The effects of a hazardous material spill on the road can be much more widespread than the initial accident, as one Tennessee county has discovered. In Rutherford County on December 14, a commercial semi truck carrying swimming pool cleaning supplies crashed into another truck. The resulting spill led authorities to issue an evacuation order for neighborhoods surrounding the crash site, due to the plume of toxic gas. The evacuation was necessary due to cleanup efforts, which would release more toxic gas into the air.
Additionally, authorities ordered people within a one square mile radius of the accident to stay indoors in order to avoid exposure to the toxic gas.
HAZMAT SPILLS – A NATIONAL LOOK
The Department of Transportation reports that 200 of the 5,000 fatal truck accidents that occur every year involved HAZMAT carriers. Over 800,000 trucks transport hazardous materials daily, many of these materials volatile substances like gasoline or natural gases. As you can see above, the effects of HAZMAT spills can be massive and can affect a large number of people. The injuries HAZMAT spills can cause include burn injuries, toxic chemical inhalation injuries and more.
If you have suffered injuries due to a hazardous material spill in a truck accident, you may face expensive medical bills, lost wages at work and the pain and suffering associated with your injuries. A Nashville personal injury lawyer can help you fight for a full recovery.
Luke 1:68, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.”