Tanker truck accidents can be catastrophic events. When a fully loaded fuel or chemical tanker is involved in a crash, the results are often disastrous with severe injuries or death. The highly flammable liquids inside the tanker can ignite into an explosive fireball or release toxic fumes into the environment. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Temecula tanker truck accident, you need an experienced tanker truck accident lawyer on your side.
The law firm of Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers has over 25 years of experience representing injury victims in Riverside County and San Diego County. Our top-rated Temecula personal injury attorneys have a successful track record of recovering millions of dollars for clients. We fight aggressively to get you maximum compensation.
If you need a Temecula tanker truck accident lawyer to help you recover damages after a catastrophic truck collision, call (951) 699-2100 for a free consultation with our award-winning attorneys.
Common Causes of Tanker Truck Accidents
Tanker trucks have a higher risk of accidents compared to other commercial vehicles. This is due to several factors:
- High center of gravity – Tankers are tall vehicles with a very high center of gravity. This, combined with the liquid cargo’s shifting of weight, makes them more prone to rollover accidents. Sudden steering maneuvers or high speed turns can cause the tanker to flip over.
- Hazardous cargo – Tanker trucks carry flammable liquids like gasoline and diesel, or toxic chemicals like chlorine and ammonia. If the tank ruptures in an accident, it can cause fires, explosions, chemical spills, and toxic fumes.
- Fatigued driving – Tanker drivers often face intense pressure to meet tight delivery windows, leading to fatigued or drowsy driving. Driving while exhausted impairs reaction times and judgement.
- Poor maintenance – Truck owners sometimes cut corners on maintenance to save money. Worn out brakes, bald tires, and broken lights increase the chances of a crash.
- Dangerous roads – Windy mountain highways, narrow country roads, congested urban freeways all pose hazards for these large trucks with heavy loads.
When tanker truck accidents occur, the damage is usually widespread. Multiple vehicles can be involved. Bystanders may get injured by explosions. Nearby homes or businesses could suffer severe property damage. Our Temecula tanker truck accident attorneys have seen the devastation these crashes cause.
Tanker Truck Accident Injuries
Due to the immense size and weight of a loaded tanker truck, as well as its hazardous contents, the resulting injuries are typically catastrophic or fatal. Some common tanker truck accident injuries are:
- Burn injuries – Tanker trucks hauling flammable liquids can burst into intense fires after an accident. Victims may suffer disfiguring third degree burns over large portions of their body. This requires months of agonizing treatments.
- Spinal cord injuries – The tremendous forces involved when a speeding tanker truck smashes into a smaller vehicle can crush vehicles and cause permanent paralysis or quadriplegia.
- Traumatic brain injuries – Occupants often violently strike their heads during the accident, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can lead to lifelong cognitive deficits.
- Amputations – When vehicles collide with tanker trucks, the immense weight of the tanker can literally crush the vehicles. First responders often must amputate trapped victims at the scene.
- Toxic chemical exposure – If hazardous chemicals spill during an accident, victims may inhale toxic fumes or come in contact with dangerous liquids. This can cause severe respiratory injuries or chemical burns.
- Death – With the explosive fire potential, it is not uncommon for tanker truck crashes to turn deadly. Multiple fatalities may ensue, and more tragically, entire families may perish.
Such catastrophic harm can derail lives, leaving victims with astronomical medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life. An experienced Temecula tanker truck accident lawyer can quantify all your damages to seek maximum compensation.
Compensation Available in Tanker Truck Accident Claims
If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death in a Temecula tanker truck collision, you may be entitled to several types of damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses – These include ambulance fees, hospital bills, medications, surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation services, nursing care, medical equipment, and at-home health aides. Victims of severe tanker truck accident injuries often require a lifetime of expensive medical treatments.
- Lost income – If accident injuries prevent you from returning to work, you can claim lost wages. This includes salary, benefits, commissions, tips and potential income from missed promotions and job growth opportunities.
- Loss of earning capacity – Even if you return to work, your ability to earn may be diminished due to disability. Our lawyers will project future lost earnings over your work life expectancy.
- Pain and suffering – We seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, and other subjective damages caused by the accident injuries.
- Wrongful death damages – If negligence or misconduct causes a wrongful death in a tanker truck crash, surviving family members can claim for loss of companionship, along with funeral costs and grief therapy expenses.
- Punitive damages – If the actions of the tanker truck driver or company showed a reckless disregard for safety, punitive damages may be awarded as punishment and to deter future misconduct.
The value of a Temecula tanker truck accident lawsuit is often substantial, sometimes exceeding millions of dollars, due to the extent of damages suffered. An experienced personal injury lawyer understands how to calculate and prove all your losses in court if necessary.
Why Hire a Temecula Tanker Truck Accident Attorney?
Handling a tanker truck accident claim is very complex and best left to a personal injury lawyer with specific experience in commercial trucking cases. Tanker trucking companies immediately bring their insurance adjusters and defense lawyers when a catastrophic crash happens. They will try denying responsibility or dispute damages to pay you as little as possible.
An aggressive Temecula tanker truck accident lawyer levels the playing field and handles all aspects of the case so you can focus on recovery. When you work with us at the Zucker Personal Injury office, we will:
- Launch an independent investigation of the accident to prove liability and negligence
- Gather evidence like black box data, inspection records, log books, and witness statements
- Hire expert accident reconstructionists to recreate the crash
- Consult with medical experts like physicians and life care planners to prove causation between the crash injuries and impairment or treatment needs
- Calculate ALL your past and future accident damages
- Negotiate assertively with insurance companies to get you top-dollar settlement
- Take the case to trial if needed to compel maximum compensation.
With millions of dollars potentially at stake in a Temecula tanker truck accident claim, having a fierce negotiator and courtroom litigator can make a major difference in the outcome.
Choosing the Best Tanker Truck Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries in a Temecula tanker truck crash, it’s critical to have the best personal injury lawyer fighting for your rights. We encourage tanker truck accident victims to ask the following questions when choosing a personal injury law firm:
- Do they specialize in commercial trucking accident cases? You need an attorney with experience handling tanker truck crash cases, investigating thoroughly, and taking on powerful trucking insurance carriers.
- What is their track record of verdicts and settlements? An established history of winning seven- and eight-figure awards for clients shows negotiation clout and trial skills.
- Who handles your case? Some law firms pass off cases to inexperienced attorneys. Ensure you work directly with senior partners.
- How quickly can you start my claim? Evidence can disappear fast after truck crashes. Fast action is needed to prove liability and damages.
- What are my legal rights and options? Every tanker truck accident case has unique circumstances. An initial case review will assess your specific situation.
Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers is a top-rated firm of Temecula personal injury attorneys that have obtained multi-million dollar outcomes for our clients. These include a $50-million favorable verdict, which is one of California’s biggest wrongful death judgments ever.
At Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, we take great pride in obtaining exceptional outcomes for injury victims. Our award-winning Temecula personal injury attorneys offer aggressive, compassionate and ethical representation.
We offer a free consultation to review your tanker truck accident case and advise you of your legal rights and options to recover full damages. Call (951) 699-2100 to schedule a FREE case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tanker Truck Accidents
What should I do after a tanker truck accident?
- Seek medical attention even if you don’t feel hurt. Symptoms of injuries sometimes show up later.
- Report the crash to authorities to start an official investigation.
- Document the accident scene with photos and video. Take down names and contact info of witnesses.
- Avoid discussing fault or giving any statements to the tanker truck company or drivers.
- Call an experienced Temecula tanker truck accident attorney immediately!
How much is my tanker truck accident case worth?
Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of injuries, length of treatment, amount of lost income and proven negligence. Experienced personal injury attorneys will carefully assess liability factors and fully calculate short and long-term accident damages to determine a case value range.
Who can be held liable in a Temecula tanker truck accident?
Multiple liable parties may share fault for a tanker truck crash, including:
- The tanker truck driver
- The tanker truck owner
- The company that loaded the tanker
- The manufacturer of tanker truck parts
- A maintenance company if faulty repairs contributed to the crash.
An accident attorney will investigate all potentially responsible parties.
How long do I have to file a Temecula tanker truck accident lawsuit?
Under California statute, injury victims have two years from the date of a truck accident to take legal action or claim rights may be forfeited. It is wise to contact an attorney much sooner to start an insurance claim or lawsuit while evidence is fresh.
Will filing a lawsuit aggravate my injuries?
No, there are no physical health impacts. Further, when you work with us at the Zucker firm, our attorney handles all legal aspects of your case so you can focus on medical recovery. Resolving accident claims also provides funds for treatment to improve health.
Start Your Tanker Truck Accident Claim Today
We hope this guide has helped you understand tanker truck accident claims and your legal rights after a catastrophic crash. Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers has assisted injury victims recover just compensation with exceptional results. Our award-winning Temecula attorneys offer aggressive, honest and ethical representation.
Let’s start by discussing your case and legal options. Call us today at (951) 699-2100 now for your FREE consultation.
