Garbage truck accidents are more common than you think. These vehicles have so many blind spots, stop frequently, and may move across streets, so they are often involved in accidents, particularly low-speed collisions. Due to their massive size, they can cause substantial injuries.

If you have been hit by a garbage truck, you may not only have severe injuries but could also be at risk of infection due to contact with the trash. However, one of our skilled truck collision attorneys could help you explore your remedies and pursue compensation for your damages. We could also explain how to pursue a claim in a garbage truck accident in Houston.

Liability in Garbage Truck Accidents

In many accidents, determining liability involves examining the actions of the involved drivers. Which driver caused the accident? If both drivers were involved, who had more responsibility? This question is important because this state follows modified comparative negligence. Under that system, a person can recover even if they contributed to the accident. However, a person who is 51 percent responsible for the accident cannot recover for their injuries.

In the case of a garbage truck crash, liability may extend beyond the drivers to the following parties:

  • The operators
  • Other employees
  • Truck manufacturers
  • Maintenance companies

In fact, while the truck driver may be liable, it may not be personal liability. Instead, their employer may ultimately be responsible for them through the theory of respondeat superior. One role of a Houston attorney is to figure out who may be liable after a collision involving a garbage truck.

Why Is the Risk of Garbage Truck Accidents High?

Garbage trucks may be more likely to get in accidents than many other vehicles. While garbage truck drivers are professional drivers, they face some challenges that are common to large truck drivers and some that are unique to garbage truck drivers, such as their vehicle’s size, the number of stops they must make, and their working hours.

Vehicle Size

The first significant challenge is the size of the garbage truck. They are surrounded by blind spots, which impact visibility on both sides, in the rear, and behind the truck. These blind spots are more extensive than most people realize; they extend up to 20 feet in front of and behind the truck and can also block visibility on both sides. If a driver cannot see the truck driver’s mirrors, the driver cannot see them. These blind spots make it much more difficult for the garbage truck driver to spot other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others on the road.

Frequent Stops

The second major challenge is that garbage trucks are not just traveling down the roadway. They also dispose the garbage, which means that they make frequent stops to collect waste. The stops make it more likely that they will collide with other drivers. Sometimes, the garbage truck is at fault, while other times, the other drivers are responsible.

Extended Working Hours

Garbage truck drivers may also be overworked, which puts them and others at risk for crashes. Hauling garbage in an urban area the size of Houston can be a daunting task. These workers handle a set residential area, which can mean that they work extended hours. They may be exhausted and distracted, which can increase the risk of accidents. Plus, these residential areas mean that drivers need to be on the lookout for more than other drivers—they need to watch for drivers, bikers, pedestrians, and even loose pets.

Severe Injuries in Garbage Truck Accidents

Garbage truck accidents can lead to severe injuries. The vehicles are enormous, which means that there is tremendous force, even in low-speed collisions. They can total vehicles, resulting in injuries like:

Another complication is that garbage trucks carry refuse, which may increase the risk of infection if a victim suffers open wounds, depending on the nature of the injury. A lawyer in Houston could review all the potential damages to pursue in garbage truck wrecks.

Talk to a Houston Attorney About Garbage Truck Collisions

When you have been hurt in a garbage truck accident, you may be entitled to a substantial recovery. Identifying all of the wrongdoers is one of the first steps to pursuing a claim. An attorney could help you identify anyone who may be liable, as well as assess potential damages in your claim. Schedule a consultation to learn more about garbage truck accidents in Houston.