Garbage trucks are much larger and heavier than standard passenger cars. When an inattentive or negligent driver in the garbage truck or another vehicle causes a collision, the consequences can be disastrous.
Fortunately, you have legal options if you suffered injuries in a garbage truck accident due to someone else’s negligence. Our Florida truck accident lawyers can help.
Garbage Truck Accident Causes
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large truck crashes, including those involving garbage trucks, occur due to numerous factors, including the following:
Distracted Or Inattentive Driving
Garbage truck operators must perform multiple tasks at once. If phone calls, text messages, or other distractions inside or outside the truck take the driver’s attention away from their tasks, an accident can result.
Speeding And Aggressive Driving
When drivers act aggressively in a garbage truck or another vehicle, they can cause accidents. Signs of aggressive driving include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Swerving between lanes
- Passing in no-passing zones
- Passing too closely or too quickly
Driving While Intoxicated
Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are less attentive and have slower reaction speeds. These issues are magnified in garbage trucks because the trucks are more difficult to maneuver or stop. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), intoxicated drivers also show poor judgment and are more likely to take dangerous risks while behind the wheel.
Failure To Obey Traffic Laws
When a driver in a garbage truck or other vehicle fails to obey traffic laws such as right-of-way, stop signs, traffic lights, or merging, they place other drivers at risk. Due to their weight, garbage trucks cannot stop quickly if a vehicle cuts them off or disobeys a traffic signal. Similarly, if the truck operator does not obey traffic laws, they could strike vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians who share the road.
Frequent Stops And Starts
Garbage truck drivers must frequently stop and start, sometimes at every house or building on the street. They may decide to stay in traffic lanes to speed up their rounds. Drivers may try to go around the truck by passing in the oncoming lane. Impatient or aggressive drivers driving too closely may not be ready for sudden, frequent stops.
Fatigued Driving
Garbage truck drivers often begin work early in the morning. Drowsy driving is a concern when drivers start their rounds before sunrise. Early hours and dark skies create especially hazardous conditions.
Inadequate Training Or Licensing
To drive a garbage truck, drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) through specialized training and testing. They should also receive training specific to garbage truck driving by the city, municipality, or private garbage collection company they work for. Drivers without adequate training or licensing are more likely to cause truck accidents.
Consequences Of A Garbage Truck Crash
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), large trucks like garbage trucks and semi-trucks can weigh 20-30 times more than a passenger vehicle. While not as heavy as a fully-loaded semi, a garbage truck often contains heavy machinery and compacted garbage, making it heavier than it appears.
The results can be disastrous when a garbage truck hits a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, pedestrian, or bicycle. In a garbage truck collision, you could suffer from severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Back or neck injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Full or partial paralysis
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb or amputation
Garbage truck crash injuries could make you unable to work or engage in regular activities. You may require inpatient medical care, surgical treatment, and physical therapy to return to your original state of health. If your injuries cause disability, you may need long-term nursing, in-home care, domestic assistance, prosthetics, or assistive devices.
Legal Remedies Available Following A Collision With A Garbage Truck
If you suffered injuries in a garbage truck accident due to another’s negligence, a personal injury lawyer who handles truck collision claims could help. You have a legal right to pursue damages against the party responsible for your losses. Such damages may include:
- Lost income
- Reduced income potential
- Loss of business or career
- Hospital bills and medical costs
- Domestic assistance and long-term care
- Emotional anguish
- Mental distress
- Pain and suffering
You may pursue compensation through a claim with the truck driver’s insurance carrier. You can also file a truck accident lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injuries. While most personal injury cases settle out of court, a lawsuit may provide more leverage in negotiations. Speak with a truck accident attorney to learn more about possible legal remedies.
How A Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Can Help
When you work with a personal injury lawyer with experience in Tampa truck accident cases, you gain a powerful ally who will advocate for justice and fair compensation. A garbage truck accident attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options following a garbage truck accident.
During a free consultation, an attorney will examine your case and explain which legal actions will most likely benefit you. If they decide to take your case, a truck accident lawyer may assist with any of the following:
- Responding to calls, emails, and letters about your garbage truck accident
- Submitting insurance claims to the appropriate carriers
- Filing a lawsuit against the trucking company and any other responsible parties
- Negotiating a fair and reasonable settlement for your garbage truck accident injuries
- Representing your interests in trial proceedings
A personal injury attorney can thoroughly investigate your case and compile evidence to prove fault. Armed with this information, they can pursue damages from the parties liable for your injuries. Responsible parties may include the garbage truck driver, garbage collection company, or a third-party driver.
Get Help From A Garbage Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in a garbage truck collision, you could seek compensation for your losses. Our garbage truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can pursue justice for your injuries against powerful trucking companies and their insurance carriers.
Contact our office today to discuss your garbage truck accident’s causes, consequences, and legal remedies.
