Though necessary, garbage trucks create significant risk on roadways as they navigate each street every week. Accidents happen for multiple reasons, but most are preventable. If you suffer financial loss or injuries from an accident with one of these commercial vehicles, we can help you.
You will find a garbage truck accident lawyer in Charlotte available at Shane Smith Law, ready to help you. We make them pay, and you pay us nothing upfront for our services. Request a free consultation with a Charlotte truck accident lawyer today. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
Factors That Make Cases with Garbage Trucks Challenging
It may seem simple to file a claim for your losses and move on, but garbage truck accidents carry significant complexities that could limit your recovery of damages rightly owed to you. As your lawyer, we will help you navigate challenges like the following:
- Government immunity. The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services handles the residential garbage collection services in the city. If a city or county facility operates the garbage truck causing your accident, you will need to notify the city immediately and file a claim for losses quickly. Suing the city is far more challenging, and time limits apply.
- Complex liability matters. Numerous other private haulers operate in Charlotte and the rest of the region. If a private company strikes you, you can seek legal action against those at fault. That may include not just the driver but the company behind them. Multiple parties could be at fault, making the claims process more exhausting.
- Gathering evidence can be challenging. Victims of accidents involving these large trucks often need to gather critical evidence that isn’t readily available, such as trucker work hours and medical records. Your attorney will know what to seek and how to get it.
Hire a lawyer to handle the entire process for you. Our team has decades of experience fighting for victims in these cases, including successfully taking on large companies and city organizations. Set up a free consultation to discuss your needs with us today.
Speak with a Charlotte garbage truck accident lawyer, and get a free consultation today.
Call (980) 294-4931What Your Garbage Truck Accident Claim is Worth
The value of your accident depends on all of the losses you can demonstrate and prove with evidence. In nearly all situations, our legal team will work with you to determine your current and future losses and protect your right to fair compensation. Common claims like these include:
- Medical costs from the accident and through your recovery
- Lost wages and earnings from being unable to go to work as expected
- Loss of earning capacity if you have long-term limitations or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering for what you experienced
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
Let us review every aspect of your case to clearly define who is at fault and what they owe you. There is never a risk in speaking to our team. If you do not win your case, you do not pay our Charlotte personal injury lawyer anything for our legal services.
Get trusted legal guidance from a Charlotte Garbage Truck Accident lawyer at no cost.
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Why Garbage Truck Accidents Happen in Charlotte
One of the ways your attorney will support your success is by gathering evidence to verify the cause of the accident. This helps us determine who is at fault and pursue legal action against all responsible parties. Some of the most common causes of garbage truck accidents include:
- Blind spots: Drivers must be skilled and experienced to navigate roadways safely, even though these trucks have large blind spots both in front of and behind them. This makes it challenging for drivers to see cars, pedestrians, and bike riders.
- Driver fatigue: A driver working long hours on tedious, physically demanding tasks is likely to experience fatigue. That makes them more likely to cause an accident.
- Frequent stops: Garbage trucks must stop frequently, and in highly congested areas, this can lead to other drivers becoming aggravated and cutting off the truck. It may also increase the risk of rear-end collisions. Trucks must also reverse frequently, which increases risks.
- Load loss: Improper loading of garbage or ineffective management of loads on roadways can cause accidents. Debris can strike another vehicle, creating significant hazards.
- Improper vehicle maintenance: A garbage truck that breaks down in areas like the Second Ward can cause serious delays and backups, increasing the risk of accidents.
To gather this information, our garbage truck accident attorney in Charlotte may seek commercial truck logs, speak with eyewitnesses, and gather evidence from third parties. At Shane Smith Law, we pursue every possible angle to bring clarity to your case.
The Importance of Evidence in North Carolina Accidents
One of the most important reasons you need an attorney in these accidents relates to North Carolina’s pure contributory negligence rule (G.S. 1-139). This law means that if you suffer injuries but are found to be even 1% at fault, you cannot seek financial compensation against the other party for your losses. Even if the garbage truck driver is 99% at fault, the law bars you from seeking legal action and recovering damages. Your attorney works to minimize this risk:
- We build a strong claim based on evidence. That includes seeking third-party data and expert testimony to determine who is at fault.
- You do not have to deal with the insurance company. We handle the insurer, minimizing the risk that their tactics will lead you to admit any fault.
- We build your defense to show you were not at fault in any way, if you are accused of it, and to protect your right to fair compensation.
Your case matters to you and to us. Let our legal team work with you to build a clear claim that holds those who hurt you fully accountable. Do not talk to the insurance company. Instead, contact us.
Request a Free Consultation with a Charlotte Garbage Truck Accident Attorney Today
Speak to Shane Smith Law today about what happened to you. Let us get to work gathering evidence and building your claim. Our Charlotte garbage truck accident lawyer becomes your ally in seeking fair compensation.
