Garbage trucks often weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, and when the driver is inattentive, undertrained, or under pressure to finish a route, the results can be catastrophic. If you or a family member suffered injuries in a collision involving a garbage truck in Charlotte, North Carolina, you have the right to pursue compensation from the parties responsible.
With over 80 years of combined experience and $35 million recovered for clients, Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers fights for North Carolina accident victims. Contact our Charlotte garbage truck accident lawyers today at (704) 980-9999 to schedule a free consultation.
How Can Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Garbage Truck Accident in Charlotte, NC?
Garbage truck cases can be more complicated than other truck accident cases. The truck may be owned by a private waste company, operated by the city, or run by a contractor working for the city. Our Charlotte personal injury lawyers know how to navigate all of the complexity.
Here is what our team at Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers will do for you:
- Investigate the accident and gather evidence
- Obtain driver logs, maintenance records, and any available footage
- Identify all negligent parties
- Work with accident reconstruction experts and medical experts
- Calculate all damages, including future medical costs and lost income
- Handle all communications and negotiations with insurers
- Take your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Waste management companies and municipalities act quickly to protect themselves after an accident. The sooner you have legal representation, the stronger your chances of a positive outcome. Reach out to our truck accident lawyers in Charlotte, NC, for a free consultation.
What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents in Charlotte?
Garbage truck accidents share causes with other commercial truck crashes, but they create specific dangers based on how they operate.
Common causes include:
- Backing up without checking for other vehicles or pedestrians
- Distracted or drowsy driving
- Speeding to meet collection deadlines
- Poor driver training
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Lack of maintenance
- Debris falling from an unsecured or overloaded truck causes lost-load accidents.
If the negligent hiring company ignored safety violations, it can increase the value of your claim and affect which parties are held responsible.
Who Could Be Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident in Charlotte, NC?
Who is liable depends on who owns and operates the garbage truck. They are often run by both city collection services and private contractors.
If a city truck caused the accident, special rules apply. You may need to file a formal notice of claim against the local government before a lawsuit can proceed.
Private waste companies can be held responsible for their driver’s actions, for negligent hiring, poor training, or failure to maintain their vehicles.
We pursue every possible source of accountability.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Garbage Truck Accidents?
A fully loaded garbage truck can weigh as much as 40 tons. When one of these vehicles strikes a car, hits a cyclist, or backs over a pedestrian, the injuries are often severe.
Common injuries include:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries and amputations
- Organ damage
- Deep cuts and scarring
Recovery from these injuries is often slow and expensive. You may need surgery, long hospital stays, and months of physical therapy. The costs add up fast, and the person or company that caused the accident should be the one paying them.
What Compensation Is Available to Me?
North Carolina law allows you to seek full compensation when someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Keep in mind that North Carolina follows a pure contributory negligence rule. If you are found even slightly at fault for the accident, you could be barred from recovering anything.
Insurance companies know this and will try to use it against you. Working with an experienced Charlotte truck accident attorney from the start gives you the best chance of protecting your claim.
Compensation may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
If a family member was killed in a garbage truck accident, your family may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Under North Carolina law, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline means losing the right to seek compensation, with very few exceptions.
If a city or county vehicle was involved, the deadline to act may be even shorter. Government claims require a formal notice of claim to be filed before a lawsuit can move forward, and that process has its own timeline.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Charlotte Truck Accident Law Firm
Waste management companies have experienced legal teams ready to go the moment an accident happens. You should, too. Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to take on your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call us today to arrange a free consultation with a Charlotte garbage truck accident attorney.