Trash collection companies provide a vital service to the community. Garbage trucks haul away trash and recyclables to landfills and recycling facilities so that they don’t pile up and pollute houses, businesses, and neighborhoods.
Unfortunately, garbage trucks are large vehicles with significant blind spots. When garbage trucks are going through crowded residential or commercial areas, the risk of an automobile accident increases.
Car accidents often result in serious injuries and financial losses, but damages tend to be much more severe when a large vehicle, such as a garbage truck, is involved. Victims of car accidents involving garbage trucks in the Oakland, CA area can work with the experienced attorneys at Bowles & Verna LLP.
Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks are considered a type of commercial truck. Because of this, drivers must undergo training before they can be licensed to drive a garbage truck.
They must also adhere to federal regulations regarding hours of operation, such as how many hours they can work without taking a break.
These safety regulations are put in place to minimize the risk of an accident. But unfortunately, there are a wide range of mistakes or failures that could cause a garbage truck accident, including:
- Distracted or negligent driving
- Failure to yield to pedestrians
- Improperly secured load or oversized load
- Inadequate truck maintenance
- Defective truck parts (such as tires, brake lights, or steering mechanisms)
Garbage Truck Accident Injuries
Every accident is unique, so it’s impossible to predict exactly what type of injuries a person will suffer as the result of a car accident involving a garbage truck.
However, we can say that injuries in garbage truck accidents are often catastrophic or fatal. This is due in large part to the significant difference between the weight of a personal vehicle and the weight of a garbage truck. On average, a car weighs around two tons, whereas the average garbage truck weighs between 15 and 30 tons.
Potential injuries in a garbage truck accident include:
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries, including organ damage
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Suing for Damages
Victims who suffer injuries in a garbage truck accident that was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another person or party have a right to sue for financial compensation for their losses.
Depending on the details of each accident, the garbage truck driver, the garbage company, or the city may be held liable. Working with an experienced attorney, such as those at Bowles & Verna LLP, victims can seek compensation for the full extent of their damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
If you have been injured in an accident, it is extremely beneficial to have an experienced legal team on your side as you fight for financial compensation for damages. To learn how the attorneys at Bowles & Verna LLP can be of assistance, contact us at your earliest convenience by calling (925) 935-3300.