Residents in South Carolina communities typically consider garbage trucks to be harmless, friendly neighborhood vehicles, but these tank-like trucks are made of heavy-duty metal and weigh up to 25 tons when fully loaded. The sheer size and weight of a garbage truck leave motorists in standard family vehicles at risk of serious or catastrophic injuries in collisions.
An estimated 1,400 injuries and 100 deaths occurred in a single recent year due to back-over accidents involving garbage trucks.
What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents in South Carolina?
All truck accidents are devastating for motorists in smaller, lighter vehicles, but garbage trucks may be more prone to accidents than typical large trucks due to the following factors:
- They commonly work in the pre-dawn and early dawn hours when visibility is poor
- Garbage truck drivers rely on the worker on the back of the truck to navigate while reversing
- They make frequent stops, turnarounds, and reverses
- Drivers may block streets
- Drivers commonly make wide turns
- Drivers may speed to accommodate unrealistic schedules
- Trucks may have unbalanced loads or loose cargo
- Drowsy driving is common due to the early morning hours of operation
Garbage truck accidents may also occur due to poor truck maintenance, faulty equipment, or inexperienced drivers.
What Types of Garbage Truck Accidents Occur in South Carolina?
As far back as 2019, waste management experts noted an unprecedented rise in accidents involving garbage and recycling trucks, with private refuse companies experiencing higher accident rates than municipal garbage trucks. Common garbage truck accidents in South Carolina and elsewhere include the following types:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- Reversing accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Forced roadway departures
- Wide-turn accidents
- Override accidents
During the 2019 study, installed interior cameras captured garbage truck drivers dozing off at the wheel.
Injuries in South Carolina Garbage Truck Accidents
Motorists face a grave risk of injuries in garbage truck accidents due to the heavy-duty build and hefty weight of garbage and recycling trucks. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains and torn ligaments involving knees, shoulders, ankles, wrists, and other body parts
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
In the worst accidents, catastrophic injuries in garbage truck accidents leave injury victims with life-altering damages or cause wrongful death. A Columbia wrongful death claim after a garbage truck accident brings compensation to grieving family members.
How Can a South Carolina Truck Accident Attorney Help?
Garbage truck accident claims for damages like medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering can be difficult to accomplish successfully, particularly when the claim involves a government entity like a city waste management agency. No one should have to take on a complex injury claim after a garbage truck accident without skilled representation by South Carolina truck accident lawyers with experience in this unique type of claim.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a garbage truck accident, call Marc Brown Law Firm for a free consultation so we can begin a strong strategy for your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery.