All truckers have a responsibility to drive in a safe manner. Some truckers, such as those who are transporting hazardous materials, must be more careful about following safety procedures while they are on the road. When these truckers don't follow the safety laws, they can cause accidents that can lead to other people being injured or killed in an accident.

What are some of the regulations regarding hazardous materials?

Hazardous material shipments must be handled only by truckers who have appropriate endorsements for transporting the materials. This information is contained on the commercial driver's license that the driver holds. It is also necessary that the materials be properly marked and documented as hazardous materials. All of this must be done in accordance with federal and state laws.

What happens if there is an accident involving hazardous materials?

If there is an accident involving hazardous materials, authorities must usually be notified. This is true if there is a person who was injured or killed, if there is a possible contamination or if an evacuation is necessary in the area. When an accident occurs, the authorities who handle the accident will usually determine if other agencies need to be contacted.

Being in an accident with a truck that is carrying hazardous materials can be very dangerous. If the hazardous materials can cause issues because of exposure, you might be looking at very serious medical care in the future. If you suffered immediate injuries, you also have to seek care for those. Because of this expense, you might choose to seek compensation for the accident.

Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, " How to Comply with Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations ," accessed March 18, 2016