To reduce the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes caused by driving a commercial motor vehicle such as a refuse truck, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented stringent rules for drivers, restricting the use of hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel. Failure to comply with the laws can result in steep financial penalties for both the driver and his or her employer.
Despite the efforts to improve safety, accidents caused by distracted driving while using a cell phone remain all-too commonplace. Due to their size and weight, garbage trucks can devastate another smaller vehicle in a crash, often leaving victims with severe injuries that require extensive medical and rehabilitative care, unable to work, and faced with significant medical bills.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a garbage truck that was not your fault, a Los Angeles Texting While Driving Lawyer can help you to pursue compensation. Contact the responsive team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm and find out if you are eligible to claim today at (800) 794-0444.
People’s Lives Devastated by Distracted Driving
While we appreciate garbage trucks provide an essential service in keeping our neighborhoods clean, they can cause severe or even fatal injuries in a collision. In many cases, the victims are waste removal employees, occupants of another vehicle, pedestrians, or cyclists. Injuries frequently caused include:
- Death
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Skull fractures
- Internal trauma
- Loss of limb
- Lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Concussion
When there is strong evidence proving negligence and liability, many cases will be settled out of court. Your injury lawyer may be able to negotiate an appropriate compensation settlement for your injuries if you seek an out of court resolution to your claim. Proving negligence and liability is not always straightforward, so it can be beneficial to check that your lawyer has experience in the following areas required to build a robust case:
- Provide a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident
- Gather and preserve evidence to build a comprehensive case
- Accurately evaluate the full extent of your injuries and other related losses
- Prove negligence and who the responsible party or parties are in your claim
- Negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies
- Protect your rights and act in your best interests at all times
- Represent you at trial, where necessary
If you want to know more about filing a claim for compensation, the team from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are ready to answer your questions.
Many Garbage Rigs Declared’ Unsafe to Drive’ by Federal Government Inspectors
In a report from ProPublica about the private garbage collection industry, people’s lives are being put at risk daily due to health and safety taking a backseat to corporate profits. The report discusses unreasonable schedules placed on the shoulders of garbage company employees that frequently force them to violate traffic regulations.
Further, the report describes the rigs being in “terrible condition,” echoed in data analysis taken from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Trucks from 50 of New York’s leading private refuse collection companies were declared unsafe to drive, having failed government inspections.
In order to meet their quota per shift, it may be possible that garbage truck drivers cut corners to save time. Research about driver error in accidents by the FMCSA found the most common traffic violations to be:
- Speeding
- Driving while using a mobile phone
- Fatigued driving
- Not taking rest breaks required by law
- Failure to obey traffic control device
- Driving Beyond 14-hour duty period
- Lane restriction violation
- Disobeying traffic enforcement regulations by following too closely
Reckless driving can have devastating consequences when a crash occurs. The most recent statistics from the FMCSA shows 107 fatalities caused by refuse trucks and over 1,400 injuries resulting from accidents involving them over a year.
Along with driver error, the poorly maintained fleets add risk from faulty brakes, causing the driver to be unable to stop in time or completely lose control of the vehicle. This could mean multiple parties can be liable for your accident, such as the refuse company or those responsible for maintaining the fleet. Although this provides several avenues from which victims of refuse truck accidents can potentially seek compensation, it adds complexity in terms of litigation.
A Los Angeles Texting While Driving Lawyer can help you to understand your legal options, identify who is responsible for the crash, and guide you through the legal process involved in a compensation claim.
For a free legal consultation with a Texting While Driving Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Claim Compensation with the Help of a Los Angeles Texting While Driving Lawyer
The compensation you could claim will vary depending on your injuries and the circumstances of the accident. Your lawyer may be able to look in detail at every aspect of your case and then make an assessment about the value of financial awards that include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Disability and disfigurement
- Reduced future earning opportunities
Most lawsuits must be filed within a specific time under rules set in the statute of limitations; failure to do this generally means the legal claim is no longer valid. In Los Angeles, you have two years to file a lawsuit for your injuries in most cases.
Los Angeles Texting While Driving Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Los Angeles Texting While Driving Lawyer Q&A
Someone hit me while they were texting. Can their phone records be requested to prove that they were distracted and caused the accident?
They may not let you see the content of the messages, but they will send you the time periods during which text messages were sent or received.
Click to contact our Texting While Driving Accidents Lawyers today
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at Your Side
Whether you were in the street, sat in traffic, or collecting trash when hit by a garbage truck, the team at Pintas & Mullins is here to help you seek justice and fair compensation for your injuries and other related losses.
When you contact our injury lawyers, you feel confident in knowing that you will always receive sound, reliable, and practical legal support. We strive to provide the best course of action for you to take regarding your accident claim.
Speak to us today at (800) 794-0444 and find out if you are eligible to pursue compensation for injuries resulting from a garbage truck collision caused by negligence.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form