Houston Garbage Truck Accident Attorney
You may see garbage trucks in your town on a weekly basis as they do their scheduled runs. These huge trucks collect waste from residential and commercial properties. They then take it to a dump or treatment facility to dump it and compact it. While garbage trucks provide a necessary job, ridding people of their garbage, they can cause accidents. These vehicles are huge and make sudden, frequent stops, which can frustrate other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Sharing the road with these trucks can be a challenge—one that can lead to a serious accident. If you have been involved in such a crash, contact a Houston garbage truck accident attorney to start the legal process and understand your options.
Types of Garbage Trucks
“Garbage truck” is the catchall term for these refuse-collecting trucks. However, there are several types of garbage trucks you should know about, including the following:
- Front, side, and rear loader garbage trucks
- Recycling trucks
- Compost trucks
- Grapple trucks
- Hazardous waste trucks
- Roll off garbage trucks
These trucks can weigh thousands of pounds, depending on the type of truck and the weight of its load. A commercial roll off truck, for example, can haul about 20,000 pounds, while a standard side loader garbage truck can carry as much as 30,000 pounds of waste. With an average passenger vehicle weighing around 3,000 pounds, this means that these trucks can be 10 times that size. What this means is that a crash between a passenger vehicle and a dump truck can be catastrophic or even fatal. When a pedestrian or bicycle is involved, the result is almost always fatal. In these cases, the driver of the dump truck may not even be injured, since they have so much protection in a crash.
Causes of Dump Truck Crashes
Garbage trucks are enormous and therefore very difficult to maneuver. They have large blind spots, which can make it hard for drivers to see behind them or to the sides. These drivers have to be highly trained to ensure everyone’s safety on the roadways. Otherwise, a crash is likely to occur, causing serious injuries and death.
Most dump truck accidents are caused by negligent dump truck drivers and their employers and may include the following:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Violating traffic laws (running stop signs or red lights)
- Fatigue/overwork
- Poor maintenance
- Defective parts
Contact a Houston Garbage Truck Accident Attorney Today
Garbage trucks can weigh 10-25 tons when full. As you can imagine, such an impact in the event of a crash can cause catastrophic injuries and death. It is important to act quickly in these cases and hire legal help as soon as possible.
The West Law Office is ready to take your case. We understand the complexities involved in these crashes and will help you achieve a favorable outcome. Schedule a free consultation with a Houston garbage truck accident attorney today by calling 281-347-3247 or filling out the online form.
