Tanker trucks are a common sight on Oklahoma roadways. From transporting the state’s vital oil and gas reserves to other hazardous materials and even dairy milk, tanker trucks serve a critical function. However, these tanker trucks also present a significant risk to other motorists when careless drivers are behind the wheel.
A HAZMAT truck accident in Oklahoma can lead to life-altering injuries and financial upheaval. An Oklahoma City tanker truck accident lawyer with Cain Law understands the devastating consequences a tanker truck crash can cause. We work to maximize your compensation while providing you with the medical resources and support you need to prioritize your physical and mental health.
After a tanker truck collision, please contact our office immediately for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer. Our OKC personal injury law firm is available to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How Cain Law Handles Tanker Truck Accident Claims in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma tanker truck accidents pose significant dangers to motorists, even beyond the initial impact of the crash. For example, a hazardous material trucking accident in OK can lead to physical injuries, chemical burns, lung damage, vision problems, and the potential for an increased risk of certain cancers. After a motor vehicle accident involving one of these dangerous vehicles, the goal of the insurer and trucking company is to minimize liability and pay victims as little as possible.
The fuel truck crash attorneys in OKC at Cain Law protect you against the aggressive tactics that insurers use to get you to settle for less than what you deserve. Our rapid-response team will immediately launch an in-depth investigation into your accident, ensuring that evidence is preserved before it can be lost or destroyed. Our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers also do the following:
- Develop a proactive plan for your health and financial recovery
- Manage communication between you and the involved parties
- Build a compelling, fact-based claim
- Demand full and fair compensation
- Prepare to pursue your case through a truck accident lawsuit when necessary
Our clients’ words speak for themselves and demonstrate how far our team is willing to go to fight for the people we represent. As one client wrote:
“This law firm makes sure that you get the quality of care that you need. They care and provide emotional, mental, and physical support for their clients. My attorney Parker Leland is an outstanding attorney and I would recommend him as an attorney anytime as well as the law office itself.” – Reanne J.
Why Tanker Truck Accidents Are Especially Dangerous
Semi-truck accidents are already hazardous because these commercial vehicles are substantially larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles, making them capable of inflicting significantly more physical damage. Tanker truck accidents are likely to cause even more severe injuries due to the types of materials these trucks typically haul, such as hazardous chemicals and flammable materials.
When a tanker truck collides with another vehicle, there is the possibility that the collision ruptures the tank carrying hazardous materials. When this occurs, the consequences can include massive fires, explosions, exposure to toxic chemicals, and environmental contamination. In addition to significant physical injuries, accident victims can also suffer disfiguring thermal and chemical burns and damage to the eyes, mouth, nose, lungs, and other mucus membranes. The devastation caused by these accidents can also extend to other motorists not in the path of the initial impact, nearby homes, and the environment.
Tanker rollover accident claims may also be uniquely challenging due to the risk of multi-vehicle pile-ups. An initial tanker truck collision can trigger additional accidents as motorists attempt to avoid the spill, causing a chain reaction of secondary crashes.
What Victims Should Do After a Tanker Truck Accident in Oklahoma City
The priority for tanker truck accident victims is their own health and safety. Get to a safe location, exit your vehicle, and move as far away from the potentially volatile tanker as possible. Other steps you can take to protect yourself and increase your chances of pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries include:
- Contact law enforcement and emergency services.
- Inform law enforcement that a tanker truck was involved so that they can contact the appropriate HAZMAT teams.
- Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries.
- Exchange information with the driver
- Ask witnesses for a brief statement and their contact information.
- Take photographs and videos of the accident scene. If possible, get pictures of the DOT tanker truck placards that identify the class of materials inside the tank.
- Contact a chemical spill truck accident lawyer.
- Keep a detailed record of car repairs, medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs associated with the accident.
- Explicitly follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Avoid posting anything on social media until your Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer resolves your claim.
Managing the aftermath of a catastrophic tanker truck accident is no easy feat. Take the burden of this stressful time off your shoulders and pass it to a fuel truck crash attorney in OKC who has the experience and resources to hold liable parties accountable for your serious injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Tanker or Hazardous Material Truck Accident
Tanker and hazardous material truck accident cases can be highly complex because multiple entities may be liable for the incident. The driver may be the apparent at-fault party, but in tanker accidents, several parties can bear partial or complete liability for the accident, including:
- The tanker truck driver
- The trucking company
- The hazardous materials loader or shipper
- A vehicle or part manufacturer
Responsibility for large truck accidents is established through evidence, which necessitates a speedy and thorough investigation into the cause of the crash before valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed. At Cain Law, we deploy a rapid-response team that can immediately launch an in-depth investigation into the cause of the Oklahoma truck accident, giving liable entities less time to find creative ways to shield themselves from liability.
Contact Cain Law — Your Oklahoma City Tanker Truck Accident Lawyers
An experienced truck accident attorney with Cain Law is ready to tackle your case, fight to preserve your rights, and recover compensation for your injuries. We have a long tradition of recovering significant verdicts and settlements for our clients, all without any upfront costs. We don’t get paid until you get paid. Learn more about your next steps by contacting our office today and scheduling a complimentary consultation. In pain? Call Cain.