Injured in a Tanker Truck Crash? Protect Your Rights Today.
Explosions and toxic spills are not things you expect on a normal day. But when a tanker truck accident happens, the damage can change your life. You might be facing serious injuries, hospital bills you didn’t plan for, and a long road to recovery.
At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, we help people who never thought they would need a lawyer. If you need a Burbank tanker truck accident lawyer who knows how to deal with these complex cases, you are in the right place. We understand what’s at stake your health, your financial future, your peace of mind.
You do not have to deal with this on your own. Call a Truck Accident Lawyer in Burbank, CA you can trust. We offer a free consultation to help you understand your options. No pressure. Just real answers.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Now.
What Makes Tanker Truck Accidents Unique and Dangerous?
Tanker trucks carry more than just cargo. Many are filled with fuel, chemicals, or other hazardous materials that can ignite, spill, or poison the air after a crash. When a semi-trailer truck hauling hazardous materials loses control, the risk of fire, explosion, or toxic exposure makes these accidents far worse than most commercial truck crashes.
According to the California Department of Transportation, thousands of commercial vehicle accidents every year involve dangerous substances. Some tanker trucks pass near foothill areas like the Verdugo Mountains, where winding roads and heavy loads increase the chance of a rollover or spill-related crash. These accidents not only affect truck drivers but also every passenger vehicle sharing the road.
A tanker truck accident doesn’t just cause damage on the spot. It can disrupt lives, communities, and even entire neighborhoods depending on the spill. That’s why having an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side matters when seeking justice.
Common Causes of Tanker Truck Accidents in Burbank
Tanker truck accidents rarely happen for just one reason. Many times, the crash is caused by a mix of human mistakes, poor maintenance, dangerous roads, or even bad decisions made by trucking companies. Every commercial truck accident has its own story, but certain causes show up again and again.
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving (alcohol or drugs)
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Equipment failure or mechanical defects
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Hazardous road conditions
- Failure to follow safety regulations
- Inexperienced or improperly trained drivers
Even a small error in judgment or a second of distraction can cause a fuel truck to flip, spill, or explode. Tanker truck crashes often involve serious injuries and make filing a truck accident claim much harder than regular rear-end collisions between smaller vehicles.
Common Injuries from Tanker Truck Accidents
The injuries from a tanker truck crash can change every part of a person’s life. Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are heavy enough to cause serious damage without even factoring in fires, chemicals, or smoke inhalation. Truck accident victims often deal with long recoveries, emotional distress, and heavy medical bills after a crash.
- Severe burns
- Inhalation injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Fractures and broken bones
- Amputations
- Severe lacerations and deep cuts
- Chemical burns
- Psychological trauma
Truck accident lawyers often see that injuries from these crashes are not just physical. The emotional toll can last for years, affecting a person’s quality of life, ability to work, and personal relationships. Properly documenting injuries through medical records is key when seeking maximum compensation in a truck accident lawsuit.
Steps to Take After a Tanker Truck Accident in Burbank
Accidents involving tank trucks or other heavy vehicles can leave you confused about what to do next. The choices you make early on matter not just for your health, but for your ability to recover fair compensation later.
- Seek medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Injuries like soft tissue damage or internal bleeding may not be obvious at first. Keep all records from your healthcare provider.
- Report the accident to the police. Ask for a complete copy of the police report. It helps show how the crash happened and who was involved.
- Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, and anything else at the scene. Write down names and numbers of anyone who saw the crash.
- Be careful if insurance adjusters from trucking companies or insurance carriers reach out. They may seem helpful but aren’t always looking out for your best interest.
- Call an experienced truck accident attorney who knows how to handle commercial motor vehicle cases. The sooner you do, the more time you have to gather the right evidence.
Accident victims shouldn’t have to guess their way through the process. These early steps can protect your claim and your peace of mind.
Who Is at Fault in a Tanker Truck Accident?
It’s not always just one person or one company. A crash might be caused by a tired truck driver, but that driver might have been pushed by their employer to ignore hours-of-service rules. Sometimes it’s faulty brakes or a cargo loading mistake made by a third-party contractor.
In semi truck accident cases, fault can rest with:
- Truck drivers who made negligent decisions
- Truck companies that didn’t properly train or supervise
- Mechanics who missed safety issues
- Manufacturers of defective parts
- Other drivers on the road who triggered the crash
A skilled attorney will look closely at the type of truck involved whether it’s a utility truck, box truck, flatbed truck, or even a dump truck and determine all parties responsible. These massive trucks don’t just operate in isolation. Liability can stretch across multiple businesses.
And because Burbank borders Glendale and sits along popular trucking routes, the risk is higher. Knowing who caused the crash is the first step toward holding them accountable.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Tanker Truck Accident?
To build a strong truck accident injury case, the law looks at four key elements:
- Duty of Care – The truck driver and trucking company must operate safely.
- Breach of Duty – This means they did something wrong like speeding, aggressive driving, or skipping maintenance.
- Causation – That mistake caused the crash.
- Damages – You suffered injuries or losses because of it.
Proving these points often means collecting dash cam footage, logbooks, medical appointments, and even maintenance records. In accidents involving a refrigerated truck or cement truck, missing a key detail could weaken the case.
Hiring a personal injury law firm with a strong track record in truck accident law means those details don’t get missed. Your lawyer helps show not just who was at fault, but how their negligent actions directly harmed you.
And because many law firms work on a contingency basis, you don’t pay unless you win. That gives you the chance to focus on healing while your legal team focuses on holding the fault party accountable.
How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?
The amount you might receive in a truck accident settlement depends on several things. There’s no flat rate it varies based on how badly someone is hurt, who was at fault, and how much insurance is available. Severe injuries like internal bleeding or broken bones usually lead to higher compensation, especially if they affect your ability to work or live normally.
Recent national averages show that settlements involving semi-trucks or cement mixers can range widely. Some may be in the tens of thousands, while others go into the millions. That’s because crashes with massive trucks often cause more damage than collisions between two smaller vehicles. In underride accidents or jackknife crashes, the harm can be life-changing.
Where a crash happens also matters. Roads like the I-5 and Glendale Freeway see heavy traffic, especially near areas like the Burbank Airport. Add in delivery trucks, Tow trucks, and waste recycling vehicles moving through high-density zones like Glendale, with its population of over 187,000, and the risk goes up.
If you’ve been in a trucking accident, a lawyer can help you calculate not just what you’ve lost so far, but what you might lose in the future. That’s key to getting a fair payout not just a fast one.
What Are Typical Lawyer Fees for a Truck Accident Case?
Most truck accident law firms, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything up front. Instead, your attorney gets paid only if your case is successful usually as a percentage of the final settlement or award.
This gives you access to legal help without having to worry about cost during a time when medical bills and other expenses are piling up. It also means your lawyer is motivated to work hard for the best possible outcome, since their pay depends on your win.
When you hire a personal injury attorney under this model, you get help building a strong injury lawsuit, dealing with insurance companies, and fighting for what you’re owed all without adding financial stress.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims in California
In California, you generally have two years from the date of a trucking accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you could lose your chance to seek compensation entirely.
There are some exceptions. If the injured person is a minor, or if the accident involved a government vehicle or public service like waste management or logistic services, the deadline might be shorter. In some rare cases, it could be longer.
That’s why it’s a good idea to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. Even if you’re not ready to file anything, knowing the timeline can help you make decisions with less pressure later.
Time matters and so does getting it right.
Burbank Tanker Truck Accident FAQs
What should I do immediately after a tanker truck accident?
Get medical attention first, even if you think you’re fine. Then report the accident and get a copy of the police report. If you can, take photos and write down what happened while it’s still fresh. Don’t speak to insurance companies until you’ve talked with a lawyer.
What types of compensation can I claim?
You may be able to recover money for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and the impact the crash has had on your life. In more serious cases, that could also include future care needs or compensation for permanent injury.
How long will my case take?
It depends. Some truck accident claims settle quickly, while others take months or longer, especially if there are serious injuries or disputes about fault. What matters most is building a strong case not rushing the process.
Why do I need a lawyer for a tanker truck accident?
These cases are complex. Tanker trucks often involve multiple companies, more serious injuries, and aggressive insurance teams. A lawyer knows how to handle the details from sorting out liability to negotiating with insurers so you don’t have to do it alone.
Work With an Experienced Burbank Tanker Truck Accident Lawyer
A crash like this can leave you with more questions than answers. You might be facing medical appointments, pain, and pressure from insurance adjusters. But you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
You deserve more than recovery. You deserve justice. Let us shoulder the fight so you can focus on healing.
Call the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti today at (626) 793-8607 for a free, no-obligation case review.
