You may frequently see garbage trucks on the road or picking up refuse from commercial properties and residential homes, transferring them safely to recycling facilities or landfills. Unfortunately, garbage trucks can cause serious damage when involved in a motor vehicle accident.
In 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 1,427 injuries and 107 fatalities. If you have suffered injuries in a garbage truck wreck, our law firm’s garbage truck accident lawyers in Gretna can help you recover damages after your accident.
Types of Garbage Truck Accidents
A garbage truck accident may involve a collision with passenger cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists. However, there are several types of garbage truck accidents. You might need a Gretna garbage truck attorney if you were involved in one of the following types of wrecks:
Garbage Truck Rollovers
Since garbage trucks weigh between 15 to 35 tons, it is probable for an unfocused, inexperienced, or negligent driver to crash into an obstruction. This type of accident can throw off the vehicle’s center of gravity and cause it to roll over.
Garbage Falling from the Truck
In an attempt to swerve unsecured garbage falling off a truck, motorists can experience collisions. Drivers can crash into each other, pedestrians, road signs, or other obstructions on the road. There is a danger of sustaining serious injuries when items fall off a garbage truck.
Colliding With Other Vehicles
A garbage truck typically weighs between 20 to 32 tons. This weight means that a two-ton passenger car does not stand much of a chance following a collision.
Motorists Traveling in Blind Spots
Larger vehicles offer less visibility to the driver. If a garbage truck driver fails to exercise caution when changing lanes or backing up, motorists or cyclists in the garbage truck’s blind spots can lose their lives or suffer serious injuries.
Motorists Overtaking the Garbage Truck
Garbage trucks typically drive slowly and make frequent stops. A driver attempting to pass a garbage truck may lack the skill to do so efficiently or underestimate the size of the truck.
Failing to See Other Road Users
A distracted driver or one operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol may fail to see pedestrians, motorists, or other pedestrians.
For a free legal consultation with a Garbage Truck Accident lawyer serving Gretna, call 800-537-8185
Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents
Our garbage truck accident lawyers in Gretna understand that wrecks are caused by many factors. From dangerous weather conditions to a vehicle’s massive size, the possibilities are endless. The reasons behind garbage truck accidents may include:
- Negligent and risky driving
- Distracted garbage truck driver
- Inexperienced or inadequately trained driver
- Fatigued or overworked driver
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Oversized or unsecured loads
- Defective vehicle equipment
- Poorly maintained garbage truck
- Failing to yield to traffic, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists
- Failing to adhere to traffic and road regulations
- Failing to check mirrors or blind spots
- Improper use of signals and faulty signals
Injuries Surrounding Garbage Truck Accidents
Accidents involving a large, commercial vehicle can result in death or severe injuries and disabilities for the surviving victims. The multitude of injuries following an impact with other vehicles and pedestrians include:
- Fractured bones
- Muscle sprains or strains
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Internal organ injuries
- Ligament damage
- Neck injuries
- Back or spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Wrongful death
Our Gretna garbage truck accident attorneys can help you determine your legal options after your accident.
Click to contact our Gretna Truck Accident Lawyers today
Potential Compensation for a Garbage Truck Accident
A car crash involving a garbage truck can leave you with severe injuries and property damage. A garbage truck accident lawyer in Gretna can review your losses from the accident to give you an idea of what compensation you can expect in your case. You may be able to recover damages for:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Disability
If you lost a loved one in a garbage truck accident, our law firm can help you pursue a wrongful death claim. This can help your family recover the cost of their medical bills and funeral expenses.
Liability in Garbage Truck Accident Cases
When you team up with our garbage truck accident lawyers in Gretna, our legal team will conduct an extensive investigation into your claims. We can fish out those responsible for your injuries.
However, you need to move quickly. Louisiana Statutes § CC 3492, the statute of limitations, only allows you one year from the date of the accident to take legal action.
Determining Liability
In garbage truck accident cases, determining liability can be a complicated and drawn-out process. While it’s easy to hold the driver accountable, chances are they may not even be at fault.
With our Gretna truck accident lawyers in your corner, you will discover those responsible for your injuries in no time. The liable parties may include:
The Owners
Typically, the local municipality, government entity, or a private company may own the garbage truck. Breaching their duty of care by failing to maintain their vehicle properly, hiring inexperienced drivers, or not adhering to federal truck regulations can result in accidents that cause severe injuries. When this happens, the entities who own the garbage truck can be held liable.
The Driver
In some cases, the at-fault party is the driver of the garbage truck. If they operate the vehicle haphazardly and ignore the regulations on the road, they can be held responsible if an accident occurs.
Depending on the details of the case, the owners can be held liable for hiring a negligent driver and failing to investigate their professional background. However, if the driver has a release contract with the entity, liability can be limited, impacting your lawsuit.
Maintenance Team
The company contracted to keep the garbage trucks in premium condition can be held responsible if they were negligent in their maintenance procedures. On the other hand, if defective vehicle equipment caused the accident, then it can lead to a product liability lawsuit. Here, the manufacturers of the equipment can be held liable based on strict liability.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer?
Our Gretna garbage truck accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. We only get paid if you win your case. If we cannot obtain a settlement or award for your case, you won’t pay us at all.
Our legal services are paid by a percentage of your case win, which can be determined during your free consultation. There are no out-of-pocket legal fees to worry about and no up-front charges. We can get to work on your case right away while you focus on your recovery.
Let Morris Bart, LLC Represent You
Your life can change drastically following a traffic accident involving a garbage truck. Our garbage truck accident attorneys in Gretna can protect your rights while navigating this legal matter. You should consider taking legal action against the liable parties.
With the Morris Bart law firm working on your behalf, your chance of receiving compensation increases significantly. Call us today to get started with a free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
