Garbage Truck Accidents
Many people routinely see garbage trucks driving through residential and business areas to pick up trash. While the sight of a garbage truck is common, seeing a garbage truck that has been involved in an accident is not as usual. While it may be strange to picture a garbage truck in a wreck, these types of accidents do happen.
Garbage truck accidents are often particularly damaging because of their extensive size and weight. Individuals in the Bellevue, WA, area who have been injured in a garbage truck accident can work with truck accident lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC. Our legal team gathers evidence to demonstrate liability so that our clients can be fully compensated for their losses.
Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents
There are various factors that can cause garbage trucks to be involved in an accident. While many are the result of driver error or neglect, mechanical problems can also be a concern. Some of the most common causes of garbage truck accidents include:
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- Erratic driving
- Failure to check blind spots (garbage trucks have much larger blind spots than passenger vehicles)
- Insufficient training
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Defective parts
Liability for Garbage Truck Accidents
For our Bellevue clients to get the financial compensation they are due following a garbage truck accident, we need to determine accident liability. Even if it seems clear that the garbage truck was at fault for the accident, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the garbage truck driver is liable for accident damages. Depending on the specific cause of a garbage truck accident, liability may fall on or be shared by:
- The garbage truck driver
- The company that owns or operates the garbage truck
- The company or party responsible for vehicle maintenance
- A parts manufacturer
Garbage Truck Accident Injuries
Just as with any other type of accident, the injuries sustained in a garbage truck accident can vary. While some result in minor injuries, it is common for garbage truck accidents to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries, due in large part to the vehicle’s substantial weight. The extent of injuries suffered will depend on the details of the accident, but they may include:
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Traumatic head, brain, neck, or back injury
Compensation for Damages
Individuals who have been injured in garbage truck accidents have the right to seek financial compensation for the full extent of accident damages. This includes compensation for economic losses, such as hospital bills, medical expenses, and lost wages, as well as compensation for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Our Bellevue truck accident lawyers fight hard on behalf of our clients to maximize the compensation they receive, so that they can focus on healing and moving forward after an accident.
Get In Touch
Cases involving garbage truck accidents tend to be more complex than other types of collisions, but our truck accident lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to get our clients the compensation they are due. If you’d like to learn how our legal team can help you collect financial compensation for accident damages, contact us online at your earliest convenience or call (425) 576-8150 to schedule a consultation.
