This week we covered the story of a fatal tanker truck crash in Fairfax County, Virginia. The accident took place on I-94 North at the Fairfax County Parkway intersection when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle, which rolled onto its side. The tanker’s hazardous material, 9,000 gallons of fuel, caught on fire. The trucker, 59-year-old Edwin H. Hall, died in the accident.
Sadly, this is one of hundreds of fatal commercial truck accidents involving hazardous materials that take place each year across the country. Let’s take a closer look at some hazmat truck accident facts and statistics, as provided by the Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) report written by the Center for National Truck Statistics:
Each year, 200 trucks carrying hazardous materials are involved in fatal traffic accidents across the country.
About 5,000 hazmat trucks are involved in non-fatal truck accidents annually.
About four percent of all fatal truck crashes involve a truck carrying hazardous material.
About eight percent of all commercial trucks on the road carry hazardous material at some point during their year on the road.
Each year, about 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials take place across the country.
About 400,000 different trucks carry hazardous material annually.
Half of all hazardous material shipments involve a flammable or explosive liquid.
The two most harmful events involving a truck carrying hazardous materials are rolling over and colliding with another vehicle.
Fire was a factor in 14 percent of hazmat truck crashes that involved a fatality.
Gasoline is the most common hazardous material transported by truck.
Seven out of ten fatal hazmat crashes took place on rural highways.
As you might guess, hazmat truck accidents come with a greater number of risks than commercial truck crashes that involve less dangerous materials. The primary concern during a truck crash involving hazardous cargo is that the materials will catch fire or explode, harming the driver, other vehicles involved in the collision, and others in the area. The other big concern in hazmat truck crashes is that the material will spill, exposing humans to poisons on the ground or in the air. These materials may be dangerous to inhale, may cause bodily injury through skin contact, or may pollute water sources.
Have you or a loved one been involved in a Virginia hazmat truck crash? You may wish to speak to a VA injury attorney about your case. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to learn more about your possible legal actions.
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