Hazmat accidents can happen when large trucks carry hazardous materials and get into an accident. Hazmat accidents are more dangerous than typical accidents because of the exposure to harmful substances.
If you get into a Hazmat accident, not only do you have to worry about your injuries, but you could also worry about internal and external issues from exposure to harmful substances. You could deal with respiratory issues or other illnesses after a Hazmat accident.
What Is a Hazmat Accident?
A Hazmat accident includes any accident that involves hazardous materials. StatPearls defines hazardous materials as chemical or radioactive substances that can harm an individual or environment upon exposure. Exposure can result in different levels of poisoning, which can cause medical complications.
Exposure to hazardous materials can happen after transportation accidents. These accidents often get referred to as “Hazmat accidents.” Often, Hazmat accidents involve more danger to those surrounding the accident scene because of the release of substances into the air. As a result, accident victims and first responders could experience the effects of these harmful materials.
Hazardous Materials Large Trucks Can Carry
Trucks carry hazardous materials across the United States every day. As a result, drivers risk getting involved in a Hazmat accident daily. When a collision occurs, the truck’s hazardous material could get into the near atmosphere, causing those around it to get exposed.
Hazardous materials a large truck could carry include the following:
- Radioactive materials
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Flammable items
- Pesticides
- Petroleum
- Poison
Exposure to any of these materials would result in illnesses that could impact you for the rest of your life.
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Hazmat accidents are so dangerous because of the complications people exposed to hazardous materials could experience. Not only do the accident victims have a threat of complications, but also first responders and anyone else around the accident scene.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), hazardous materials vary greatly in the health risks they pose to humans. The types of health risks these materials could cause from a Hazmat accident include:
Thermal Harm
An accident victim could develop health issues because of exposure to extreme temperatures. For example, contacting or getting too close to a fire or other kind of heat source could cause thermal harm. Getting too close to an extreme heat source can also cause internal health risks. Breathing in heated air can cause damage to organs inside the body.
Radiological Harm
If a truck or other vehicle in the accident carried any products with radioactive materials, the people around the accident could have a risk of radiological harm. Radiation can remove electrons from atoms to damage living cells and DNA. Causing issues that could impact someone for the rest of their life.
Chemical Harm
When accident victims or first responders get exposed to harmful chemicals, they could deal with chemical harm. The type of material each person gets exposed to could impact the illness they develop. Examples of illness from chemical exposure include but are not limited to the following:
- Convulsions
- Vomiting
- Choking
- Blisters
- Blood issues
Etiological Harm
Those involved in Hazmat accidents involving biological materials could have the risk of developing issues. Harmful biological materials could include viruses or bacteria.
Usually, the person exposed to harmful biological materials doesn’t notice their symptoms immediately. However, if you or a loved one developed an illness after an accident, an attorney could help to link your disease to exposure to harmful materials during the accident.
Hazmat Accidents are Significantly More Dangerous
Getting into an accident with a large truck has a lot of dangers in itself. You could have sustained injuries, such as broken bones or a head injury. The accident gets significantly more dangerous when the large truck contains hazardous materials. On top of dealing with the injuries you sustained, you now have to worry about complications from chemical exposure.
Typically, when first responders and witnesses come to a scene, they aren’t at risk. Although, when there is a Hazmat accident, the first responders and witnesses do have risk. They could deal with neurological or respiratory issues for the rest of their life just because they were near the scene and harmful materials.
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An Attorney Could Help You Recover Compensation After a Hazmat Accident
If you or a loved one suffered from an illness or injury due to a Hazmat accident, you could recover compensation. The attorneys at Badar Scott Injury Lawyers could represent you through your case. We could help you recover from your losses, such as medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. You deserve to get compensated if you develop an illness that could impact you for the rest of your life.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Our team can listen to your story and how your injuries or illness has impacted your life. If you choose to work with our team, we can get to work immediately on your case. With Badar Scott Injury Lawyers by your side, you can rest assured we can handle all legal matters.
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