Garbage trucks make frequent stops and are usually on the roads early when the streets are dark, and visibility is poor. To make matters more dangerous, drivers will sometimes stop their trash trucks – weighing up to 60,000 pounds — in the middle of the road in an attempt to save time. Waste, refuse, and recycling removal is a massive job, particularly in the greater Dallas metropolitan area. But given the inherent dangers of this line of work, compounded by negligent behavior on the part of some drivers, it’s no surprise that serious, injury-producing accidents with other vehicles are so common.
While garbage collection is a hazardous job for sanitation workers, other road users — including pedestrians, passenger vehicles, and motorcyclists — are also at risk. When a crash is attributed to human error, distracted driving, or some other reckless action, victims can protect their rights by retaining a Dallas garbage truck accident lawyer at Reyes Browne Law Firm.
Garbage truck accident attorney Dallas residents trust
Always seek legal representation following an accident with a garbage truck, even if your injuries and property damage appear minor. Securing fair compensation is not an easy task, regardless if the garbage truck is owned by the municipality or a private company. Whether you collect money damages for your injuries and losses hinges on liability and the skill of your Dallas truck accident lawyer.
At Reyes Browne Law Firm, our team of injury attorneys have litigated countless accident claims involving large trucks and know the tactics used by insurance companies to minimize their financial exposure. We provide aggressive, client-focused advocacy with a view toward ensuring that negligent parties are held fully accountable for past and ongoing medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering and other accident-related damages.
Causes of garbage truck accidents
Aging equipment, fatigued and overworked drivers, and lax maintenance are problems commonly cited among Dallas sanitation workers. For years, the city has faced a shortage of garbage trucks, and the ones that are still in use are prone to break downs and mechanical failures. In 2020, a 2009 sanitation truck caused a fiery accident in a Dallas alley when the hydraulic lift equipment malfunctioned and caught fire.
There are many factors that contribute to waste management vehicle collisions and injuries. Sideswipe accidents, rollovers, pedestrian and cyclist knock-downs, and falling debris accidents can be caused by:
- Traffic violations: speeding, running a red light, unsafe lane changes
- Backing up without visibility
- Failure to yield
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to adhere to warning sounds
- Distracted driving
- Failure to check blind spots
- Lack of regular truck maintenance
- Vehicle equipment malfunction
- Defective vehicle parts
- Driver inexperience
- Inclement weather
- Negligence from other motorists
The experience of your truck accident attorney matters
Reyes Browne Law Firm knows that life-threatening and often permanent injuries can result from a motorcycle garbage truck accident. Motorists in a passenger vehicle are also susceptible to suffering broken bones, brain injury, and other traumatic harm.
Our attorneys handle a wide range of garbage truck accident claims involving:
- Recycling trucks
- Dump trucks
- Rear loader and Roll off garbage trucks
- Hazardous waste and sanitation trucks
Retaining a trash truck accident lawyer with a proven track record can improve your odds of obtaining a favorable settlement and not being forced into a low-ball offer. Determining liability in these cases is often challenging, requiring in-depth investigations from your own legal team. Our attorneys will marshal compelling evidence, such as police reports, eyewitness accounts, video footage of the crash, photos from the accident scene, and expert testimony.
If investigations prove a defective truck part was to blame, then a product liability lawsuit may be warranted.
Helping victims of garbage truck accidents in Dallas
At Reyes Browne Law Firm, our overarching mission is to provide compassionate advocacy for victims of negligence and fight for the money damages they rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one were in a car accident with a garbage truck, you may qualify for significant legal reparations. Find out if you have a valid claim by speaking with a Dallas personal injury attorney at our firm today. The case evaluation is free, and there is no cost to retain our services unless compensation is recovered.
