Dump trucks and garbage trucks routinely operate on roadways in the Alberta area. These vehicles are necessary to keep the community clean, safe, and functioning properly. Although these motor vehicles and their operators are performing valuable and essential services for the community, there is no getting around that dump trucks and garbage trucks are large and heavy vehicles that take up a lot of space on roadways. ​

When one of these vehicles is in a motor vehicle crash, especially with a smaller vehicle, they cause serious injuries. In most instances, the driver and occupants of the smaller vehicle suffer more severe injuries in the collision. ​

Victims of dump truck or garbage truck accidents may need to go to the hospital, consult with a family doctor, and seek other extensive medical treatment such as a medical procedure or physical therapy. In addition, an accident victim might need to miss time away from work to recover from their injuries fully.

If you or a person you love has suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident that involved a garbage truck or a dump truck, having an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side throughout your case is essential. If you do not have a knowledgeable lawyer representing you throughout your case, the insurance company will take advantage of you and lowball the offer it makes you.

In contrast, an experienced lawyer can file a personal injury claim on your behalf and negotiate with the insurance company adjuster handling the case. A lawyer can then help you decide whether you should accept a pending settlement offer or litigate your case in the Alberta court system.

Insurance companies will not do you any favors when it comes to settling your case, and the more money they pay out in satisfaction of a claim, the worse off they are. Therefore, insurance companies will do everything possible to keep their money in-house. A skilled lawyer can threaten litigation in your case and aggressively fight for your right to recover the compensation you need and deserve.

Dangers Associated With Dump Trucks

There are numerous dangers associated with dump trucks on Alberta roadways. Companies use these trucks to carry and deliver landscaping materials, construction equipment, and other supplies to various construction sites. Companies also use these vehicles to transport demolition debris away from a construction site.

Despite the good uses and services that dump trucks provide, they can still create hazards for other motor vehicle passengers and drivers who operate their vehicles on Alberta roadways. This is especially true in cases where the operators of these vehicles, and the companies that own them, fail to operate them and load and unload them carefully and reasonably.

One danger associated with dump trucks is that cargo can easily fall off the truck. This is especially true when operators and the companies that employ them do not take the proper measures to secure cargo to the truck bed. When drivers do not secure cargo to the truck as they should or where a large gap exists, the dump truck cargo can slide off the truck and land in the roadway when moving, resulting in a serious collision that involves one or more other vehicles.

Another common danger related to dump trucks is that companies often use these vehicles to transport heavy loads. These large and heavy loads can cause the vehicle‘s center of gravity to become offset.

For example, mulch and dirt on dump trucks can move around while the truck is moving, leading to a cargo imbalance. Moreover, when the dump truck driver unloads their cargo, some of the load might stick to the truck bed or the trailer sides, leading to an imbalance.

This is especially true when dump truck operators operate their vehicles at high speeds. When a truck’s center of gravity becomes offset, the truck can roll over in the middle of a traffic intersection or on the roadway, creating a massive vehicle pile-up and multiple collisions that lead to injuries.

Finally, dump trucks are dangerous when they are near a construction zone on the roadway. Dump trucks that operate in and around construction zones often have to stop abruptly, or they might back up without warning. When drivers are not paying attention to the road, especially in areas with high traffic volume, a serious motor vehicle crash can occur. Like any other drivers, dump truck drivers must drive reasonably prudently and safely.

They must use their side-view and rearview mirrors when they back up and take precautions when operating their vehicles in active construction zones. When drivers fail to take these necessary measures, they can be responsible for accidents and injuries due to their carelessness and negligence.

If you have suffered injuries in an accident with a dump truck on an Alberta road, a knowledgeable dump truck accident lawyer can explain your legal options and help you select the best course of action for recovering damages.

Dangers Associated With Garbage Trucks

Just as with dump trucks, there are numerous dangers associated with garbage trucks that operate on Alberta roadways. Like dump trucks, garbage trucks and their operators perform worthwhile services to the community.

However, these vehicles are typically large and carry heavy loads. When loads are loose, or the garbage truck doors remain open, the cargo can fall off the truck, leading to a pile-up collision or other serious accidents.

Moreover, since garbage trucks are extremely large vehicles, drivers do not always have a clear line of sight behind them. If a driver fails to use their side-view mirrors or drives distracted, such as by texting or using a tablet, the driver might not notice a vehicle or pedestrian in their path.

Due to many large blind spots, garbage truck operators can sometimes have difficulty seeing other vehicles and pedestrians anyway. Therefore, they need to be extra careful when on the road.

Garbage trucks typically operate in residential areas where many people, including children, tend to be present. These vehicles can also have difficulty negotiating sharp turns on narrow roadways. When a garbage truck operator fails to watch the road, they can drive too sharply around a turn or might miss an approaching vehicle or pedestrian, causing a serious accident.

Another type of driver negligence that leads to a garbage truck accident is when drivers attempt to take shortcuts. For example, a driver may operate the garbage truck on the wrong side of the road to try to finish more quickly. However, they can cause a collision with another vehicle operating on the correct side of the road.

Further, when garbage trucks are out and about on roadways, it is usually a time when people are traveling to work in a hurry and children are trying to get to school. A reckless or negligent driver might fail to see a pedestrian and strike them, resulting in serious injuries.

If you suffered injuries in a crash with a garbage truck, a skilled truck accident lawyer can review your accident and determine your eligibility for filing a claim or lawsuit.

Responsible Parties for Dump and Garbage Truck Accidents

Several individuals and entities can be responsible for a dump or garbage truck accident. First and foremost, the driver of the vehicle might be to blame. This is especially true when a dump truck or garbage truck operator behaves in a careless, negligent, or reckless manner under the circumstances.

At other times, an intoxicated dump truck or garbage truck operator might not stop their vehicle in time to avoid a collision or might experience blurred vision that prevents them from seeing a vehicle or pedestrian in the vicinity.

When a dump truck or garbage truck operator drives negligently while on the clock, their employer can be vicariously responsible for any accidents or injuries the driver causes. Therefore, an accident victim who suffers injuries in a dump truck or garbage truck accident can file an injury claim or lawsuit against the employer, even if the company itself was not negligent. In many instances, the driver and the company that employs the driver will have the same insurer.

At other times, dump truck and garbage truck accidents happen because of defective vehicle parts. For example, the fasteners that secure the cargo or some other truck component might not be operating as they should. Truck part manufacturers must properly test their products and make their products safe for distribution and purchase.

When an error occurs in the product manufacturing or distribution process and an accident results, the manufacturer or distributor can be liable for damages through their insurance company. In many instances, an expert is necessary for an accident victim to demonstrate that a product was defective and that this defect proximately caused the accident.

Common Injuries in Dump and Garbage Truck Collisions

Victims of dump truck and garbage truck accidents can suffer extremely serious injuries that require long-term medical treatment. For example, an injured accident victim might need to go to their family doctor, visit a hospital emergency room, undergo surgery or other medical procedure, and attend physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions.

Some of the most common injuries that victims of dump truck and garbage truck accidents can suffer include traumatic head and brain injuries, internal organ injuries, bone fractures, muscular contusion, cuts and scrapes, bruises, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis injuries, among others. If you have suffered one or more of these injuries in a dump truck or garbage truck collision that resulted from negligence, your lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

First of all, as soon as possible after your accident, you should seek ongoing medical treatment for your injuries. While you finish your treatment, your lawyer can gather your medical treatment records and a copy of any police report, investigation report, and lost-wage statements you need to prove liability and losses.

Your lawyer can assemble all of these documents into a settlement demand package to present to the insurance company once you conclude treatment. In short, your truck accident lawyer can handle all of the legal aspects of your claim while you focus your attention on making a full recovery.

Talk with a Dump and Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Dump truck and garbage truck accidents can lead to serious injuries and damages for everyone involved. Drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles who suffer injuries in one of these accidents might lose income from not working due to their injuries. They might also experience pain and suffering, inconvenience, and mental distress. Finally, they might no longer use a body part, especially if they suffered a permanent impairment, such as paralysis, in their accident.

If you have suffered injuries in a dump truck or garbage truck accident that resulted from negligence, an experienced lawyer can assist you with every aspect of your case. Your lawyer can review all of your legal options with you, investigate your accident, file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf, and pursue the full amount of monetary compensation you deserve to recover in your case.

A dump or garbage truck accident is traumatic enough – the last thing you need is to face the legal process. You should stay focused on your physical recovery and allow a truck accident lawyer to focus on your financial recovery. Consult a truck accident lawyer about your situation and legal options today.