Phoenix Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

Though garbage trucks typically don’t move at very high speeds, there are some factors that contribute to the danger they pose. The odd shape and heavy weight of the truck are two things to consider. In addition, the bulkiness of the truck can also seriously restrict the driver’s visibility, giving them multiple blind spots. This may make it difficult for garbage truck operators to spot other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians. 

Some other common causes of garbage truck accidents include the following:

• Loads over weight capacity
• Frequency of stops
• Poorly maintained trucks or parts
• Fatigued drivers
• Failing to obey traffic laws
• Distracted drivers
• Improper braking methods
• Failure to activate reverse alarms

This is not an exhaustive list, as there are numerous other reasons a waste management accident might occur. These accidents can be relatively minor, causing little to no injury, or they can be completely devastating, resulting in major trauma or even death.

Aside from the fact that they’re filled with garbage, waste management trucks are rarely intimidating to the average person. This is probably due to how slow they move and the fact that the majority of their route occurs in residential neighborhoods. 

Regardless of how harmless they might seem, however, the average car is no match for a garbage truck. Why? When a collision occurs between a vehicle and a waste management truck, it won’t be the garbage truck taking the brunt of the impact. Rather, the other vehicle will take on the most damage. This is simply due to the size difference between a garbage truck and a passenger vehicle. A garbage truck is large and bears quite a bit of weight, and even with their slow speeds, they can cause serious damage to the average car because of it.

Like any other car accident in Phoenix, determining liability in a garbage truck accident can be tricky. Many times, a driver’s negligence is to blame for the accident. In this case, not only would the garbage truck driver be held liable, but so might their employer or company. It may even be possible to prove liability on the part of the city or municipality the garbage truck works under.  

Your personal injury attorney at Ybarra Maldonado will investigate the accident and work to find accountability in any and all parties. We’ll first investigate the driver to determine if they were following the rules and regulations set forth to them by the FMCSA. Any sign of distracted, impaired, or negligent driving can be the key to proving their liability in the accident.

We must also look into the manufacturer of the waste management truck. If any parts of the truck are found to be defective and hazardous, this may prove liability on their part, as well.

The company managing the garbage truck may also hold some responsibility, as it is their duty to hire competent employees. Failure to properly vet and train employees could result in the company itself taking liability. 

Local and state governments may also be partially at fault. The roadways on which the accident occurred are the local and state governments’ responsibility to check up on and regularly maintain if needed. Things like potholes, faulty traffic stops or signs, or otherwise dangerous road conditions can directly contribute to a garbage truck accident.

Finally, our attorneys will also look into the truck itself to find out if the maintenance crew has been properly maintaining the vehicle. If they have failed to do so, they too might hold some responsibility in this matter.

A personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference in your garbage truck accident case. There are plenty of damages that one can collect from a garbage truck accident in Phoenix— you just need someone who knows what it takes to collect them. Our YMLG attorneys help victims identify all avenues of recovery in these types of situations and help secure the maximum personal injury settlement amount. 

Without a personal injury lawyer, waste management companies and their insurance providers will surely attempt to take advantage of you and offer you significantly less than what you deserve for this kind of accident. You need someone who has the resources, skills, and time to fight back against these insurers who do everything in their power not to give you a proper settlement. But while the average car may be no match for a garbage truck, insurers and truck companies alike are no match for our skilled attorneys.