Most people do not think twice about a garbage truck passing them or moving along city streets. Yet, these trucks can cause serious accidents, and because of their size and weight, they create substantial injuries when that happens. At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our garbage truck accident lawyer in Columbia can help you determine what your rights are in these incidents.
When you work with the Columbia truck accident lawyer from our team, you get someone who has more than 10 years of experience representing clients. No win, no fee. Guarantee.
Why Garbage Truck Accidents Happen
Uncovering why a garbage truck accident happens is one of the most important tasks your attorney will complete for you. This information enables us to know who is at fault as well as just how reckless the driver was. Some of the most common causes of garbage truck accidents in Columbia include:
- Falling debris: Debris comes up over the truck, lands on a person or car, causing injury or damage.
- Distracted drivers: These drivers are engaged in numerous activities at one time, and when you add checking text messages or other distractions, the risk of a serious accident is high.
- Reckless operation: Speeding, illegal turns, running a red light, or making fast stops can cause accidents that may be directly related to preventable, reckless driving.
- Fatigue: For some truck drivers, these are long days in the sun, making fatigue a very real risk factor for their well-being.
- Vehicle maintenance: Garbage trucks require routine maintenance and upkeep to keep them operational and safe, but failures to do this, often due to cost-cutting measures, could cause injuries.
Most often, the garbage truck driver will be at fault for the accident. However, the company they work for, the truck’s manufacturer, and even the city may also be held accountable. As a local garbage truck accident attorney in Columbia, we know how to fight to gather evidence to prove your case, including from big, local companies such as Capital Waste Services, Waste Management, and Johnson’s Garbage Services.
Injuries Often Suffered in Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck accidents can be severe, especially when they happen at high speeds and force. The size of the truck compounds the risks you suffer. Many victims suffer injuries such as:
- Broken bones, including complex fractures requiring surgery.
- Traumatic head injuries, including concussions, skull fractures, and TBIs.
- Open wounds and lacerations are at a critical risk of bacterial infection.
- Neck injuries, including whiplash.
- Spinal cord damage, including chronic pain or paralysis.
- Burns and disfigurement.
- Psychological trauma from the incident.
- Internal organ injuries and bleeding.
- Permanent disability.
For those suffering from serious injuries, the most important thing you can do is to seek medical care immediately, complete all of the required and recommended care types, and avoid working until you are better. Your injuries can be serious and life-threatening, even if you feel okay right after the accident. Getting medical care immediately may save your life. Then, talk to a Columbia personal injury lawyer.
Victims of Garbage Truck Accidents
There are numerous ways a garbage truck accident can happen. These accidents may hurt a variety of people, including:
- Pedestrians walking nearby were struck by the truck or debris from it.
- Individuals in other vehicles are following or being followed by the trucks.
- Sanitation professionals who are hurt, as well as workers of the trucking company.
- Bike riders near the incident.
In each of these situations, our Columbia garbage truck accident lawyer will uncover who is at fault, what your losses are, and who should be paying you for them. By investing wisely in an attorney who has ample experience, you will have a better opportunity to pursue full compensation.
What Your Garbage Truck Accident May Be Worth
The value of a garbage truck accident case is dependent on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cause of the accident, and your ability to recover. The skill of the attorney you hire can also play a role in what you can expect to pay. The following are the most common types of losses included in claims.
- Medical costs related to emergency care you need, as well as ongoing care for surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, specialist care, and ongoing support.
- Lost wages, including loss of benefits or bonuses, because you could not work.
- Pain and suffering, including for ongoing chronic pain you are battling that may not heal fully.
- Property damage, including repairs to your vehicle or replacement of it if the damage is too significant.
Any type of financial loss you have is a cost our legal team wants to ensure you include within your claim. We aim to maximize these claims, ensuring that we have a full understanding of what you are facing. The only real way for you to recover from this accident is to have the monetary support you need to pay for advanced care and support while you cannot work.
What Makes Our Attorney the Ideal Advocate
At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we take pride in fighting for our clients and their rights. We bring numerous benefits to your case, including:
- Experience handling even the biggest garbage truck companies, cities, and manufacturers.
- Proven results, having recovered millions of dollars in losses for our clients throughout our history.
- Empathetic, compassionate support at one of the most challenging times of your life.
There is never a fee to pay out of pocket when you hire our lawyer. Instead, we charge you for our services only after we win your case, and if we do not recover damages for you, you owe us nothing. For all of these reasons, you can feel confident putting our law firm to work on your case. Trust that we are here to fight for you.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Columbia Garbage Truck Accident Attorney Now
Even if you are unsure if you have a case, set up a free, no-obligation consultation with the Shelly Leeke Law Firm to discuss your injuries and losses in private.
When you do, you can expect a garbage truck accident lawyer in Columbia to build a strong legal strategy to support your recovery of damages. We are committed to being there to fight for you.
