The Possible Immensity of The Danger Zone Following A Truck Accident

Trucks carry all sorts of materials; some of the carried substances are dangerous. Suppose one truck with a dangerous load collided with a similar vehicle, which also carried hazardous material. The danger zone surrounding the collision site would be quite large.

The collision would create a HazMat situation.

• Each truck’s driver would have certain responsibilities.
• Any motorists in the area would also need to obey the relevant guidelines.
• The HazMat crew might work with the driver; it would certainly provide the motorist with any needed assistance.

The drivers’ responsibilities

• Do their best to prevent formation of a leak
• Reduce chances for splashing of any liquid on bystanders
• Don mask and protective gear; then make sure that no one was injured;
• Contact authorities
• Check in truck for a manual, one that describes the necessary steps to be taken by all involved in accident.

Responsibility of motorist in area of danger zone

This individual must leave the area as quickly as possible. The same person might require help from a HazMat crew, or from those on a fire truck. Either of those groups might have to work on extracting the caught motorist.

While the crews were working to extract the motorist, he or she could get exposed to fumes or splashed liquid. For that reason, it becomes the motorist’s job to work with those in the area, in order to obtain a mask and protective gear.

Either of the drivers, the HazMat team or the fire department should provide the motorist with the required mask and protective gear. Once removed from the danger zone, the motorist should search for a personal injury lawyer. The Personal Injury Lawyer in Cambridge could track down evidence of negligence on the part of anyone that was at the collision site, or anyone that worked on a team that prepared one of the involved trucks.

What steps would the HazMat crew be taking?

That crew would work with one or both drivers to locate a safety manual. It should be located inside of one of the trucks. The safety manual would explain what assistance, if any the driver should be providing to the team that has arrived, for removing the hazardous substances. The same safety manual should also spell out what procedures need to be followed by those involved in the accident, including those serving as emergency responders.

Who might be found negligent?

• One or both drivers
• A trucking company, if it had not trained the drivers, regarding how to respond, following an accident.
• The owners of the hazardous cargo
• A supplier of masks and protective gear
• A maker of truck parts, if some component malfunctioned on either truck

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