Rochester, NY Dangerous Spills Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial trucks are an important part of the US economy. They carry just about every type of good across our nation’s highways and byways, including food, building materials, and more. These trucks, while necessary, can be unsafe due to their size. Commercial vehicle drivers must be adequately trained and follow strict guidelines. Each trucker has a responsibility to ensure that other motorists are free from harm.

Some commercial trucks contain cargo that is more dangerous than others. These shipments are called hazmat and can increase the risk of injury and death in the event of an accident. An incident caused by a truck carrying hazardous materials can have devastating consequences. Hazmat loads contain materials that threaten the lives of other motorists and can harm the environment.

If you are a victim of this type of accident, call a Rochester, NY, dangerous spills truck accident lawyer right away. The award-winning attorneys at Cellino Law have been handling all types of truck accidents for over 60 years. We have the experience and the resources to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call Cellino Law today at (888) 888-8888 for a free case evaluation. We are available 24/7 to hear your story. There is no fee unless you win.

What Does Hazmat Mean?

The word hazmat is an abbreviation for the term “hazardous materials.” These types of shipments are often shipped in bulk and can pose an increased risk to a person’s health, personal property, and the environment.

The types of substances often found in hazmat loads can include:

  • Toxic chemicals
  • Biological, radiological, and chemical agents
  • Nuclear waste
  • Fuel
  • Natural gas

What Are the Different Types of Hazardous Materials?

A normal truck collision usually only threatens drivers in the immediate vicinity. A hazardous material spill can be toxic and threaten people for miles around. After a dangerous hazmat spill, these substances can be released as a solid, liquid, gas, fume cloud, dust, mist, vapor, and smoke. It can contaminate water or air and can cause burns.

Flammable liquids

Most types of gas used by consumers, especially the gas we buy for our cars, are moved in large tanker trucks. Examples include kerosene, ethanol, gasoline, jet fuel, and motor oil.

Flammable solids

Many flammable chemicals can also be in solid form. They can include aluminum powder, magnesium, sulfur, and activated charcoal.

Explosives

Law enforcement and the military also use our roadways to transport explosive material. These materials can be blasting agents or detonating devices. Some could explode or even become projectile.

Toxic materials

A variety of toxic materials that can be shipped are considered hazardous to our health. This can include poisons and carcinogenic materials like asbestos, talc, and pesticides.

Biological agents

Maybe you have seen a horror movie where an accident of some type releases a deadly virus into the air. This scenario is not as far-fetched as you might think. Trucks do transport a variety of biological agents, including infectious pathogens.

Radioactive materials

There are many places across the country that still mine and utilize radioactive materials. An example is how uranium is mined and used for making weapons and giving energy to nuclear power plants. Not only is uranium transported, but it produces radioactive waste that needs to be disposed of in another location.

About 1 percent of all the dangerous material transported in the US each year is radioactive. That equates to about 15 million packages.

Gasses

Gasses are also mined and used for energy. They can be either flammable or non-flammable but still dangerous when transported.

Corrosive materials

Acids and other materials, including battery acids, can cause major burns and corrosion.

Oxidizers

Oxidizers are types of chemical compounds that can cause a severe burning hazard. They may not often be combustible but can increase the flammability of other substances when combined.

Other types of hazardous materials

There are many other types of hazardous materials that do not fit in the other categories. One example is lithium batteries, which can explode under pressure.

How to Prevent Dangerous Spills

In 1975, Congress enacted the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. This act allows the US Secretary of Transportation to regulate how hazardous materials will be transported. These regulations include:

  • Policies and procedures for transporting hazardous materials
  • How to label and designate these materials
  • How hazardous materials are to be packaged for transportation
  • Operational rules for handling during transportation

All hazardous shipments must be properly secured and labeled for the purposes of protecting the public. These loads must also be registered with the US government. Companies that hire hazmat drivers must also provide training on how to handle the materials they will be transporting.

What Types of Injuries Are Caused by Dangerous Spills?

Commercial vehicles that contain hazardous materials are at a higher risk of causing serious injuries or even death. The types of injuries you might sustain in an accident with a hazmat load can vary, depending on the substance you encounter. Due to the nature of these materials, you may require extensive medical care and even face permanent health complications.

The types of injuries caused by dangerous spills include:

  • Burns
  • Chemical reactions/burns
  • Disfigurement
  • Head trauma
  • Internal injuries
  • Respiratory issues
  • Lung damage
  • Tissue damage
  • Broken bones
  • Neck and back problems
  • Neuropathy
  • Exposure to carcinogens
  • Wrongful death

If you have been injured in an accident that involves hazardous materials, call Cellino Law today. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dangerous Spill Truck Accident?

Figuring out who is responsible for causing a dangerous spill accident can be complicated. It is not always simply the large truck driver or his company who is at fault. Many times, it could be the motorist who is wholly or partly at fault for not driving safely around commercial vehicles. There may also be circumstances where there are other parties, even three or more parties, at fault.

The first course of action you should take after an accident is to contact a Rochester, NY, dangerous spills truck attorney. He or she will be able to help you assess whether your injuries may be severe enough to qualify for additional compensation, beyond what your insurance company can give.

Your lawyer will also be able to help you determine who can be held at fault. This list includes the:

  • Truck manufacturer
  • Truck driver
  • Trucking company
  • Repair company
  • Company responsible for loading hazardous materials
  • Third-party motorist who was driving recklessly

Why You Should Contact Cellino Law Today

Trucking companies are fully prepared to handle any injury cases that come against them. It comes with the job, and they have tough lawyers who know how to litigate these types of cases. If you are going to win the compensation you deserve, it can be an uphill battle.

Not only do trucking companies know how to protect themselves, but the personal injury victim is also required to prove the other party was negligent, that it was this negligence that directly caused the accident and your injuries. This is why it is important for you to hire an experienced attorney armed with the knowledge and resources needed to face any obstacle.

Cellino Law has over 60 years’ worth of experience taking on powerful entities. Trucking and insurance companies put self-interest first, but we put our clients first and the results speak for themselves. That is why we have been able to help our clients win over $2 billion in settlements.

Call Cellino Law today at (888) 888-8888. Our team is standing by 24/7 for a free consultation on your case. There is no fee unless you win your case.

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Testimonials

  • I highly recommend Cellino Law to anyone involved in a car crash. I worked with Michael Lovecchio, and had a wonderful experience given the circumstances. He was very attentive, and got the best possible outcome I could have wanted.

    Susan

  • This letter is to thank Ms. Diane D’Andrea, assistant to Mr. George Gridelli, Attny for all the hard work, dedication, and attentiveness she showed during the representation of my case. She was always cheerful and ready to help in whatever way she could. All messages left for Mr. Gridelli were always relayed and Mr. Gridelli always promptly returned our calls. She was a very competent assistant. Cellino Law has proven to be a model of what legal representation should be. Throughout the 6 ½ years of this case, I have heard many horror stories from people with “bad lawyer stories.” We consider ourselves to be very lucky to have chosen Cellino Law and will always recommend you to those looking for good, honest representation with a personal touch.

    Joseph

  • Now that reality has set in, I want to thank you for all your work and assistance in obtaining my settlement for the pelvic mesh. This money will make my life so much easier in the future. Medicare just isn't sufficient. I know that I will have enough to live on. I truly appreciate of your efforts. Thank you!

    Loraine

  • Thank you for all your help. It has been a long journey. At last, the light at the end of the tunnel. Also, thank Tom for the help and work he put in.

    Ron

  • My experience during the time of negotiations was extremely positive. Josh Sandberg handled my lawsuit with the utmost integrity. He returned all my phone calls in a timely manner and answered all my questions. Josh made things less stressful. I would highly recommend Josh and the entire staff at Cellino Law.

    Arthur

  • Choosing the right attorney to represent you after an accident can make all the difference. This is no cliche. I recently experienced these words to live by first hand. After a tractor trailer rear ended me at high speed in 2017 I retained Allan Silverstein to handle my case. I quickly realized that bringing a lawsuit rapidly snowballs into a mountain of details that can make or break your results. Documents, case histories, doctor visits, bills, and lots of phone calls all need to be accurately kept track of if a successful outcome it to be attained. To complicate matters I reside in New York and the incident took place in New Jersey. Luckily, Allan was licensed in multiple states. I was fortunate to find Allan to handle this matter from the New York area. Armed with an accurate account of the facts Allan went to work on the difficult job of negotiating with the defending insurance company as well as my no fault carrier in order to obtain the best possible outcome for my set of circumstances. In a lawsuit communication is key and and events can be of a timely nature. Allan never failed to return my calls - usually the same day! He fought skillfully and respectfully to get me the best possible settlement. He is easy to deal with and a likeable down to earth guy. He always listened with compassion and respect to my issues. He guided me with objective understanding as well as a realistic analysis of the merits of my case. When we finally settled Allan got me a fair agreement beyond my expectations and negotiated with my doctors to make sure all my bills were paid. It was a great experience having Allan represent me. Quality work in any aspect of life is hard to find. Quality is what I got with Allan Silverstein. I highly recommend him if you find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney.

    Theodore