Accidents Involving Garbage Trucks Happen More than You Think

By Thomas Greer | July 13, 2015

Garbage Truck AccidentsIf you live in a city and leave your house early in the morning you are likely to encounter a big, slow moving garbage truck on its rounds. Sometimes it might seem as if the garbage truck driver has little regard for how much of a hurry you are in, or the fact that they are blocking your progress. These trucks may lumber through residential areas moving at low speeds and with limited maneuverability and they can cause accidents, or get involved in accidents caused by impatient drivers. In many cases, they may be driving too quickly through a residential area in order to complete their route on time, paying little attention to cars that are pulling out of driveways to trying to pass on the left.

Causes of garbage truck accidents

There are many factors that contribute to garbage truck accidents, including:

  • Deferred maintenance
  • Driver fatigue
  • Distracted or inattentive drivers
  • Failure to follow local traffic laws
  • Poor visibility
  • Malfunctioning reverse alarms

Whether or not your waste management services are run by private industries or by the city in which you live can have an effect on what kind of lawsuit a victim of a collision can bring. In cases where a person is killed in an accident with a garbage truck, the surviving family members can bring a wrongful death action against the garbage truck company if it was a private truck, but will need to follow strict guidelines to bring the same case against the government.

A serious accident with a garbage truck could lead to high medical bills, prolonged pain or suffering and a long-term change to the quality of your life. However, the civil justice system provides a way for you to get compensation for your injuries and losses from the person whose negligence caused your injuries. An experienced Tennessee personal injury attorney can advise you of your rights and help you obtain justice.

Have you or someone you love been injured by a public or private garbage truck? Talk to a team of experienced, compassionate personal injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC, who are ready to help. We serve clients in Memphis, Jackson and throughout West Tennessee.

Posted in Blog, Truck Accidents