Michigan Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

A Michigan garbage truck accident lawyer can get you the maximum settlement if you were injured by this type of truck.  These large waste disposal trucks are present on all types of streets and roads, ranging from busy highways to quiet suburban neighborhood streets.  The size and weight of a garbage truck poses a significant threat of injury or death to any person that gets in its way.

If you or someone you care about suffered a serious physical injury or death from a garbage truck accident, you should contact The Buckfire Law Firm now to start your case.  There are strict time deadlines in the State of Michigan for filing personal injury lawsuits, so it is important to act now.

• Common Reasons for Michigan Garbage Truck Accidents
• Largest Waste Haulers in Michigan
• Injuries Caused by Garbage Truck Accidents
• Can I Sue for a Michigan Garbage Truck Accident?

Information About Garbage Trucks

The sheer size and weight of garbage trucks poses a significant risk of harm to anyone struck by this type of vehicle.  Garbage trucks vary in size but generally range from 22 to 40 feet in length, 8 to 9 feet in width, and 12 t0 14 feet in height.  This poses a danger when trucks make wide turns or occupy two lanes of a roadway.

Garbage trucks often weigh between 15,000 to 20,000 pounds, depending on the make of the truck and whether it is full or empty.  A full garbage truck can weigh up to 60,000 pounds, so the severity and force caused by a moving truck can be devastating to a passenger in a car or SUV, and certainly to a motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian.

These large waste disposal trucks use hydraulic systems to literally crush the contents placed in them.  In addition to normal garbage, many trash collectors also put small furniture, appliances, and heavy items in the back of the truck.  The tailgate can be raised to dump contents into the truck for compaction.

Types of Garbage Trucks

There are four common types of garbage trucks.  Each serves a different purpose.

• Front loader garbage trucks, which are used primarily to empty dumpsters.
• Side loader garbage trucks, which are used for residential waste collection and disposal.
• Rear loader garbage trucks, which are used for both residential and commercial waste hauling.
• Roll-off trucks, which are used to transport dumpsters and other large commercial waste bins to and from local landfills.

Each of these trucks are large and heavy and will cause major injuries or death if they are not safely driven or maintained.  A victim of a garbage truck accident should call our Michigan truck accident lawyers at The Buckfire Law Firm today to pursue your injury or death lawsuit.

Common Reasons for Michigan Garbage Truck Accidents

Michigan garbage truck accidents are typically caused by driver negligence, including:

• Speeding or failing to yield at a traffic light or intersection.
• Sharp and unexpected turns into other lanes or oncoming traffic.
• Driver fatigue due to lack sleep or too many hours behind the wheel.
• Distracted driving like texting or using a cell phone while driving.
• Poor vehicle maintenance, like worn brakes and other parts.
• Lack of proper safety training.
• Impaired driving by alcohol or other substances.

Waste management companies must operate these heavy trucks safely on public roads and streets.  Other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are at risk for significant injury when a garbage truck driver is careless in the operation of the vehicle. Any person harmed by a negligent garbage truck driver should file a personal injury lawsuit to receive a money settlement.

Largest Waste Haulers in Michigan

There are a number of waste hauling companies that operate in Michigan, both for public trash collection and for private disposal.  Some trucks collect recyclable products.

Priority Waste became the largest residential trash hauler in Michigan after acquiring GFL Environmental in 2024.  It provides residential and commercial services in hundreds of cities across the State of Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Brighton, Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grosse Pointe, Hazel Park, Livonia, Macomb Township, Monroe, Northville, Port Huron, Royal Oak, Saginaw, Southfield, Troy, Taylor, Warren, Westland, Woodhaven, Wyandotte, and Ypsilanti.

The other main companies with large garbage trucks include:

• Waste Management
• Republic Services
• Modern Waste Systems
• Stericycle

There are also many smaller companies that serve less populated areas or provide private waste hauling services in Michigan.

If you or someone you care about was injured by one of these garbage trucks or another one owned by another company, contact our award-winning lawyers now to start your case.

Most Common Reasons for Garbage Truck Crashes

Most garbage truck accidents are caused by driver error and inattention.  Drivers must often complete lengthy routes in a specified time frame and hurry to get their job done.  The most common reasons for garbage truck crashes includes:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding, especially on residential street
• Failing to check blind spots before make turns or changing lanes
• Rear end crashes
• Running stop signs and stop lights
• Impaired driving
• Problems with the truck, including poor maintenance and issues with steering and brakes

Our law firm often hires private investigators and accident reconstruction experts to gather the necessary evidence to prove and win our cases.  It is important to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash to ensure that that evidence can be identified and gathered before it is lost or destroyed.

Injuries Caused by Michigan Garbage Truck Accidents

The injuries caused in a Michigan garbage truck accident are often catastrophic and life-threatening.  The size and weight of these vehicles cause significant force and destruction when contacting another vehicle, even moving at a slow speed.  In fact, a slow speed rear end crash can cause major injuries, including:

• Back and neck injuries
• Concussions and brain injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Shoulder and knee injuries
• Quadriplegia and paralysis
• Crush injuries to limbs
• Cuts and lacerations
• Damage to internal organs
• Severe scarring and disfigurement
• Death

Many of these injuries are life-changing and life-altering for the victim.  Compensation through a garbage truck accident lawyer can help restore the pre-accident life of the injured person and provide money needed to help resume a normal life.  We file wrongful death lawsuits for family members for fatal crash cases.

Can I Sue for a Michigan Garbage Truck Accident?

You can sue the garbage truck driver and the waste management company if you or someone you care about was hurt in a truck accident.  If you were an innocent driver or vehicle occupant, or a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist, you can file a lawsuit for pain and suffering damages.

Our experienced Michigan garbage truck accident attorneys will get the traffic crash reports, dash cam videos, and truck driving logs to prove that the garbage truck driver caused your crash.  We will also download the digital recorder on the vehicle to determine the speed, braking, and other actions of the driver prior to the crash because this data often contradicts the statements given to police by the driver.

In the event of a tragic fatal accident, the surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit.  These cases seek money damages for the loss of the loved one, the pain and suffering of the decedent prior to the death, and the resulting loss of financial and other support.

How Much are Michigan Garbage Truck Accident Settlements?

Garbage truck accident settlements provide money damages for physical pain and suffering, psychological damages, disability, fright and shock, and loss of enjoyment of life.  These companies have large insurance policies so the cases usually result with substantial settlements to victims.

Some examples of garbage truck accident settlements include:

• $38,800,000 verdict for the family of a young girl run over by a garbage truck.
• $15,000,000 settlement for motorcyclist in a garbage truck accident
• $  9,000,000 jury verdict for a bicyclist hit by garbage truck.
• $4,750,000 settlement for a woman hit by a city garbage truck
• $1,750,000 settlements for a couple rear-ended by a garbage truck.
• $1,100,000 settlement for a man cut off by a garbage truck making a sharp turn.

Every case is unique which is why it is essential to choose an experienced Michigan garbage truck accident lawyer for your case.  The lawyer you hire is the difference between a great settlement or no settlement.  Call our firm today if you want to win the maximum possible compensation amount.

How much do Lawyers Charge for Truck Accident Cases?

The Buckfire Law Firm does not charge any legal fee unless you win a settlement.  We will represent you under our No Fee Promise.   It costs nothing to start your case.

Contact A Michigan Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

Call The Buckfire Law Firm now to get started on your case.  We will listen to your story and start working on your case immediately.  It is important to get started as soon as possible, so our award-winning attorneys and investigators can get the evidence needed to prove and win your case.

There are strict time deadlines for filing garbage truck accident cases in Michigan. If you miss the deadline, your claim will be barred forever.  Call us now to get started on your case!