Trash trucks spend most of their time in residential neighborhoods, which is why they are such a threat to regular passenger cars, pedestrians, and cyclists in crosswalks, sidewalks, and driveways. Their huge size and significant lack of maneuverability pose serious safety concerns.
With negligence or carelessness on the driver’s part, the probability of injuries and possibilities of death increases dramatically. If you or a loved one were injured in a collision involving a garbage truck, you should schedule a consultation with a local attorney as soon as possible.
A dedicated Grand Prairie garbage truck accident lawyer from The Texas Law Dog is available 24/7 and could calculate your losses and help you seek compensation from the negligent party, so discuss your options with a qualified Grand Prairie truck accident lawyer in your community as soon as possible.
How do Most Garbage Truck Accidents Occur?
Many actions can contribute to a garbage truck occurring. The most common causes our Grand Prairie personal injury lawyers see are driver negligence, blind spots, and severe weather conditions. If a driver or a trucking company fails to protect others from harm, they could be held liable for all damages.
Driver Error
Driver negligence contributes to a number of these garbage truck accidents because truckers may be fatigued, impaired, inattentive, speeding, or distracted on the roadways, as described by the Texas Department of Insurance.
On local streets, drivers may neglect to signal to back up without adequate warning or speed. They may also drive on the wrong side of the road, pull up from a driveway, or fail to brake for traffic.
Blind Spots
Garbage trucks may not be equipped with rear-facing cameras. Since garbage trucks are so much larger than other vehicles on the roadways, their blind spots are also significant. If garbage truck drivers fail to check their blind spots before making turns or changing lanes, they could be responsible for the injuries you sustained.
Heavy Loads
Garbage trucks are also at risk for vehicle rollovers. If garbage truck workers overload the truck, it could become too top-heavy. When this happens, the driver may not have as much control over the garbage truck, which could lead to a rollover accident.
Garbage trucks need to worry about vehicle rollovers and combustion. If they are loaded with toxic, hazardous, or flammable trash, it could create a perfect storm for a fire or explosion. Garbage truck workers are expected to avoid overloading trucks and refuse to pick up hazardous substances that homeowners and renters need to dispose of properly.
Poor Weather Conditions
Garbage trucks may find it especially difficult to maneuver in dangerous weather conditions. If the garbage truck is traveling at a high rate of speed, braking and slowing down will be more difficult. Garbage truckers could be responsible for your damages if their negligent driving contributed to your injuries.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Poor vehicle maintenance is one of the most common causes of a collision. Routine maintenance is important for the safe operation of any vehicle, including garbage trucks. While they are maintained by private companies in our area, some aspects of that are left up to the driver to look after.
So, it is always somewhat of a responsibility that the truck be kept in a good, safe, and operable condition.
Falling Debris And Equipment
Trucks hauling trash to landfills can scatter debris at high speeds. This occurs often if the truck is overfilled or the load is not properly secured. These falling debris can cause serious accidents when encountered at high speeds.
For a free legal consultation, call (817) 775-5364
Grand Prairie Truck Accident FAQ
You may be struggling to figure out what your next step should be after being involved in a collision with a garbage truck. Fortunately, your dedicated garbage truck accident lawyer in Grand Prairie at The Texas Law Dog is here to get you the answers you need to make the best possible decision regarding how to proceed with your claim.
With that in mind, here is a quick FAQ that discusses some of the top questions garbage truck accident victims like you have asked in the aftermath of the collision:
What is the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits?
The statute of limitations for all types of truck accident lawsuits follows the personal injury tort laws under Tex. Civ. Pract. & Proc. Code § 16.003. Here, you have just two years to file your claim for compensation. Missing this deadline could have a devastating impact on your ability to move forward with your case against the at-fault party.
You also need to ensure your insurance claims are filed before time runs out. Unfortunately, insurance companies have the power to set their own claim filing deadlines, which means you could have a matter of hours to file your claim before the insurance deadline expires.
Fortunately, with the right Grand Prairie personal injury lawyer on your side, you can rest assured that these deadlines will not inhibit your ability to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Who Could Be Held Responsible for Damages?
Both the driver of the truck and the owner of the truck could be held liable for all of the injured claimant’s damages. Private entities own most garbage trucks in Grand Prairie. This means the trucking company could be at fault for your damages.
What Is Sovereign Immunity?
Sovereign immunity comes into play when governmental entities are involved. It varies widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so it is important to speak with an experienced attorney who has dealt with this type of issue before.
Grand Prairie Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Consult With a Grand Prairie Garbage Truck Accident Attorney
Collisions with garbage trucks can be catastrophic and cause severe damages for all involved. Following a crash with a garbage truck, you should get in touch with an experienced garbage truck accident attorney in Grand Prairie.
Reach out to a Grand Prairie catastrophic injury lawyer today from The Texas Law Dog to get started on your case as soon as today.
Call (817) 775-5364 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
