A commercial truck is already at a higher risk of being involved in an accident and endangering the lives of others to begin with. However, what if that truck is also carrying dangerous cargo? Truck spills can leak dangerous materials into the air and onto the roadway within just seconds after a serious crash. If these materials catch fire, everyone in the immediate vicinity is at risk.

If you are ever in an accident involving truck spills, steer clear of any items on the road unless you’re entirely sure what it is. Plenty of news reports have detailed truck spills with items that were dangerous by blocking the road but not otherwise risky to handle. Some famous examples have included beer and rubber chickens. However, if you’re not sure of the cargo, it’s a bad idea to lend a hand. Most commercial trucks carrying hazardous materials will clearly outline this on the exterior of the truck, but items at risk of injuring people can also be onboard the cargo section of a truck that is not labeled for hazardous materials.

In the event of accidents caused by truck spills, one of the best things you can do is to contact the proper authorities immediately. Don’t lend a hand unless you’re absolutely sure of what has been spilled-it’s better to avoid handling anything. These materials could become evidence in a trial down the road and the other party could even allege that your trucking accident injuries are actually from picking up items spilled on the roadway. What you can do, however, is to notify other drivers about the blockage and dangers and to ensure that no one at the scene is seriously hurt. Calling the police should always be done at truck spills because it brings not only the police to the scene but other teams who may be involved, such as a bomb squad.

Remember, you could actually be doing more harm than good by throwing in an effort to clean up items off the road. Instead, contact the police and let them know that something has been spilled. From there, they can determine how the situation should unfold. Make sure you get medical attention in case you have been seriously injured. Be aware that some injuries are not always easy to spot. When it comes to truck spills, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.