Garbage truck vehicles can cause serious accidents, whether in residential or commercial property. If you have been injured in a garbage truck accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages.
Our Texas garbage truck accident attorneys at The Adley Law Firm fight to protect victims. Our law firm has the experience and is skilled in handling garbage truck accident cases like your own. We have English-speaking and Spanish-speaking staff that can accommodate and discuss your case in the language you feel most comfortable speaking.
Why Choose Us?
When you choose to work with our firm, you can be confident that we have the knowledge and experience to fight for your rights and recover the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (713) 999-8669) or fill out our free consultation form so that we can get started on your case.
Garbage Truck Accident Causes
Examples of factors that cause garbage truck accidents include:
- Fatigue or drowsy driving
- Driver negligence (speeding, running red lights or stop signs, failing to signal or yield)
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Inattention (failure to remain alert to bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists)
- Falling garbage
- Lack of maintenance
A Texas garbage truck accident lawyer will work with you to prove that the truck driver was negligent and was at fault for the collision.
Who Is Responsible For Your Accident?
When a garbage truck causes you to suffer injuries, it involves determining the parties that caused your accident.
More than one party may be at fault for your garbage truck accident, including:
- The truck driver
- The waste management company
- A government agency
- The manufacturer of the truck
- The mechanics that service the truck
Whether one or more parties caused your garbage truck accident, a garbage truck accident attorney will be able to assess the situation and determine the parties that are responsible.
Why Are Garbage Truck Accidents Different?
Garbage truck accident claims differ from a typical automobile crash and are typically more complex. The first factor that makes garbage truck accidents complex is the involvement of government agencies in the waste collection process. Some municipalities and government agencies hire private companies to perform a waste collection on behalf of the city or government agency. However, some towns and cities own garbage trucks and hire workers to collect trash and operate the trucks.
When a garbage truck accident involves a government-owned and operated, pursuing a claim can be complicated by governmental immunity. The liability of state and local government agencies is governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act, which sets forth the conditions and requirements under which a person injured by a government entity can bring a claim to recover compensation. Our attorneys can review your claim and determine whether you have a valid lawsuit.
The second issue that is unique to garbage truck accident cases involves establishing the truck driver’s negligence. Garbage trucks are often less constrained by traffic laws, frequently stopping to make collections. Moreover, garbage trucks are permitted to drive on the wrong side of the street along the curb or edge of the road, including the bike lanes. They are also allowed to stop in the middle of the street or straddle traffic lanes. Since garbage trucks can drive in unusual manners, establishing the garbage truck driver’s negligence can be difficult.
Types of Injuries You May Suffer After Being in a Garbage Truck Accident
Although some garbage truck accidents may only result in minor cuts and bruises, the large size of garbage trucks and the potentially dangerous nature of their equipment can lead to accidents that may cause serious injuries.
Common injuries victims can suffer from a garbage truck accident include:
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Abrasions caused by contact with the ground or pavement
- Amputations
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Dislocated joints
- Head injuries, including ear and eye injuries
- Sprains and tears of tendons, muscles, and ligaments
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash injuries
- Ruptured or herniated spinal discs
Given the nature of the work performed by garbage trucks, accidents that result in needlestick injuries or open wounds can lead to severe infections, including bloodstream infections.
Damages You Can Recover After Being Injured in a Garbage Truck Accident
When you have been injured in a garbage truck accident and were not at fault, you may be entitled to recover compensation for losses you sustained because of your injuries.
You may recover damages for:
- Medical expenses (hospital bills, physical rehab, surgeries, & medications)
- Property damage (repair costs for your vehicle)
- Diminished quality of life from disfigurement or physical disability
- Lost wages or earning capacity (missed time from work, or disabled)
- Physical pain and suffering and emotional/mental anguish
Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Garbage Truck Accident
Following a garbage truck accident, you should take these steps to protect your legal rights if you wish to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties and pursue compensation for your injuries and damages.
The steps include:
- Notify the police and file an accident report or report the accident to the Texas Department of Transportation using the TxDOT form.
- Get medical attention even if you aren’t feeling any pain
- Notify your insurance company of the accident within 24 hours.
- Write down all the details of your accident and your injuries.
- Keep copies of all bills, invoices, and receipts, as well as pay stubs or income statements.
- Contact a Texas garbage truck accident attorney
Contact Our Texas Garbage Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in an accident with a garbage truck in Houston or anywhere around Texas, and it was not your fault, call our attorneys today. We offer a free no-obligation consultation and are here to discuss the details of your case. We can help you evaluate your legal rights and options for recovery so that you can get your life back while we focus on obtaining the best settlement possible for your injuries and damages.