If you’ve ever passed a semi-truck on a Texas highway and noticed a diamond-shaped sign on the trailer, you’ve seen a hazmat placard. These signs aren’t just simple warnings — they’re a signal that the truck is carrying cargo capable of causing devastating injuries, explosions, and toxic exposure if something goes wrong.
In Texas, commercial trucks move thousands of shipments every day, including chemicals, fuel, and industrial materials — shipments that can turn a single crash into a large-scale disaster. When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance, pressure drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, or hire unqualified operators to haul hazmat cargo, they put every driver on the road in danger.
At Zehl & Associates, our undefeated Texas truck accident lawyers have seen firsthand the destruction caused by hazmat truck crashes. We’ve won Billions for crash victims across Texas and the United States, including the largest truck accident verdicts and settlements in history. And we never back down against the largest trucking and oil companies in the world.
Read on to learn more about what’s inside these trucks—and how our team can help you recover the full compensation you deserve after a catastrophic hazmat accident.
What Are Hazmat Placards?
Hazmat placards are labels required under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Regulations. They alert others that the truck is carrying substances that could be hazardous in one way or another.
Each placard has a color, symbol, and number that identifies a specific hazard class:
- Class 1: Explosives (orange signs)
- Class 2: Gases (red or green signs for flammable or non-flammable gases)
- Class 3: Flammable liquids (red signs)
- Class 4: Flammable solids (red and white or red and blue signs)
- Class 5: Oxidizer and organic peroxide (yellow-and-red signs)
- Class 6: Poison and poison inhalation materials (white or white-and-black signs)
- Class 7: Radioactive materials (yellow signs)
- Class 8: Corrosives (black-and-white signs)
- Class 9: Miscellaneous (black-and-white signs)
Federal law requires a placard to appear on all four sides of a truck transporting these materials, ensuring the warning is visible from any direction.
Hazmat Transportation Rules in Texas
Texas has additional regulations for vehicles carrying hazardous materials that should be mentioned as well. To operate a truck carrying hazardous cargo, drivers must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a hazardous materials endorsement.
Getting this endorsement involves background checks, fingerprinting, and passing a written test on handling and emergency procedures. Companies must also take steps to train their employees and properly maintain their vehicles.
If they cut corners on safety or fail to comply with federal and state standards, they can face fines in addition to liability if an accident occurs.
How Hazmat Cargo Can Affect a Truck Accident Claim
Accidents involving hazardous materials can lead to far more damage than a typical truck crash. Fires, chemical burns, and toxic exposure are common, and victims often face severe long-term injuries in addition to financial losses.
Since hazmat trucking is heavily regulated, an accident can immediately trigger an extensive investigation. Liability may fall on several parties, such as:
- The truck driver, for violating hours-of-service and/or other regulations
- The trucking company, for failing to thoroughly inspect its vehicles
- A manufacturer, if a defect in the vehicle or tank caused the release
- Insurance companies for each of these parties
Hazmat regulations are detailed and complex, which means that identifying fault often requires reviewing permits and immense amounts of documentation overall. An experienced personal injury attorney familiar with these cases can uncover violations that ordinary crash reports might miss.
What Kinds of Compensation Can I Recover After a Hazmat Truck Accident?
If you’re injured in a Texas hazmat truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim. The available economic damages and non-economic damages can include:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages/decreased earning capacity
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Disability
In rare cases, you might also be able to recover punitive damages if the trucking company acted recklessly or intentionally ignored safety laws.
Contact an Undefeated Texas Hazmat Truck Accident Lawyer With Zehl & Associates for Help
Hazardous material truck accidents can have life-changing consequences for victims and their families. If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash involving a semi with hazmat placards, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve won billions of dollars for our clients and remain undefeated in the courtroom. Contact our hazmat truck accident attorneys in Texas today for a free consultation at 888-603-3636.
For more information, please contact our Undefeated [RELATED PRACTICE AREA] attorneys in [CITY], Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours