An accident involving a garbage truck can inflict serious to life-changing injuries on victims. The size, weight and equipment of a trash truck come with significant risks to others on Orange County roadways – especially vulnerable bicyclists and pedestrians in the neighborhood where the truck is picking up refuse.
If you or someone you love was injured in a trash or recycling truck crash in Orange County, California, contact the Orange County garbage truck accident attorneys at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian for a free consultation about your case. Altogether, our legal team has more than 75 years of legal experience.
Why Choose Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian in Orange County?
- We know how to get serious results for serious truck accidents. Our Orange County personal injury lawyers have successfully secured close to $2 billion in settlements, judgment awards and insurance benefits for our clients.
- We are well-known in the Orange County community as attorneys who truly care. We are proud to provide our clients with exceptional legal representation and a personalized touch when they need help the most.
- Our truck accident lawyers in Orange County operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay us anything for services provided during your garbage truck accident case unless it ends in financial compensation for your losses.
What Does a Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
When a garbage truck driver or waste management company is involved in a vehicle accident claim in California, it can be difficult for the injured victim to achieve a full and fair settlement. These cases are unique and can be complicated for the average victim to navigate.
Accidents involving commercial trucks often result in life-altering injuries for those outside of the truck. Unfortunately, it’s common for insurance companies to undervalue serious injury claims to protect themselves from liability.
You can take a stand against the defendant and their insurer by hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you. A qualified attorney will know exactly how to navigate the laws surrounding your garbage truck accident claim and take on powerful defendants on your behalf.
While your lawyer investigates the truck accident, preserves and collects important evidence, speaks with witnesses, hires experts, and otherwise handles the legal process for you, you can focus on healing. You can trust your personal injury lawyer to protect your best interests every step of the way.
What Sets These Cases Apart From Standard Car Accidents?
A garbage truck accident claim comes with various considerations that you may not have to think about after a typical car accident in Orange County. These are unique cases with nuanced legal elements and issues. This makes it even more important to consult with an Orange County garbage truck accident attorney for help with your claim.
Vicarious Liability
The majority of cities in Orange County hire private waste management companies to operate their garbage trucks. Unlike a standard car crash, if an on-duty garbage truck driver is negligent and causes an accident, the waste management company can absorb vicarious liability as the employer.
This legal doctrine means you may have the right to file a claim against a company or corporation in addition to the individual truck driver. Private waste management companies that operate in Orange County include Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services and Universal Waste Systems.
Extensive Damage and Injuries
A fully loaded garbage truck can weigh up to 50 tons. A passenger car, by contrast, weighs an average of 3,500 pounds. This disparity can result in a catastrophic level of damage when the truck collides with a smaller vehicle or vulnerable road user.
Common injuries suffered by victims include:
- Multiple broken bones
- Head and brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries (and paralysis)
- Internal injuries
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Fatal injuries
The severe nature of a garbage truck accident makes it important for those involved to protect their rights with strong legal advocacy. Many victims suffer life-threatening injuries and significant losses that will affect them far into the future. Only an attorney can be trusted to seek maximum compensation for these costs.
Federal Trucking Laws
All commercial vehicles operating in the United States are subject to special safety rules and regulations that are enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A garbage truck accident in Orange County, therefore, may involve violations of federal laws.
Proof of a legal violation, such as a garbage truck driver exceeding his or her hours-of-service restrictions or a waste management company skipping truck inspections, could be enough to hold the company liable (financially and legally responsible) for the accident.
Unique Types of Evidence
Proving a garbage truck accident claim as an injured victim will involve different types of evidence than a typical car crash. You may need to access the waste management company’s employment and truck maintenance records, as well as prior FMCSA citations, the truck driver’s medical and driving histories, the truck’s black box, and a police report.
Common Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents in Orange County
Operating a garbage truck requires the driver to pay careful attention to the road and their surroundings at all times. These are large and dangerous vehicles that must be operated with care. Unfortunately, truck drivers often fall short of their duties of care in dangerous ways.
Common factors involved in garbage truck accidents include:
- Truck driver negligence, or the failure to use proper care
- Distracted truck driving
- Texting and other cell phone use
- Speeding or reckless driving in neighborhoods
- Backing without looking
- Wide turns and blind spots
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Mechanical failures
- Falling trash, objects or debris
Identifying the cause of your garbage truck accident is something Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian can do for you after a thorough investigation of the wreck. Once we determine causation, we can name the correct defendant(s) and start building your claim with strong evidence.
Contact Our Local Garbage Truck Accident Lawyers in Orange County | Free Consultations
When you contact an Orange County garbage truck accident attorney from the team at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, we will immediately go to work on personalizing your legal strategy. Our goals will be to hold someone accountable and collect maximum financial compensation for your losses.
Let us answer your questions, address your concerns and consider your needs in the overwhelming aftermath of a garbage truck accident in Southern California. Call (833) 758-0785 or contact us online today and we’ll set you up with a free initial consultation.