Support & Representation to Help Victims Recover from Garbage Truck Wrecks in Dallas
Garbage trucks are on Dallas’s roads almost daily, collecting trash, recyclables, and special wastes from local homes and businesses. That important role in waste management, however, can come with a price, especially when it comes to the risks of garbage truck accidents and serious injuries.
Tragically, whenever collisions in Dallas involve garbage trucks, negligence is usually a factor. And the more information that crash victims have about their rights and options for filing case, the better. Accordingly, the following highlights some critical insights about:
- How to protect your rights after a garbage truck accident in Dallas, TX
- What you need to know if or when you’re filing a claim
For answers tailored to your potential case, talk to a Dallas garbage truck accident lawyer.
What Causes Most Garbage Truck Accidents in Dallas, TX?
Most traffic collisions that involve garbage trucks (and other commercial trucks) are caused by driver errors. That’s according to federal authorities, who also report that:
- Recognition and decision errors are the top two driver errors that contribute to garbage truck accidents in Dallas and across the U.S.
- Performance errors and failures to perform necessary maneuvers are the third and fourth most common driver errors that cause garbage truck wrecks.
- The drivers of passenger vehicles are far more likely to make these accident-causing mistakes than commercial motorists, like garbage truck drivers.
- Brake problems, interruptions in the flow of traffic, poor road conditions, and adverse weather are also leading causes of Dallas garbage truck wrecks.
These are not the only potential causes of garbage truck accidents, and multiple factors can be involved in a single wreck. Beyond that, victims of these crashes should be aware that:
- It’s OK to not know exactly what caused a crash right after it happens.
- Often, it takes time to investigate a garbage truck accident and figure out what caused it and who’s liable.
- It’s generally not a good idea for victims to accept other’s fault findings without carrying out their own independent investigation. Other parties are not obligated to conduct neutral investigations, and they may try to push some of the blame onto victims. Having evidence to refute those wrongful blame shifts can give victims better footing to push back and present a stronger claim.
An experienced Dallas garbage truck accident lawyer can help victims determine and prove the causes of their accident, as well as establish liability and damages.
Who Can I Sue After a Dallas Garbage Truck Accident?
You may be able to sue the liable parties, meaning those whose negligence caused the wreck, as long as:
- Your claim is still valid under Texas state law: There is a two-year statute of limitations to file garbage truck accident claims in the Lone Star State. That timeframe may begin as of the date of the crash or later if the injuries are discovered or end up being deadly on a later date. Also, there can be different deadlines for filing a garbage truck accident claim against a public entity, like a city or county. In fact, claims against public entities tend to have shorter deadlines. Regardless of what the exact deadline is, if you miss it, you may lose the chance to file a claim.
- You don’t shoulder most of the fault for causing the crash: Under Texas law, you may be eligible to collect damages as long as another party is mostly liable for the collision.
These are not the only factors that have to align in order to sue after a Dallas garbage truck accident. That’s why it’s best to talk to an attorney when you need a clear, case-specific response to this question. Depending on the circumstances of your potential claim, other drivers, the City of Dallas and/or other parties could be liable for your garbage truck crash.
How Long Will a Garbage Truck Accident Claim Take?
There is no single answer or range of time that fits all cases because:
- Every claim is different.
- Victims’ actions and choices after a crash can affect how efficiently or slowly their cases move forward.
- Legal representation or a lack of it can also impact the duration of a claim, especially those claims that are more complex in nature.
Telling a lawyer what you know about your crash can help you zero in on a better answer here. It can also give you a chance to get indispensable legal advice about your rights and how to proceed.