Truck accidents are always a concern, especially when they involve hazardous cargo. Although the transportation of dangerous goods is strictly controlled, accidents still occur and can be very dangerous for people nearby.
What materials could be hazardous to your health?
A wide variety of different substances could become hazardous to your health. Generally, the Department of Transportation classifies these materials in nine different categories. The categories include:
- Class 1: Explosives– These can create explosions. Examples include fireworks and dynamite.
- Class 2: Gases– This class includes flammable, non-flammable and toxic gases like propane, helium, and chlorine.
- Class 3: Flammable liquids– These are liquids can catch fire easily. . Examples include gasoline and alcohol. 273 crashes in 2020 alone involved the release of these chemicals, making them the most frequently released hazardous materials in a collision.
- Class 4: Flammable solids– Some solids like sulfur and red phosphorus can catch fire by themselves or through friction.
- Class 5: Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides– These materials, like hydrogen peroxide, can make fires worse by releasing oxygen.
- Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances– Materials like pesticides or biological cultures can be dangerous or deadly if swallowed, breathed in or touched.
- Class 7: Radioactive materials– These substances need special handling to stay safe..
- Class 8: Corrosives– Substances like sulfuric acid can severely damage skin, other materials and even their containers.
- Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials– Materials like asbestos that do not fit into other categories can still present a hazard during transport.
Each class has specific regulations regarding packaging, handling and transportation to ensure safety.
How can these materials harm you in a crash?
When hazardous materials spill during a truck accident, they can quickly harm anyone nearby. Toxic chemicals can release dangerous gases that might cause breathing problems, burns, cancer or other serious health issues. Sometimes, these injuries can be deadly if not treated right away.
Materials that are flammable or explosive also bring the risk of fires or explosions, which can cause a lot of damage and danger not just to the truck driver, but also to other drivers and people living close by. The blast from an explosion can be very destructive, leading to loss of life and major damage to property.
Transporting hazardous cargo is necessary, but it also brings risks if the truck crashes. It is important for those affected by such accidents to understand how the truck’s cargo can impact their health and their rights afterward.