San Luis Obispo Truck Accident Attorney
For a confidential consultation, call (805) 420-7547. Your case is important to us.
Why do I need a San Luis Obispo Truck Accident Attorney?
Personal injury laws are intricate and demand a mind of a professional who is highly competent in constructing a sound case while adapting to the uncertainties that may arise during the court proceedings. They must have extensive years of experience handling cases like this one, as well as a thorough grasp of the law. Fortunately for you, our skilled personal injury lawyer possesses all these qualities. We have been strong advocates for our clients inside and outside the courtroom.
Moreover, our law firm does not only cover garbage truck accident cases. Here are some of our practice areas:
Let us evaluate your case by setting up a free consultation today!
Garbage Truck Accidents
You may picture a garbage truck as an accident-free vehicle since it is just slowly driving around your neighborhood. However, garbage truck accidents do occur. You may catch yourself colliding with one considering its bulky form, which creates blind spots, and weight that makes it hard for the drivers to maneuver when they are driving fast.
Most garbage trucks are operating outside, which means that when a garbage truck accident occurs, truck accident victims will most likely be persons who are outside doing their own things, such as cyclists, pedestrians, waste collectors, and drivers of other cars.
If you think that all may seem lost, the justice system is built to allow those aggrieved parties to file a civil lawsuit called personal injury (or torts law) against those who caused them harm. What it does is that it punishes the person or entity who caused the accident by letting them compensate for the damages or the injuries that you incurred. It seeks to make the injured individual “whole” or to return them to their pre-accident condition as much as possible.
In evaluating the compensation of the damages, garbage truck lawyers will take into account economic (out-of-pocket or any monetary expenses) and non-economic damages such as:
- Medications
- Rehabilitation
- Medical bills and funeral expenses
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Income loss
Having your loved ones involved in a fatal crash is not something that everyone wants to take lightly. Whoever the party is liable (e.g., truck driver or trucking company) for your relative’s untimely death, our San Luis Obispo accident lawyer is here to help you.
What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents to Happen?
Accidents happen because of reasons either made by the driver or another third-party entity. Whatever the reason, it is important to pinpoint what caused it since it will help determine who is at fault or liable.
The following are the common causes that trigger the accident:
- Faulty equipment
- Poor maintenance of the garbage truck
- Overworked and fatigued drivers
- The negligent or reckless behavior of the driver
- limited visibility or blind spots
- Overloading
- Speeding
- Not following traffic rules
What Injuries Occur in Garbage Truck Accidents?
You can’t rule out the possibility of injury in every accident, especially if it involves a big, heavy garbage truck. Injuries can range from non-life threatening, such as bruising, to life-threatening, such as significant blood loss.
Our personal injury attorneys understand that in a garbage truck accident, you might sustain injuries that are just a scratch or may end your life. That is why injuries must be correctly identified since they are critical to the outcome of your personal injury case.
Here are some common examples of injuries:
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or any head injury (e.g., Concussions)
- Lacerations
- Bone-related injuries such as dislocation, fractures, or broken
- Amputations
- Internal Injuries (e.g., internal bleeding or organ damage)
These are only the tip of the iceberg. There are situations when garbage truck accidents result in the death of someone you care about. If this occurs, call our San Luis Obispo truck accident attorney to help you file for a wrongful death suit. Allow us to assist you in obtaining the justice you deserve.
What Should I do When I'm Involved in a Garbage Truck Accident?
When you are in an accident, you may not know where to begin or what to do. That is okay since you are not expecting you would be caught up in an accident but if you are, consider the following things to do during and after the accident:
- Calm down. The very first thing that you should do is calm down. Don’t freak out. Assess first the extent of your injuries and your surroundings. Make sure that you get out of a dangerous situation, like if your car is burning.
- Contact 911 or seek help. If you are all set or safe, the next thing to do is call for help. You need to call an ambulance to check your injuries and the police to secure the accident site. Seeking help or medical attention is necessary even if your injuries are minor since this would help you later on with your personal injury claim. Also, it is important to let a licensed medical practitioner to examined and diagnose your injuries.Â
- Take evidence if possible. If you can, take pictures or video of the surroundings of the accident, the vehicles involved, and your injuries.
- Know the basic information about the witnesses or responders. Don’t forget to ask for the names of the people who are on the scene so that you may call them to testify about what happened. You must collect their name, address, position/rank (if applicable), and contact number.
- Contact your lawyer. Never hesitate to contact any experienced California garbage truck attorney, as they can help you assess your situation and recommend the best course of action. Do it as soon as possible since things might develop rapidly that might tank your case.
- Gather all evidence. Evidence is one of the biggest factors determining whether your personal injury case is successful. Documents that might be useful are a copy of the police report, medical records (e.g., medical tests, diagnosis, doctor’s report document), and monetary expenses (e.g., medical bills, burial expenses, repairs).
