According to a study by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), hazardous materials spilling from a tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicle during a crash is not a common occurrence. However, when a spill does occur, it can cause serious injuries not only to those involved in the crash, but to rescue workers, other motorists, and people in the surrounding community.
The OTA’s study found that poorly-trained drivers and rescue workers were the primary cause of most hazardous material spills. Only about one in every four police and fire personnel, the first teams to respond to a serious truck accident, have the training needed to accurately identify and contain hazardous materials spills. While this number has increased in recent years, most highway patrol officers still lack the training they need to minimize serious injuries in the case of a spill.
Lack of rescue worker coordination and shipping companies that fail to communicate with one another or with regulators also play a role in many hazardous materials spills, according to the OTA. In order to drive as safely as possible and help reduce the risk of serious harm to the community, both truck drivers and their employers need to understand exactly what is being shipped and how it should be handled for maximum safety.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, the experienced Missouri truck crash attorneys at Page Law can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.
