Poorly maintained roads
- Speeding
- Improperly secured load
As you can see, many of these causes point to the oil truck driver’s negligence in causing the accident. There can be, however, other parties held responsible for causing an oil truck crash. It is not uncommon, for instance, for the oil company to carry the liability burden in whole or, at least, in part. When drivers are overscheduled, safety practices are left unobserved, and trucks are poorly maintained; the oil company can be held negligent and, therefore, responsible for causing the accident. As a result, if you are injured in an oil truck accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for the harm you have suffered from the oil company itself.
Contact Our North Dakota Oil Truck Accident Lawyers Today
The devastation that can result from an oil truck accident means that resulting personal injury claims can be big and complicated. The oil and insurance companies will look to take advantage of this in order to undermine your claim as much as possible. They are all about their bottom line and this means that they will pursue any advantage and any loophole in order to get out of paying an accident victim what they should be entitled to.
Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys knows their games and we know how to help ensure our clients are properly compensated. Let us take the legal burden off of you during this difficult time so that you can focus on your own health and well-being. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
