Garbage Truck Accident - Las Vegas, Nevada
Hit by a garbage truck
A garbage truck is designed to pick up the waste and transport it to landfills and recycling facilities. Garbage trucks drive very slowly. Nobody expects to be in a collision with a garbage truck or even less to be injured in a garbage truck accident. But it happens.
If your accident with the garbage truck resulted in a severe injury, you end up in a hospital, and require expensive medical treatment, call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.
We don't charge for consultation.
We represent clients in Las Vegas and the state of Nevada.
Types of garbage trucks
Different types of garbage trucks exist. Garbage trucks could be regular garbage trucks that you see in residential areas or on the streets and large garbage trucks that pick up the waste material and usually drive on a highway (also called the dump trucks). There are also recycling material trucks, hazardous waste trucks, grapple trucks, and others.
Why do garbage truck accidents happen?
The typical garbage truck carries compact waste and is very heavy. The weight and large size of a garbage truck make it challenging for a driver to maneuver. It also means that the garbage truck can cause substantial damages when colliding with another motor vehicle - a car or motorcycle.
In addition, garbage trucks usually have significant blind spots and require experienced drivers to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.
The trucks need to stop in any small street to pick up trash. Often, they stop in places where nobody can see them, which contributes to accidents.
Other causes of garbage truck accidents may include bad weather conditions, falling objects, poor maintenance, defective equipment, inadequate driver's training, or other driver negligence (e.g., a speeding car that collides with a garbage truck).
Can pedestrians cause an accident?
People may have errors in judgment, too. They don't think about the truck's blind spots or how long it takes for a garbage truck to stop. Sometimes, pedestrians step in front of the garbage truck and cause an accident.
Who is liable?
The following parties could be found negligent and responsible for an accident:
- Garbage truck driver,
- Garbage truck manufacturer,
- Garbage truck maintenance crew,
- Garbage truck operator (private or public),
- Another vehicle driver.
In some cases, multiple parties could be found liable.
In Nevada, the party responsible for an accident (or their business insurance) is financially liable for all damages. It includes medical bills (past, present, future), lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and compensation for other damages - up to the business insurance policy limits.
Does a private or public entity operate the garbage truck?
It depends. Like many other states, Nevada contracts waste removal services to private businesses.
Republic Services currently provides waste pick-ups in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Clark County.
The Waste Management Company has many trash and recycling services available in other parts of the state.
If in the area you live, the state or local government operates the garbage removal services and you got in an accident, expect many caps or limits on damages.
For further information or to discuss your case, call us at 702-432-1000.
Who gets injured in a garbage truck accident?
Usually, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and bystanders are the victims of garbage truck accidents.
Garbage truck accidents can result in head, neck, shoulder, and back injuries.
You could also sustain secondary injuries, such as infections in open wounds, especially if you have a compromised immune system.
Some accident victims require hospitalization and long-term treatment. In 2017, Las Vegas had a garbage truck accident that resulted in wrongful death.
What to do after a garbage truck accident
1) First and foremost, seek medical help. Can you move?
2) Take many pictures of the accident area from different angles, record the time and date of an accident, gather eyewitness information.
3) Call the police and get an incident report.
4) Finally, contact a personal injury attorney.
The attorney can explain your legal rights and what to do next, help to set realistic expectations of your accident settlement, investigate parties responsible for an accident, and file a liability claim on your behalf to recover damages.
If the victim is partially at fault
Nevada uses a modified negligence rule. It means that if you were less than 51% liable for a garbage truck accident, you could still sue another party for damages.
Time limits to file a claim
Under Nevada law, typically, you have two (2) years from the incident date to file your claim. All garbage truck accidents fall into this category.
Can I re-open an old garbage truck accident case?
Yes. If you accepted a settlement without the aid of an attorney, then within 60 days of taking the check, the victim, or their attorney, can re-open the case. There are many restrictions apply to re-opening the garbage truck accident case. For more information, call our office.
How long does it take to get a settlement for a garbage truck accident injury?
A garbage truck accident case may take a few years to settle in Las Vegas and other Nevada cities. Lawsuits with multiple defendants and multiple victims could take much longer to resolve.
We can help
If you were harmed in a garbage truck accident or a loved one was killed, call us at 702-432-1000 today to speak with an attorney who can help pursue your accident compensation claim.
We work on a contingency basis, and you only pay us if we get you a settlement.
We serve clients in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, and the surrounding area of Nevada.
We also represent out-of-towners injured while vacationing in Las Vegas or Nevada.
Last updated on January 31, 2024.
