The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
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Cement Truck Accidents
Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Also called concrete mixer trucks, cement trucks are heavy-duty industrial vehicles designed to quickly deliver mixed cement to construction sites. In most cases, the cement must be delivered within 90 minutes of the truck being loaded in order to prevent it from hardening.
What Makes Cement Trucks Dangerous?
Unfortunately, these trucks can cause serious and even fatal truck accidents if even the slightest negligence or mishap occurs. Cement trucks have a very high center of gravity, and often weigh anywhere between 25 to 60 tons. In a collision, the liquid cement can also pour out onto the highway and cause other vehicles to crash.
Cement trucks are not like other large commercial vehicles. If a cement truck is making a 90-degree turn, it can flip over at as little as 5 miles per hour. When you consider that cement truck drivers are often under pressure to make the 90-minute delivery window, this fact becomes especially unsettling.
Special Driver Training Required for Concrete Mixer Trucks
Cement truck drivers must receive special training in order to safely and efficiently operate these complex vehicles. The law requires drivers to obtain a class A commercial license to operate any truck that weighs over 26,000 pounds. In order to receive this license, truckers must pass a number of tests, including:
- Combinations vehicle test
- General knowledge test
- CDL road test
- Air brakes
- Pre-trip
- Basic skills
If a cement truck driver is not properly trained, or if they disobey any of the rules and regulations set up to keep concrete mixer trucks safe on the road, the odds of an accident occurring are even greater.
Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers
Our Maryland and Virginia truck accident attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have been representing victims of serious truck accidents for decades. We understand the trucking industry and know exactly what to expect from the lawyers and insurance companies they use to protect their interests.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a cement truck accident, please contact us today to set up a free initial consultation. We can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
