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When most people think of a truck accident, they might imagine a large tractor trailer jack-knifing on a crowded interstate highway. However, one of the most common trucks on Houston roads are garbage trucks. These slow-moving and heavy vehicles are involved in accidents with other cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians throughout Houston. When one of these massive trucks strikes a smaller vehicle or person, the injuries could be devastating.
When a trash truck is involved in an accident, serious injuries could occur – even when the garbage truck is traveling at a slow speed. In many cases, the accident is caused by the negligence of the operator. Injured accident victims should contact our Houston garbage/trash truck accident lawyer immediately. Call The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797.
Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents in Houston
There are several reasons why trash trucks are dangerous. These large vehicles are bulky, difficult to turn, stop and back up frequently, and have significant blind spots. Because of these issues, garbage trucks present a substantial risk to Houston residents, especially pedestrians and children.
Because of its task, a trash truck will often weave through traffic, come close to sidewalks, and stop unexpectedly. These types of maneuvers, coupled with the poor visibility and mobility the driver must deal with, creates a danger to those using the street and sidewalk, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Because of the huge blind spots, cars attempting to pass or that are caught alongside a trash truck are in danger of being hit.
Some of the most common victims involved in trash truck accidents are bicyclists and children. Unfortunately, these massive vehicles travel daily through neighborhoods, stopping and starting without adhering to normal traffic patterns. Cyclists who share the road and have to move around large garbage trucks are often lost in the blind spots. Sometimes children become distracted and wander near on in the path of these slow-moving trucks. When a trash truck driver is distracted, possibly texting or eating, the risk to those around the truck is amplified.
Injuries from Houston Garbage Truck Accidents
When a large, heavy garbage truck strikes a pedestrian, cyclist, or collides with another vehicle, serious injuries often occur. Some of the common injuries are listed below.
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord or nerve damage
- Fractures
- Head injuries or brain damage
- Severe lacerations
- Internal organ injuries
- Wrongful death
Many of these injuries will completely alter a person’s life. Often, a catastrophic injury leaves a once active individual permanently paralyzed. The medical costs associated with caring for a person for years or a lifetime are astronomical. The impact of a severe injury is more than physical. Many garbage truck accident victims cannot return to work or enjoy life the way they once did. The financial and emotional toll is difficult to imagine. While it will not heal the pain, an injured person could seek monetary compensation for the injuries and economic losses they suffered through a personal injury lawsuit.
Determining Liability in a Houston Garbage Truck Accident
Some accidents are just that, accidents. However, in many cases, an accident is caused by the negligent conduct of a garbage truck driver. As stated above, a distracted driver who fails to check around the truck carefully or begins moving without ensuring no one is in front of the vehicle could be held liable for the injuries they cause.
Some other ways drivers act negligently include not getting enough sleep and operating their truck while physically exhausted, failing to use turn signals, or ignoring traffic rules and regulations.
Other times, the negligence could fall on employees working on the truck but not necessarily driving. If the garbage is not properly secured in a trash truck, debris could fall out, resulting in accidents or injuries to those behind the vehicle.
In other cases, the owner of the truck or sanitation company could be held liable. If the truck is not safely maintained, for example having a defective reverse alarm, the company could be held accountable if the defect results in an injury.
Our Houston truck accident attorney will thoroughly examine the factors surrounding your accident to determine what party, or parties, should be held responsible for your injuries.
Damages Available in a Garbage Truck Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you prevail in a personal injury lawsuit arising from a garbage truck accident, you could be awarded economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are easy to understand – they are your financial losses due to the injury. These damages include your medical costs, lost wages, and any other monetary loss. They are not limited to what you have incurred up to the lawsuit. You are also entitled to be compensated for the cost of any required medical treatment in the future and any income you would have earned if you were not injured.
When people think about personal injury lawsuits, they usually think about pain and suffering. Non-economic damages are typically challenging to calculate and encompass your physical and mental suffering. For example, an accident victim could receive financial compensation for their anxiety, loss of sleep, or inability to enjoy life. Our office will work closely with you to place a fair value on your pain and suffering.
Call Our Houston Garbage and Trash Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a trash truck, contact our Houston garbage/trash truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. The Houston personal injury attorneys and staff at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. are committed to helping victims receive the compensation they deserve. Personal injury claims arising from truck accidents are different than those that just involve cars. Our firm has years of experience handling complicated truck accident litigation. Call our personal injury attorneys at (817) 476-1797 to schedule a free consultation.