San Jose Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

Hurt by a Garbage Truck? Your Deadline May Be Shorter Than You Think.

Garbage trucks are huge, stop constantly, and share residential streets with cars, cyclists, and people on foot. When one causes a crash, our San Jose attorneys identify who operates the truck, meet every deadline that applies, and pursue full compensation.

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The Truck on Your Street Can Cause Serious Harm

The size and design of a garbage truck make crashes with passenger vehicles especially dangerous. Head and neck injuries, spinal cord and brain injuries, and internal injuries are common, because a car is no match for a truck built to haul tons of refuse.

A garbage truck case also has a question most truck cases don’t: who runs the truck? Some are operated by private companies; some may be operated by or for a public agency. That answer decides who is liable and, critically, how quickly you have to act. A garbage truck claim may be right for you if:

A garbage truck hit your vehicle, or hit you walking or cycling
Falling garbage or debris from a truck caused a crash or injured you
You were hurt and believe the driver or the truck's condition was to blame

Even if you think your injuries are minor, it’s worth a free review. We’ll explain your options, from an insurance claim to a personal injury lawsuit.

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What to Do After a Garbage Truck Accident

Check for injuries and get out of traffic.
Make sure you and others are safe, and move your vehicle out of traffic if you can.
Call 911 to report the crash.
The official police report is essential evidence, especially if a public agency is involved.
Find out whose truck it is.
Photograph the truck’s markings, logos, and numbers; they show whether it belongs to a private hauler or a public agency.
Look for cameras.
Traffic cameras, home doorbell cameras, and business security cameras on residential routes can show exactly what happened.
Get medical care and keep the records.
Medical records and bills document your injuries and their cost.
Call a lawyer quickly.
If a government entity is involved, a claim may be due within just six months.

Who Pays After a Garbage Truck Accident?

The driver and the truck's owner or operator

The driver who caused the crash, and the company that owns or operates the truck, whether a private company or a public agency.

A maintenance company or manufacturer

When faulty mechanics such as defective tires or brakes played a role, the company that maintained the truck or the manufacturer may be liable.

Your compensation

Through a settlement or court award, garbage truck accident victims may recover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

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How We Investigate a Garbage Truck Crash

We start by identifying every party that may be responsible, and each one’s deadline. Then we build the evidence:

The official police report and witness statements
Traffic camera and other video footage
Your medical records and bills
The driver’s conduct: speeding, failing to signal, improper lane changes, driving under the influence, not checking blind spots, or texting and other distracted driving
The truck’s condition, including defective tires or brakes, and its maintenance history
Whether loose garbage or debris fell from the truck

We also look at whether the driver and the company followed proper safety protocols, including vehicle maintenance. Throughout, we handle the legal process so you can focus on recovering.

Garbage Truck Accident Law in California

Claims against a government entity move fast

Claims against a government entity, such as a city vehicle, can require a claim within just six months. If a public agency owns or operates the garbage truck, don’t wait.

Otherwise, two years

You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit against a private company or driver.

Several parties can share the blame

The driver, the truck’s owner or operator, a maintenance company, and a manufacturer can each be responsible for their part.

Partly at fault? You can still recover

Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, your compensation is reduced by any share of fault assigned to you, never eliminated.

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Garbage Truck Accident FAQs

Who is liable for a garbage truck accident?

It depends on the cause. The truck driver, the company or agency that owns or operates the truck, a vehicle maintenance company, and the manufacturer may all be potentially liable.

What if the garbage truck belongs to the city?

Claims against a government entity can require a claim within just six months, far sooner than the usual two-year deadline. Call us right away so we can identify the operator and file on time.

What causes garbage truck accidents?

Often driver negligence: speeding, failing to signal, improper lane changes, driving under the influence, not checking blind spots, or distracted driving. Falling garbage or debris and mechanical failures such as defective tires or brakes also cause crashes.

What injuries are common in garbage truck crashes?

Head and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and severe organ damage and other internal injuries.

What evidence helps a garbage truck claim?

Witness statements, medical records and bills, traffic camera footage, and the official police report, along with the truck’s maintenance records and the company’s safety practices.

My injuries seem minor. Should I still talk to a lawyer?

Yes. Injuries can turn out worse than they first seem, and the deadlines in a garbage truck case can be short. A free review costs you nothing.

What does hiring you cost?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency; you pay a fee only if we recover for you.

Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7

If a public agency is involved, your claim deadline could be months away, not years. Call now or send the form; we respond fast, 24/7, in English, Spanish, or Korean. Your consultation is free and confidential. No fee unless we win.

Call (408) 256-2871

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Solution Now Law Firm
1253 Park Ave
San Jose, CA 95126