Fuel truck accidents are among the most dangerous crashes on Missouri roads. A fuel tanker’s size and the nature of its cargo present an increased risk of fires and explosions as well as more severe injuries for victims.
The impact of fuel truck accidents can leave you in a dire situation, physically and financially. If you’ve been hurt in a fuel truck accident that was someone else’s fault, contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free consultation. Let our experienced truck accident lawyers fight for you.
Why Fuel Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous
Fuel truck accidents are among the most dangerous kinds of motor vehicle collisions. They are particularly hazardous because of:
- Explosive cargo – Fuel trucks carry flammable substances like gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil that can ignite on impact. The resulting explosion can lead to severe injuries.
- Massive weight and size – When a fuel tanker truck is fully loaded, it can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The weight makes it hard for a driver to stop, especially in emergencies.
- Environmental impact – Fuel spills can contaminate local water supplies, resulting in costly clean-up efforts and water shortages.
- Increased fatality risks – Because of these factors, accidents involving fuel trucks can lead to severe injuries and are more likely to lead to death.
Fuel trucks serve an essential role in our economy. However, they are also one of the biggest dangers on the road. If a truck driver, employer, maintenance company, or other responsible party is negligent, the resulting accident can be catastrophic.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Fuel Truck Accident?
When you’re ready to seek compensation for your injuries from a fuel tanker truck accident, it’s essential to determine who is liable for the crash. A number of factors can be involved in determining fault. Potentially liable parties in a fuel truck accident could include:
- Truck driver – The driver may be at fault due to negligence and poor decision-making.
- Trucking company – The trucking company is responsible for hiring qualified drivers, providing necessary training, not pressuring them to break federal hours of service (HOS)regulations, and for maintaining their fleets appropriately. If the trucking company fails in any of these duties and that failure caused the crash, it could be liable. If the driver was an employee, not an independent contractor, the employer would be vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence.
- Maintenance company – An independent maintenance company could be liable if flawed repairs or neglected maintenance contributed to the crash.
- Cargo loaders – If improperly loaded and secured cargo caused the crash, the responsible company could be held liable.
- Manufacturers – If defective parts or designs cause a fuel truck accident, the manufacturer could be held responsible for the resulting losses.
- Third parties – Sometimes, other drivers on the road cause fuel tanker accidents and can be held liable for their negligence.
Our experienced fuel tanker crash lawyers are ready to conduct a thorough investigation to identify all at-fault parties and potential sources of insurance coverage.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Fuel Truck Crash?
Potential compensation for fuel truck accidents in St. Louis could include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Property damage
Every truck accident claim is different. To find out what compensation could be available for you and how much your truck accident case could be worth, consult our personal injury lawyers with experience in fuel tanker accidents.
Proving Negligence in a Fuel Tanker Truck Accident Case
Once your attorney has concluded the investigation to find out who is liable for the accident, the next step to building a solid case is to prove that the at-fault party’s negligence led to the accident. To do that, your attorney could collect evidence like:
- Maintenance logs
- Black box data
- Eyewitness statements
- Driver’s logs
- Accident reports
In many cases, our St. Louis truck accident attorneys consult with accident reconstructionists to analyze and demonstrate the circumstances of the crash. We may also review regulatory compliance to assess adherence to state and federal regulations for fuel truck drivers to determine if all rules have been followed. A thorough analysis of the facts allows our lawyers to build a stronger case, proving that someone else’s negligence caused the crash.
Filing a Lawsuit Against a Fuel Trucking Company
Insurance companies often dispute liability or downplay accident victims’ injuries and the trauma of the accident. They might try to get you to accept a lowball compensation offer, which will not cover all your accident-related losses. Our lawyers are ready to negotiate from a position of strength to seek the maximum compensation you deserve for all your losses. However, the insurance company simply will not budge in some situations. If that happens, it may become necessary to seek compensation in court.
To file a lawsuit, our attorneys can file a formal complaint detailing how the commercial motor vehicle accident occurred, your injuries, and your losses. The defendant is usually the trucking company or their insurance company, and they will be able to respond to the complaint. The parties will exchange evidence during the discovery phase. We can then fight for your best interests at trial.
Common Causes and Types of Fuel Truck Accidents in St. Louis
Some examples of leading causes of commercial truck accidents involving tanker trucks in St. Louis include:
- Careless driving – Truck driver negligence is a very common factor in commercial motor vehicle crashes. Examples include speeding, tailgating, improper lane changes, and failure to yield the right-of-way.
- Truck driver fatigue – Fuel tanker drivers often drive long hours, leading to driver fatigue that makes severe crashes more likely.
- Truck driver inexperience – Tanker trucks handle differently from other commercial trucks, and an inexperienced driver may not know how to handle the vehicle properly.
- Improper maintenance – Mechanical failures due to neglected upkeep can result in loss of control that causes crashes.
- Poor weather conditions – Tanker truck drivers are responsible for operating their vehicles safely regardless of the weather conditions.
How Our St. Louis Fuel Tanker Accident Lawyers Can Help
At Sumner Law Group, LLC, we have over 50 years of combined experience fighting for injured people. Our proven track record includes several multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, including a $6 million settlement for a semi-truck accident.
Our client-centered approach means you will receive frequent updates and have direct access to your attorney 24/7. We won’t charge you any upfront fees, either. You won’t pay anything unless we win your case.
If you’ve been the victim of a fuel truck accident, contact our tanker truck accident law firm today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you.
