Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks provide an essential service to residents, businesses, and the community overall. As beneficial as these trucks may be, though, they can pose a danger when traveling along residential streets where families drive, walk, and play. If a garbage truck is involved in an accident, the results can be catastrophic or deadly.
Garbage trucks are larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, so they create quite an impact in an accident. Individuals from the Lakeland, FL, area who are injured in a garbage truck accident can work with truck accident lawyer Daniel D. Moody to seek financial compensation for damages related to the collision.
Garbage Truck Accident Risk Factors
Just like any other vehicle, garbage trucks are at risk of being involved in an accident any time they are out on the road. Actually, garbage trucks may be even more prone to a crash, because of their size and weight. All truck drivers should be aware of the risk factors that make garbage trucks more susceptible to an accident.
- Blind spots - All vehicles have blind spots. The bigger the vehicle, the larger the blind spot. Consequently, those on a garbage truck are much larger than those on a passenger vehicle. Even when checking their side and rear view mirrors, garbage truck drivers will have blindspots in front of the cab of the truck, to the right of the cab, behind the driver window, and behind the tailgate.
- Lack of backup cameras - Most garbage trucks lack backup cameras. Unfortunately, as stated, trucks have a blindspot behind the tailgate. Without backup cameras, a truck driver can easily miss an object or child behind the vehicle.
- Weight distribution - Not only are garbage trucks heavier than most other vehicles on the road, but their weight distribution makes it difficult for them to maintain their center of balance. Garbage trucks are top heavy, which makes them more vulnerable to tipping or flipping.
- Size - Because of their size, garbage trucks are more difficult to handle than smaller vehicles. Turning, slowing down, and bringing the vehicle to a complete stop are all impacted by a garbage truck’s size.
Accident Damages
The size and weight of a garbage truck has a direct effect on the impact it makes in an accident, which also affects accident damages. Garbage truck accidents tend to result in significant losses for our Winter Haven clients.
Garbage truck accidents frequently result in serious or catastrophic injuries, including broken bones, internal organ damage, neck and back injuries, and head or brain injuries. These types of injuries can cause long-lasting or lifelong consequences. In addition to the physical and emotional effects of these injuries, accident victims are likely to suffer financial damages, including medical expenses and lost wages.
What to Do Following a Garbage Truck Accident
It is important that liable parties are held accountable for the damages stemming from a garbage truck accident. The steps that our Lakeland clients take following an accident can have a big effect on the ultimate success of a personal injury lawsuit. We recommend taking these actions after a garbage truck accident:
- Take photos of the accident scene, if possible, including surrounding areas and involved vehicles
- Exchange license and insurance information with involved drivers
- Collect contact information for accident witnesses
- Report the accident to the police
- Seek medical attention, even if there are no obvious injuries
- Report the accident to your insurance company
- Contact a knowledgeable truck accident attorney
Contact Us
If you have been injured in a garbage truck accident, attorney Daniel D. Moody can help you explore your right to financial compensation. To discuss your accident in further detail, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call our law firm at (863) 284-9090.