San Antonio Tanker Truck Accident Lawyer

Driving down almost any freeway in San Antonio, it’s possible to spot a tanker truck. These large, heavy vehicles are often filled with hazardous materials. While smaller than 18-wheelers, tanker truck accidents often cause serious, life-threatening damage to other vehicles. The highly flammable material within them is a constant level of concern, especially because it is nearly always toxic.

If you’ve been in a tanker truck accident in San Antonio or anywhere in Texas, it is critical that you have a San Antonio truck accident lawyer working by your side to protect your rights. Tanker truck companies have powerful insurance companies and attorneys working for them. You don’t want to be at risk of missing key compensation owed to you.

Why Tanker Truck Accidents Are Disastrous

Even though they tend to be smaller and sometimes lighter in weight than semi-trucks, tanker truck accidents contain materials that are quite dangerous. While some carry water and even milk products, or other food products, others contain toxic, flammable chemicals. This includes industrial chemicals, gas, diesel fuel, household petroleum-based products, agricultural pesticides, and even radioactive material in some cases.

That truck, driving next to you in San Antonio, may be putting your life and the lives of your kids at risk. If you’ve been in such an accident, you already know the risks these trucks bring with them.

What Causes Most Tanker Truck Accidents in Texas?

The stories of tanker truck accidents on Texas freeways are many. From drivers falling asleep at the wheel to flipped over tanker trucks along US-59, this type of incident can create a high risk for anyone on the roadway at the time. Accidents with tanker trucks can happen to anyone on any roadway. They happen for many reasons, including:

Driver Distraction: A distracted driving accidents with an 18-wheeler can be catastrophic. The truck driver may be trying to navigate to where they are going, talking on the phone, or even sending a text message. Some are eating while behind the wheel. In all of these situations, their focus isn’t on the road in front of them.

Speeding Due to Schedule Pressures: Operating a truck is difficult enough, but when you put a timeline on the driver, and it is too tight, that driver is nearly always pushed to speed. Speed is a key factor in many of the tanker truck accidents along I-35 and other highways in the state.

Fatigued Driving: Those long hours behind the wheel also make tanker truck drivers tired. Falling asleep – or even just being sleepy – makes these drivers more likely to be involved in an accident. A fatigued truck driver may swerve into and out of lanes, causing the risk of flips as well as crashes with other people on the roadways.

Mechanical Failure: It’s also likely that some tanker truck accidents along our highways are happening because of poor maintenance and upkeep of the vehicles. If, for example, tires are not checked, it is possible that a truck may blow a tire, causing the vehicle to swerve and even end up in the ditch.

Driver Inexperience: Tanker trucks are unique vehicles in their shape. While they are built to be durable and heavy enough not to slip, they are hard to maneuver. A truck driver with limited experience or a truck driving with inadequate training may find they are making a turn poorly and toppling the truck in the process.

What Makes Texas Tanker Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

Tanker truck accidents are very dangerous because of two key factors. First, they are larger and heavier trucks. That gives them more impact damage when they strike another vehicle. Second, if the material in the tanker itself spills, this can create a near-instant fire, one that can create disfigurement and even death in a moment’s time. Explosions are common.

What Should You Do if You’ve Been in a Tanker Truck Accident?

If you’ve suffered injury or pain as a result of a tanker truck accident in Texas, our legal team wants to help you. We can help you to secure the financial compensation owed to you, based on all of your losses. This includes things like your medical bills and time lost at work. You may also qualify for more compensation due to property loss and pain and suffering. Our team will work closely with you to determine what your specific needs are and offer a comprehensive claims process.

You don’t want to file a claim with an insurance company on your own. You need an aggressive, dedicated Texas attorney by your side to fight for what you’ve lost. San Antonio personal injury lawyer Eric Ramos has worked on tanker truck accident cases like this and can help you to secure the financial compensation you deserve.

Your first step should be to call our offices for a free, no-obligation consultation. We don’t get paid until (and unless) you win your case. There’s no one that is going to fight harder to protect your rights than our legal team.