Garbage Truck Accidents

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Garbage trucks are a common sight in any municipal area. Every morning they trundle out of their yards and shuffle along residential streets, often long before dawn. They are often seen in places where no other heavy truck ever ventures, and, as a result present a special risk to motorists on urban streets.

If a garbage truck accident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. injured you or someone you love, medical bills combined with lost wages may put your family at risk. But you may be eligible for compensation that can help you weather this difficult time. To learn more, schedule a free consultation with the truck accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. today.

Dangers of Garbage Trucks

Although garbage trucks moving slowly down residential streets may seem harmless, they present a number of significant dangers. Garbage trucks often have to drive into blind alleys to access garbage cans. In backing out, they can strike other vehicles or pedestrians, or present an unexpected obstacle for passing cars. Garbage trucks are large, unwieldy vehicles with poor lines of sight that can contribute to truck accidents when drivers are maneuvering the truck. In addition, garbage truck drivers work very early hours, often on prolonged shifts which can lead to fatigued drivers.

The main danger garbage trucks pose is that they present an unknown or unexpected obstacle for drivers in the early morning hours. In most truck accidents, the car strikes the truck, but this does not mean the car driver is at fault, especially in a garbage truck accident. Garbage trucks operate where other trucks do not, and they operate in unexpected ways, often driving down the wrong side of the street to facilitate garbage pickup, or stopping or turning suddenly. Because garbage trucks often get dirty during the course of their work, reflectors may be rubbed off or concealed by dirt, making them harder to see in dim light or darkness.

Garbage Truck Accident Injuries

The most serious injuries, including wrongful deaths, occur when garbage trucks strike pedestrians. This can occur anywhere and often at any time of day or night that garbage trucks are operating. These types of accidents are often the result of the garbage truck driver backing over a pedestrian. Sometimes, garbage trucks that lift dumpsters have dumped persons inside the dumpster into the truck body, where they are crushed and killed.

Fortunately, many car accidents involving garbage trucks occur at low speeds, which reduces the risk of serious injury and death, but does not eliminate the risk.

If you or a loved one was injured in a garbage truck accident, contact our Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. truck accident attorneys. We can pursue action on your behalf and potentially earn a settlement that can compensate you for medical expenses and lost wages.

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