Dangers of Oil and Gas Trucks on the Tennessee Highways
As our country continuously seeks to meet our substantial energy needs, oil and gas companies constantly extract oil from the ground. Activities such as drilling and fracking require the use of numerous trucks to haul oil from the drilling site to the refinery. These companies then use large tanker trucks to transport gasoline to stations across the state and country. While all tractor-trailers create serious risks on the roadways, these oil and gas tankers are particularly dangerous due to their size and their hazardous contents.
Vehicle collisions with oil tankers cause substantial damage
Oil and gas work is not an easy task. Everyday, oilrig workers risk their lives to extract oil from the earth. Yet most of the industry’s fatalities do not occur on the oilrig—they occur on the roadways. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), traffic-related incidents are the leading cause of death within the oil and gas industry. These tragic incidents are occurring on the public roadways of Tennessee, and they often involve innocent drivers who happened to be traveling near an oil tanker at the wrong time. When collisions occur, they can be extremely serious for two general reasons:
- The size of the truck. Oil tanker trucks are tall and wide. Their presence on the highway can be menacing for drivers traveling behind or beside them. These cylindrical-shaped vehicles can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, even when empty. When you add another ten thousand gallons of crude oil or gasoline, the weight becomes especially troubling. A collision with a truck of this size is often catastrophic for all involved.
- The hazardous nature of the load. Crude oil is extremely dangerous when it comes in contact with humans. Whether ingested, inhaled, or taken in through direct contact with the skin, its effects can have generational impacts. Studies show that crude oil can cause breathing complications, convulsions, and unconsciousness. It has also been shown to affect fertility and cause birth defects in the children of exposed parents. For tanker trucks carrying gasoline, the most ominous threat is explosion of this highly flammable cargo. The impact of a crash can cause the gasoline to violently explode, potentially injuring victims who were not even directly involved in the truck accident.
Why oil and gas truck accidents occur
As with many employment-related driving tasks, oil truck and tanker truck drivers are under strict deadlines and time limitations for product delivery. To meet these guidelines, truck operators may speed or recklessly ignore proper driving behaviors to the detriment of others on the roads. Exhaustion also plays a part in many of these tragedies. Tanker drivers may spend an entire workday at an oil-drilling site before getting into the truck and transporting the oil for another several hours. Truck disrepair and noncompliance with government regulations can also be contributing factors.
If you or a loved one was severely injured in an oil and gas truck crash, call the knowledgeable Memphis truck accident attorneys with proven personal injury experience. The lawyers of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, provide legal representation to the residents of Memphis, Jackson, and West Tennessee. Call our office at 901-680-9777 or complete our contact form today.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
Read more about Thomas R. Greer