Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

How Lost Cargo from Trucks Can Cause Multiple Crashes

Published on: June 9, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

You’ve probably seen them on Hollywood and Florida highways: large commercial trucks and semi-trailers carrying large amounts of cargo. You may have even seen some of this cargo spilling on the side of the road because it was improperly secured.

Under federal laws, truck drivers and trucking companies are expected to take the proper steps to secure their cargo to keep you and other users of the roads safe. In addition, drivers are expected to periodically stop to make sure that their cargo is still secured to their truck or trailer.

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Tanker Collisions can Lead to Rollovers and Spilled Cargo

Published on: April 30, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Tankers transport gasoline, gases, and liquids as well as substances like cement and even bio-hazardous materials. We rely on tankers to transport chemicals as well as everyday substances we need. People who live in colder climates, for example, may rely on tankers to get heating oil for their homes. The construction industry relies on tankers for cement.

Tanker Trucks Pose Unique Dangers on Our Roads

While tankers are important, they can also be deadly on our roads. These types of commercial trucks have a number of special hazards, when compared with flatbed trucks or tractor trailers:

The liquids in tankers can move around inside the truck, shifting the center of balance.
Tankers have a high center of gravity, making them subject to rollovers.
Tankers can be used to transport hazardous materials, including flammable materials, bio-hazardous materials, and even radioactive materials. These products can become deadly in a collision.
Tankers have large blind spots.
Tankers may make frequent stops, especially if they are delivering fuel or other products.
Tanker cargo can leak.

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Truck Rollover Collisions in Homestead and Other Florida Cities

Published on: April 2, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck rollovers are one of the most common types of truck accidents in Homestead and Florida. These types of collisions occur most often at high speeds, and because of the speeding involved they can be catastrophic. However, rollovers can also occur on uneven surfaces, even when a truck driver is traveling slowly.

Rollovers happen when a truck loses control or drives over an uneven surface, in many cases. If a passenger car loses control, it will generally slide or crash into a solid object. Unless a passenger car drives into a ditch or reaches very high speeds, the risk of rollovers is smaller. Since trucks have a higher center of gravity, however, they can flip on their side or even their roof.

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Flatbed Truck Accidents in Hollywood and Florida

Published on: March 24, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Flatbed trucks are commercial trucks with a weight of at least 10,000 pounds (not including cargo or passengers). In a tractor-trailer, the cargo is hitched to the cab and the cab can be completely separated from the trailer carrying the cargo. This is not the case with the flatbed truck. With a flatbed truck, the flatbed is open and is attached directly and permanently to the truck’s chassis.

Flatbed trucks are often used to transport large, heavy, and unwieldy cargo. For example, these vehicles are commonly used to transport manufactured homes, lumber, building materials, vehicles, logs, and other large objects. One of the dangers with this is that the cargo can shift during an impact in an accident and the cargo can become loose or can shift forward and back, causing damage to the cab guards and striking the driver.

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Dangerous Cargo in Trucking Collisions

Published on: March 17, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Any trucking collision in Homestead or Florida can be terrifying. However, when your trucking collision involves a hazmat carrier, you may find yourself facing even more serious injuries or problems. The Department of Transportation estimates that about 200 fatal trucking accidents that occur annually involve hazmat carriers. These are carriers that are permitted to carry hazardous materials (HAZMAT).

Due to the dangerous nature of the materials involved, trucking collisions involving these carriers can even more catastrophic. Trucks carrying hazardous materials may be carrying:

Gasoline
Compressed oxygen cylinders
Petroleum products
Flammable oils
Compressed gases
Flammable chemicals or other liquids
Chemical liquids and gases
Nuclear materials or other radioactive materials
Hazardous waste

In the event of a collision, this type of hazardous cargo can become especially dangerous. If it is flammable, it can leak onto the road, explode, or catch fire. It can expose bystanders and other drivers to radiation, chemical burns, or toxic fumes.

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Dangerous Cargo a Risk for Trucking Accidents in Homestead and other Cities

Published on: January 14, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Earlier this month, a serious accident in Michigan highlighted the dangers of some types of dangerous cargo. In the chain reaction accident, which took place on a wintry interstate road, 193 vehicles were involved. More than a dozen people were injured in the incident, one fatally. About 76 commercial trucks were part of the collision.

One of those trucks was carrying fireworks. Unfortunately, in the accident a fire broke out and the fireworks were affected by the heat. Another truck was carrying 44,000 pounds of a dangerous acid known as formic acid. Hazmat teams had to be sent out after the collision caused the acid to leak.

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Toxic Cargo a Deadly Danger on Florida and U.S. Streets

Published on: December 18, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

In Miami and across the country, tractor trailers and big rigs are tasked with transporting dangerous and hazardous chemicals – including fertilizers, fuel, flammable materials, and toxic chemicals – across long distances. There are many dangers linked to trucks carrying cargo:

1) Cargo spills.

Cargo spills of any kind can lead to debris on the roads of Miami and other communities, potentially causing secondary accidents. When dangerous cargo spills, however, it can cause severe damage, including poisoning bystanders. In some cases, spilled toxic cargo can cause fires or can remain on the road and in the ground for weeks or months, despite efforts to clean it up.

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Getting Larger Purchases Home During the Holidays

Published on: November 27, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

This time of year is one of the busiest retail periods of the year. Many of us are shopping for holiday gifts, decor, and other items. Stores try to lure us into their doors with special sales. If you are buying large items that need to be transported by truck, however, you can’t just be focusing on sale prices. You also need to make sure that you can get home safely with your purchase. There are a few options in order to do this:

1) Use store delivery services.

One of your best options is to use a delivery service provided by the store. Many stores offer free delivery or are willing to deliver larger items such as furniture to your home for a price. If you are going with this option, make sure that you find out about warranties and guarantees. If the item arrives damaged, will you be able to get compensation for the damage?

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Overweight Cargo Means a Huge Danger on Hollywood and Florida Roads

Published on: November 25, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Trucks transport tens of thousands of pounds of cargo each trip. These trucks transport food, consumer products, clothing, and more. While this is a necessary part of the economy, however, when truck drivers and truck carriers overload their trucks they put other drivers and other users of the road at risk. Each year, overloaded trucks and cargo in Hollywood and across the country cause thousands of serious accidents.

There many reasons why overweight cargo is so dangerous. Overweight cargo places an additional burden on the tires, brakes, and other systems of a truck, meaning that mechanical failure is more likely. Overweight cargo can also shift easily, leading to an uneven distribution of weight. In some cases, cargo that is too heavy can cause a driver to lose control. In some cases, overloaded cargo can topple from a truck, causing secondary car accidents as debris crashes into other vehicles.

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Trucking Collisions in Pembroke Pines

Published on: September 17, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Two serious trucking incidents occurred in Pembroke Pines this month. In the first incident, a large sinkhole opened up on Pines Boulevard, swallowing a large truck. The sinkhole opened up when a water main broke.

In another incident, a waste truck caught fire on the Interstate 75 in Pembroke Pines. Although the flames were quickly controlled, lanes on the highway were closed while fire fighters responded to the accident. The fire began when the truck – carrying petroleum-based roofing materials – caught fire. The incident highlights some of the dangers of hazardous cargo. Fire fighters noted that some types of petroleum-based roofing materials can spontaneously combust, especially in hot weather.

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