GARBAGE TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE SUFFERED INJURIES OR DIED FROM A GARBAGE TRUCK ACCIDENT, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION.

GARBAGE TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWSUIT CLAIMS

We regularly see garbage trucks out on the street and around our neighborhoods. Sanitation trucks provide a needed service and help to keep our communities clean.

However, if a garbage truck is involved in a crash with a vehicle, a motorcycle, or a person on foot, the consequences could be severe and possibly deadly. The garbage truck accident and personal injury attorneys in our group have years of experience fighting garbage truck drivers and their insurance companies on behalf of victims throughout the U.S. Garbage truck accidents can be complex. They may involve public entities, private companies, and insurers. Rest assured, the garbage truck accident lawyers in our group know precisely how to handle such cases, and they will defend your interests every step of the way.

We have dedicated years of practice to tractor-trailers, dump trucks, garbage trucks, and 18 Wheeler accident cases. We have won cases involving garbage trucks that are second to none. In addition, our trucking accident lawyers have won millions in settlements and verdicts at trial, including many cases worth millions of dollars. So whether you were struck by a Garbage truck or injured at work as the driver or passenger in a trash truck or a recycle truck, the Trucking Accident attorneys you will work with are dedicated to helping you get the most money possible for your claim.

Our staff includes our highly-credentialed, award-winning attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals, all specially trained to help with the investigation, case development, negotiations, and litigation in trash truck accident cases. Our attorneys work in teams, so you will benefit from having several of our lawyers working on your case and evaluating it. We work hard for our clients and are considered some of the best lawyers in the United States. In addition, we have developed a unique specialty in Trucking Law and Garbage truck cases.

We can help you understand how to pay for medical expenses and recoup lost wages, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and other damages. We know the best experts who will assist in working your case and getting you the justice you deserve. Our case evaluations are free and do not charge fees unless we win your case. There are many reasons why trash trucks hit other cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, and even homes and buildings.

Inclement weather: Garbage pickups are expected to collect garbage and recyclables in rain, snow, sleet, wind, and hail. However, these conditions can significantly decrease drivers’ vision, blow trees and hazardous materials into the roadway, and cause slippery road conditions. If the trash truck driver does not exercise extreme caution or drives too quickly for road conditions, the consequences could be severe. Early Morning Routes: Garbage haulers typically start their routes early in the morning when there is less visibility, and other drivers need to be more alert. Overloaded Trucks: If a trash truck is overweight, it could present a significant danger. 

Overloaded trucks are harder to control, are at increased risk of rolling crashes, and may release uncontrolled debris onto the roadway, putting other drivers in danger. Frequent Stops: By its very nature, garbage collection requires garbage pickups to make stops at every house and business. Rear-end may happen when trash truck drivers pull over suddenly, when other vehicle operators are following behind, or do not anticipate that trucks will pull over. Frequent stops also excessively wear the car’s brakes, making a quick emergency stop even harder.

Route Location: Unlike other big trucks, such as 18-wheelers and tank trucks, sanitation trucks travel on narrow streets through residential areas or congested urban neighborhoods. Trash trucks go where there is trash, which means trash pickup routes include residential communities, commercial centers, malls, and other business areas. That puts them dangerously close to pedestrians and other drivers. Because trucks are so big and noisy, and since drivers are sitting so tall in their cockpits, they can sometimes have trouble seeing children, pedestrians, bicyclists, or even other vehicles. If trash truck drivers are not extra cautious, the results can be tragic.

Failure to inspect and maintain equipment: Design and manufacturing flaws may create defective truck equipment. Garbage trucks travel thousands of miles each week in their routes for pickup, so accidents happen when trash companies need to inspect and maintain those problems adequately. Driver Negligence: When trash truck drivers are negligent, they endanger their fellow workers, pedestrians, and other drivers in cars, SUVs, trucks, buses, and bikes. Speeding, disregarding stop signs and stoplights, failing to use turn signals, and other driving violations can cause significant injury. Drivers texting, talking on their phones, eating or drinking, or being distracted also contribute to crashes.

If a driver’s negligence plays a role in causing a crash that causes injuries, you need a knowledgeable truck crash injury attorney to ensure you get a fair settlement.

So who is the Victim in Garbage Truck Accidents?

Trash Management Employees: Trash management and trash collection can be dangerous work. Because they are exposed to trucks and hazardous materials daily, trash collectors are some of the people who are the most likely to become victims in garbage truck accidents. In fact, for every 100,000 full-time garbage disposal workers, 25 workers-related deaths occur, making garbage collection one of the deadliest jobs in America.  

Suppose you are a garbage collector, waste manager, or Department of Public Works worker who suffered severe injuries from an accident with your trash truck. In that case, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation and third-party damages. In addition, an attorney can look at your situation and explain your options.

Other Drivers: Dumpster trucks often collide with other vehicles on the way. Cars, SUVs, buses, and trucks can collide with WCVs because of bad road conditions, unplanned stops, and parked vehicles. Bicyclists and pedestrians: Because bicyclists and pedestrians are smaller and lower to the ground than motor vehicles, they can be struck by trash truck drivers who cannot see them. This is mainly a problem when bicyclists and pedestrians are standing right behind a garbage truck in their blind spots. There have also been numerous incidents in which a trash truck has struck a residence or commercial building, causing injuries to those in the area.

Sanitation and waste removal are hazardous to work. If you are injured on the job, either as the driver or a passenger, when you are hit by a trash truck, you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Report the injuries immediately to the employer.

If your employer or its workers’ compensation insurance company denies your claim, contact an attorneys. Denials are not uncommon, and our trial lawyers will fight to get you the money you deserve. We can also assist in the pursuit of third-party claims for your injuries. For example, you could have a third-party case if another driver caused your crash or malfunctioned sanitary equipment.   

While trash truck drivers and their employers bear an immense responsibility for operating their vehicles safely, it is up to the driving public to do its part in sharing the roads safely with these big trucks.  

Garbage trucks frequently pull over and cannot maneuver smoothly or as quickly as other vehicles, so drivers must keep a minimum distance of three vehicle lengths when traveling behind a trash hauler. Only pass a trash truck when you can do so safely and legally. Many accidents occur when frustrated motorists try to bypass a slowly moving trash truck, hitting a passing car, sanitation employee, or the trash truck itself.   

Like other big trucks, trash trucks have wide blind spots, or “no-go zones,” immediately ahead, immediately behind, and on either side of the truck just outside the cabin. So always be aware that garbage truck drivers might be unable to see you. 

What Should I Do If I am Injured by a Garbage Truck?

Get Medical: It is essential to get medical help, even when minor injuries appear.    

Because car accidents or truck crashes usually produce an adrenaline surge in your body, you might need several days to start feeling pain.

In addition, severe brain injuries can be notoriously hard to diagnose — you might not realize the effects of traumatic brain injuries right away, which is why you must see your healthcare provider. Finally, make a formal report: Call the police on the scene and ensure you get a police report. This report will provide crucial information that you will need later on should you need to make a lawsuit. Similarly, if you are injured at work, tell the employer immediately.

Not reporting a crash or an injury could harm your ability to seek restitution. Get the contact information for witnesses and first responders: If you are physically able, obtain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all parties involved at the scene of an accident, including any witnesses. Get the names and badge numbers of police officers responding to the stage, too. 

Use your camera: Take pictures and videos of the scene of the incident, the vehicles involved, the surrounding area, and any physical injuries that can be documented. Finally, report the Accident to Your Insurance Company: Call them to know what happened ASAP.  

Only make statements to the other person’s insurance company once you consult an attorney. The other party’s insurance representatives can contact you, but you are not responsible for talking with them. Instead, call a knowledgeable attorney: Call a trash truck crash attorney even if you are unsure if you have a case. The consultation is free and may help ease many of your concerns and questions at this trying time. 

If you want to get compensated, you must take action swiftly, so the sooner you can get in touch initially, the better. A trash truck crash differs from an ordinary car crash, and attorneys should handle it with a history of winning cases like this one.

The litigation attorneys in our network have developed unique specialties in the area of trucking and trash truck cases. Our trucking accident lawyers all work together so that you will have a team of experienced lawyers. Our lawyers will help you with a plan to pay for medical bills and to get compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and other damages. We work with an extensive network of experts and investigators to build your case and get you the justice you deserve.

Get the police report: You should get a copy of the police report and put it somewhere safe. Be sure to provide a copy to your lawyer, too. Keep Records on Expenses: Keep records of any expenses you have incurred, including lost wages, work time, medical fees, travel expenses, and any other costs related to your injuries and accident. Keep Medical Records: You will likely get numerous records at your initial hospital visit and other documents when you continue your medical care. Be sure to save all of those forms and maintain a detailed log of your doctor’s appointments, medications, and treatments.

If you were hurt in a garbage truck wreck, contact us today. We are ready to help you protect your legal rights and get you compensated. Call us at (888) 491-0444 or use our online contact form to speak to a representative to discuss your trash truck accident case immediately. Remember, trash haulers are working quickly, so you should be too. Call us today to help preserve the evidence and give you the best possible chance at getting your money’s worth.

Can I file a lawsuit if I was hit by a garbage truck? 

If you were injured by a trash truck while driving, riding a bicycle, or walking, you could file a lawsuit to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The laws will vary depending on if the truck is owned and operated by a public entity or a private business. For example, in Pennsylvania, the law limits the circumstances in which a state-owned entity, like a municipal corporation, can be sued. However, you still have options.

A garbage truck attorney will look at your case and seek every avenue of justice. The parties to blame in your case could include the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the truck’s company, or an insurance company.

Because each case is different, it is best to talk with an attorney about the specific details of your situation to determine the best course of action. However, we realize it is challenging, so we offer complimentary consultations. So, you do not have to risk anything when you talk with one of our auto and truck crash lawyers, who will answer your questions and walk you through the process.

How long do I have to sue after a garbage truck accident? 

In most states, you have two years after the accident. However, the earlier you contact us, the earlier we can begin.  

There will be critical evidence, witnesses’ statements, and information at the scene of an accident, which may get lost or destroyed over time. In addition, the trash hauler company and its insurance company will need to do their investigations after an accident, so it is essential to have someone on your side that does the same.

How much money is an attorney going to charge me following a garbage truck accident? 

Our attorneys are keenly aware of the financial damage caused by a truck, motor vehicle, or pedestrian collision involving a trash truck. Call us for a free case review and remember, we only get paid if we win.

This is known as a “Contingent Fee Agreement.” A contingent fee agreement protects you against the financial risks of seeking redress against an individual or business harmed by negligence. As your attorney, we pay upfront costs for building your case, and if we do not win you compensation, you do not owe us anything.