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California Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

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It is easy to assume that garbage truck accidents don’t happen often since city trash trucks (also known as waste collection vehicles) usually come to collect trash just once (or twice) a week. However, according to United States government statistics, more than 1,400 garbage truck accidents cause injuries each year, and more than 120 result in at least one death.

Garbage truck accidents are on the rise in California and throughout the U.S. Over a recent two-year period, the U.S. saw a 25% increase in fatal garbage truck accidents, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As experienced garbage truck accident attorneys representing victims in these potentially deadly incidents, we want you to understand your full legal rights if the worst should happen to you or a member of your family.

If you would like to speak with a garbage truck accident lawyer about pursuing a legal claim, please contact us or call toll-free (310) 207-3233 for a free and confidential case evaluation. Our law firm has several offices throughout California and we represent clients nationwide. 

INFORMATION ON GARBAGE TRUCK CLAIMS

ARE GARBAGE TRUCKS DANGEROUS?

Yes, garbage trucks can cause significant harm in an accident. Like any tractor-trailer or semi-truck on the road, garbage trucks are large and heavy vehicles capable of causing severe damage. The average weight of a garbage truck is 64,000 pounds, according to Southern California-based Titan Recycle and Trash. Smaller trash trucks are still quite heavy, often weighing about 40,000 pounds.

The sheer size and weight of trash trucks make them dangerous. In any accident involving a garbage truck, car occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians usually bear the brunt of the damage. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in fatal crashes between a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 97% of the reported deaths were occupants of passenger vehicles.

Garbage Truck Statistics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are currently more than 120,000 garbage and sanitation workers collecting and dumping refuse and recyclables. The top five states with the most sanitation collectors (and the most garbage collection vehicles on the road) include:

  • California (13,950 garbage and waste workers)
  • New York (10,290 garbage and waste workers)
  • Texas (10,060 garbage and waste workers)
  • Florida (9,190 garbage and waste workers)
  • North Carolina (5,980 garbage and waste workers)

Below you will find fatal garbage truck crash statistics from the FMCSA for the most recent years (2016 – 2018):

2016 Garbage Truck Accidents 2017 Garbage Truck Accidents 2018 Garbage Truck Accidents
93 Fatal 108 Fatal 124 Fatal
1,485 Injury 1,427 Injury 1,471 Injury
2,356 Total 2,430 Total 2,569 Total

Driving a garbage truck is difficult and dangerous. In fact, a garbage truck driver is one of the most dangerous jobs one can have in America. The fatal injury rate for waste collectors is 34 per 100,000, which is ahead of police officers, firefighters, construction workers, and many others.

The margin for error is very small when you are dealing with heavy and dangerous equipment, and often facing time-sensitive and demanding schedules each workday. If a garbage truck driver speeds, drives while fatigued, or is distracted by a cell phone, the result can be deadly. Government data shows that at least one driver-related factor was cited in roughly a third of all fatal truck crashes in 2018.

But truck driver negligence is not the only factor in truck crashes. Manufacturing defects and maintenance failures are also causes of garbage truck accidents. For example, if a component part of a garbage truck had a design deficiency or was not manufactured correctly, and that failure led to an accident, the company responsible may be held liable in a lawsuit.

DO I NEED A LAWYER FOR A GARBAGE TRUCK CRASH?

Determining the cause of an accident and uncovering all of the responsible parties takes experience and skill. An experienced garbage truck accident lawyer with a track record of success litigating trucking cases will understand how to find all negligent parties and maximize compensation for the victims. We have litigated numerous cases in which our law firm’s investigation found negligence outside the purview of a law enforcement investigation. This investigative work effectively increased the case value to our clients.

Garbage and waste management companies (and their insurers) may go to great lengths to avoid liability for causing injuries or deaths if one of their trucks is involved in an accident or incident. These companies have extensive resources. They will dispatch their own investigators, attorneys, and other personnel to strengthen their case and limit any payout to victims. Their job is to cast the case in a light most favorable to their clients. Hiring an experienced garbage truck accident lawyer in California is your way to level the playing field.

WHAT IS THE PAYOUT FOR A GARBAGE TRUCK ACCIDENT?

The amount of compensation you may receive after a garbage truck depends on a multitude of factors, including:

Injury Severity: Generally, the more severe a claimant’s injuries are, the higher the compensation. You may be eligible to recover money to pay for medical bills, ongoing health care treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care needs, and more.

Economic Damages: This includes compensating the victim for lost wages if they could not work after the crash, loss of future earning capacity, and any property damage incurred in the accident.

Non-Economic Damages: Compensation may also be available for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.

Liability: You will be compensated fully for your damages if the garbage truck driver or the company the driver works for is at fault. However, your compensation may be reduced if you were partially at fault. California's comparative negligence law allows for fault to be distributed among all parties involved in an accident based on their degree of responsibility. This means that even if you were partially at fault, you may still recover non-economic damages proportionate to the other party's share of liability.  Regardless, you will be abel to recover your full economic damages even if the garbage truck driver is only 1% at fault.

Insurance Coverage: Most garbage truck companies are covered by liability insurance. The limits of these insurance policies and any other entities or individuals involved may impact the amount of compensation available in your case.

Legal Representation: The experience and skill of your accident attorney will play a significant role in your case.

The best way to determine the value of your case is to consult with a garbage truck attorney. At Wisner Baum, we offer free case evaluations, which can help you better understand what you might expect by pursuing a lawsuit.

TRUCK ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT EXAMPLES

The accident attorneys at Wisner Baum have a proven track record of success in obtaining settlements for clients harmed in preventable truck crashes. Our attorneys have obtained the following truck accident settlements and verdicts:

  • $20 million verdict for wrongful death in case involving a tour bus and a commercial duck boat vehicle.
  • $15 million settlement in case involving a tractor-trailer vs. pedestrian accident.
  • $8.5 million verdict for wrongful death in a truck crash case.
  • $6.9 million settlement during trial against a trucking company.
  • $6 million settlement for wrongful death stemming from a truck accident.
  • Over 75 truck accident lawsuits successfully resolved for $1 million or more.

Put your case in the hands of proven litigators who understand how to obtain full and fair compensation for clients.

CALIFORNIA GARBAGE TRUCK ATTORNEYS | WISNER BAUM

The California law firm of Wisner Baum has litigated truck accident cases for more than 30 years. We know what it takes to win against garbage and waste management companies. With over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across a broad range of practice areas, we understand what’s needed to prevail in cases against any corporate opponent.

If you were harmed in a garbage truck crash, call (310) 207-3233 today to speak with an experienced attorney about your case. Contact us online for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Case Results
We Demand Accountability.
More Successful Results
$2.0 Billion Verdict
Personal Injury
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s. R. Brent Wisner served as co-lead trial attorney for the Pilliods, delivering the opening and closing statements and cross-examining several of Monsanto’s experts. Wisner Baum managing shareholder, Michael Baum and attorney Pedram Esfandiary also served on the trial team in the Pilliod case. The judge later reduced their award to $87M. Monsanto appealed the Pilliod’s verdict which the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District denied on August 9, 2021. Monsanto then requested the California Supreme Court review the appeal’s court decision, which the court denied on Nov. 17, 2021. Monsanto (Bayer) then submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court which SCOTUS denied on June 27, 2022, allowing the final judgment of $87M to remain intact.
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s. R. Brent Wisner served as co-lead trial attorney for the Pilliods, delivering the opening and closing statements and cross-examining several of Monsanto’s experts. Wisner Baum managing shareholder, Michael Baum and attorney Pedram Esfandiary also served on the trial team in the Pilliod case. The judge later reduced their award to $87M. Monsanto appealed the Pilliod’s verdict which the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District denied on August 9, 2021. Monsanto then requested the California Supreme Court review the appeal’s court decision, which the court denied on Nov. 17, 2021. Monsanto (Bayer) then submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court which SCOTUS denied on June 27, 2022, allowing the final judgment of $87M to remain intact.
Continue Reading
$2.0 Billion Verdict
Personal Injury

In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s. R. Brent Wisner served as co-lead trial attorney for the Pilliods, delivering the opening and closing statements and cross-examining several of Monsanto’s experts. Wisner Baum managing shareholder, Michael Baum and attorney Pedram Esfandiary also served on the trial team in the Pilliod case.

The judge later reduced their award to $87M. Monsanto appealed the Pilliod’s verdict which the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District denied on August 9, 2021. Monsanto then requested the California Supreme Court review the appeal’s court decision, which the court denied on Nov. 17, 2021. Monsanto (Bayer) then submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court which SCOTUS denied on June 27, 2022, allowing the final judgment of $87M to remain intact.

$289.2 Million Verdict
Personal Injury
$289.2 million jury verdict in Monsanto Roundup trial Wisner Baum co-represented Dewayne “Lee” Johnson in the first Roundup cancer lawsuit to proceed to trial. On Aug. 10, 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto to pay $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages to Mr. Johnson, a former groundskeeper who alleged exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused him to develop terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Months after the jury verdict, the judge overseeing the trial reduced the punitive damages to $39.25 million. Mr. Johnson decided to accept the remittitur, bringing the adjusted amount awarded to Mr. Johnson $78.5 million. Monsanto (Bayer) appealed the verdict and Johnson cross appealed. On July 20, 2020, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Monsanto but reduced Mr. Johnson’s award to $20.5 million. The company chose not to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending the litigation.
$289.2 million jury verdict in Monsanto Roundup trial Wisner Baum co-represented Dewayne “Lee” Johnson in the first Roundup cancer lawsuit to proceed to trial. On Aug. 10, 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto to pay $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages to Mr. Johnson, a former groundskeeper who alleged exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused him to develop terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Months after the jury verdict, the judge overseeing the trial reduced the punitive damages to $39.25 million. Mr. Johnson decided to accept the remittitur, bringing the adjusted amount awarded to Mr. Johnson $78.5 million. Monsanto (Bayer) appealed the verdict and Johnson cross appealed. On July 20, 2020, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Monsanto but reduced Mr. Johnson’s award to $20.5 million. The company chose not to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending the litigation.
Continue Reading
$289.2 Million Verdict
Personal Injury

$289.2 million jury verdict in Monsanto Roundup trial

Wisner Baum co-represented Dewayne “Lee” Johnson in the first Roundup cancer lawsuit to proceed to trial. On Aug. 10, 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto to pay $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages to Mr. Johnson, a former groundskeeper who alleged exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused him to develop terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Months after the jury verdict, the judge overseeing the trial reduced the punitive damages to $39.25 million. Mr. Johnson decided to accept the remittitur, bringing the adjusted amount awarded to Mr. Johnson $78.5 million.

Monsanto (Bayer) appealed the verdict and Johnson cross appealed. On July 20, 2020, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Monsanto but reduced Mr. Johnson’s award to $20.5 million. The company chose not to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending the litigation.

$265 Million Settlement
Fatal Train Crash
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
Continue Reading
$265 Million Settlement
Fatal Train Crash

In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.

When companies choose profit over people, we fight. Wisner Baum exposes injustice, demands accountability, and delivers real results for real people. Your Path to Justice Starts Here.
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Los Angeles
11111 Santa Monica
Blvd Suite 1750
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Get Directions
Bay Area
100 Drakes Landing Road
Suite 160
Greenbrae, CA 9490412
Get Directions
Washington, D.C.
2101 L St NW 

Suite 800
Washington, DC 20037
Get Directions
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