Food Truck Collisions
The popularity of food trucks has exploded in recent years. Between 2011 and 2016, food truck industry revenues grew at an annual rate of 7.9 percent. This isn’t surprising, since many people visit food trucks as a convenient and affordable lunchtime solution. However, food trucks can cause accidents just like other commercial vehicles.
Food Truck Collision Causes
There are a number of factors that may lead to a food truck collision, including:
- Limited maneuverability. Food trucks are much heavier than standard passenger vehicles, with the largest models reaching 30,000 pounds. The weight of these trucks compromises braking time, and their large size presents blind spots.
- Inexperienced drivers. Employees are a food truck operator’s most valuable asset, but they’re also a significant liability risk. Food truck drivers often have more experience behind the grill than behind the wheel. Practically any licensed driver can legally operate a food truck, since only the largest models typically require a commercial driver’s license. Therefore, the operator might be inexperienced at handling larger vehicles, leading to accidents. Food truck drivers often spend long hours in the kitchen before getting behind the wheel, too, and this fatigue can put everyone on the road in jeopardy.
- Fire risks. Many food trucks use large propane tanks to supply heat to their cooking surfaces. Unfortunately, the constant jarring of these tanks due to road travel can weaken the propane connections, causing leaks and fire hazards. In a collision, a leak or the structural failure of a tank may result in a fire or explosion. Food trucks also often transport large quantities of fryer oil, which is highly flammable. Hot oil spilled during a truck accident can cause severe burn injuries.
Receiving Compensation
If you’ve been injured in a collision with a food truck, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to help you receive rightful compensation. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.