Dump Truck Accident Spills Hot Asphalt on I-95
On an early Monday morning in mid-August, an accident slowed traffic to a crawl on I-95 around Newport. The southbound lanes were closed for about three and half hours, according to DelawareOnline. The accident occurred when an unlicensed driver failed to maintain a lane and sideswiped a dump truck carrying hot asphalt.
The truck swerved and struck a barrier, spilling asphalt across the roadway. The unlicensed driver was uninjured, but the dump truck driver was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Thankfully, no one was killed in this accident. However, thousands of trucks move millions of tons of freight across the country every day. When those trucks are in accidents, the resulting cargo spillage can have serious consequences for other motorists.
The potential problems caused by cargo
While big trucks can be dangerous on their own, their cargo can represent a totally different hazard to drivers. Something as simple as an improperly covered dump truck load can leave dents and scratches in your paint. Larger rocks blowing off a truck can crack windshields. When several tons of material is dumped across the road, the results can be disastrous.
This accident required a complete shutdown of I-95 during rush hour traffic to allow road crews to clean up the spilled material. Had the truck been a tanker carrying oil, or any type of hazardous material, the cleanup would have taken much longer and required specialized hazardous materials crews, all the while exposing drivers to higher risk detours and toxic fumes from the accident.
Even without technically “hazardous” material, truck accidents can spill construction equipment, building materials, and other dangerous projectiles. These accidents can result in flying debris causing shattered windshields, facial laceration, permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, or wrongful death.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, our truck accident attorneys can get you the compensation you deserve. Whether the accident was the result of driver negligence or spilled cargo, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, treatment, recovery time, and lost wages. Visit our offices in Newark, Seaford, or Wilmington, or contact us today for a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer you can trust.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.