Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks help to keep our cities clean and sanitary, but they can also pose a serious threat to road safety. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA), roughly 2.4 percent of all truck accidents resulting in injuries across the nation involve refuse vehicles, including recycling trucks and garbage trucks.
In 2021, garbage trucks were involved in 1,460 injury crashes, 99 fatal collisions, and 2,520 tow-away wrecks.
When a motor vehicle accident involves a garbage truck, things can get complicated. Trucks are commercially operated. Some are government-run, while others are private. Several parties can potentially be responsible for a collision. All of this can make it incredibly challenging for victims of garbage truck accidents to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Knowing the underlying cause of a garbage truck accident, understanding who’s at fault, and identifying potential violations of state and federal safety regulations can ease the path to a successful monetary award.
What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents?
Several factors can potentially contribute to garbage truck accidents:
Driver Negligence
Even though garbage truck drivers must have a Commercial Driver’s License, a safe driving record, and comply with strict state and federal safety regulations, they can still make mistakes at the wheel. Driver errors – including unsafe lane changes, distractions, speeding, blind spot errors, overloading the truck with refuse, and fatigue – can all increase the odds that a garbage truck operator causes an accident.
Negligent Hiring
Both government-run refuse services and private waste disposal companies have an obligation to hire qualified garbage truck drivers. However, it might be less expensive to hire unqualified or less qualified drivers to operate a refuse vehicle. Unqualified drivers are less likely to have the skills and knowledge necessary to operate the garbage truck and/or its equipment.
Garbage Truck Defects
Auto defects – including defective tires, faulty brakes, and hydraulic system failures – can increase the odds of a garbage truck being involved in a traffic accident. Garbage companies and operators are required to conduct regular vehicle inspections to identify mechanical issues, defects, and problems related to wear and tear. When a defect or safety issue is discovered, the garbage truck must be taken out of service.
Who’s Liable For a Garbage Truck Accident?
When you get hurt in an accident with a garbage truck, several parties might be liable for resulting damages, including:
- Garbage truck drivers
- Refuse workers
- Private garbage companies
- Government-run garbage services, including Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation
- Garbage truck manufacturers
- Garbage truck customers, if they’ve disposed of hazardous and/or forbidden materials that contribute to an accident
Don’t stress about why your garbage truck accident happened, who’s to blame, or how to get compensation. Take time to recover from your serious truck accident injuries and trust the award-winning Chicago truck accident lawyers at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC to help you assert a winning legal claim.
We offer powerhouse legal representation that fights for the rights of individuals, not corporations. We’ve helped our clients win over $750 million in damages, including several record-breaking settlements and jury awards.
Contact us to arrange a free consultation. Members of our Chicago, IL, law office are available to help right now.