Beverly Hills Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

Beverly Hills Garbage Truck Accident Attorney

Garbage trucks are essential commercial vehicles responsible for picking up and taking away waste from commercial and residential properties in Beverly Hills and across California. While many drivers would likely find it frustrating to be stuck behind a garbage truck on their pickup route, it is important for all drivers to recognize the value of the services these commercial vehicles enable and to refrain from potentially dangerous actions behind the wheel. Additionally, garbage truck operators must make sure to uphold their professional duties of care at all times to avoid causing accidents with nearby motorists.

Legal Representation for Garbage Truck Accident Claims in Beverly Hills, CA

Unfortunately, garbage truck accidents do happen in Beverly Hills. While not exceedingly common, these accidents are capable of inflicting tremendous harm on those involved, and clarifying liability for this kind of accident can be more challenging than resolving fault for a standard vehicle accident involving private drivers. When you or a family member has been harmed in a commercial vehicle accident such as a garbage truck accident, it is crucial to know your rights and your options for recovering your losses.

Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, has a team of seasoned Beverly Hills attorneys who have successfully represented many past clients in a wide range of personal injury claims, including those that arose from commercial vehicle accidents. We know the various challenges you might face as you seek accountability for the harm you suffered and compensation for your damages. With our firm representing you, you can approach your recovery process with confidence and peace of mind.

How to Prove Fault for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Beverly Hills

Just like any other motor vehicle accident case, a commercial vehicle accident claim requires the plaintiff to prove fault, identifying the party they believe to be responsible for causing their claimed damages. When it comes to commercial vehicle accidents, it is common for the legal concept of vicarious liability to come into play. This legal term applies to an employer sharing fault for the actions of their employee, even if the employer was not directly involved in the incident.

All commercial vehicle operations, including garbage truck services, must ensure their employees are properly certified, vetted, and trained to handle their job duties. If an investigation reveals that the employer of the garbage truck driver who hit you was negligent in their handling of the employee in any way, it is very likely for the employer to face vicarious liability for the actions of their employee.

Proving fault requires identifying the party or parties responsible for your accident and showing they held some duty of care that they breached in the situation. Alternatively, it may be necessary to prove that the defendant intentionally broke a California law that resulted in your damages. In this situation, the at-fault driver faces criminal charges along with their liability for your damages. Additionally, if a garbage truck driver breaks the law in causing your accident, they face the loss of their professional licenses and additional penalties alongside their liability for the damages they inflicted.

Traffic camera recordings, eyewitness statements, and vehicle computer data are just a few examples of the types of evidence that often come into play in garbage truck accident claims and other commercial vehicle accident claims. A few of the most commonly cited causes of garbage truck accidents in Beverly Hills and throughout the state include:

• Moving violations. Drivers are expected to yield to garbage trucks where appropriate and to respect the traffic signals and signs around them at all times. A garbage truck accident might occur if a driver tries to illegally pass around a stopping truck or if they attempt to cut in front of a garbage truck at the wrong time. Failure to yield the right-of-way can easily cause a serious garbage truck accident, as can performing illegal turns or failing to stop for red lights or stop signs.
• Illegal passing. While it may be frustrating to be stuck behind a garbage truck on its pickup route, do not attempt to illegally pass a garbage truck. You may not be able to see in the other lane far enough to notice an oncoming vehicle, and if you have an accident while illegally passing, you will be liable for the resulting damages.
• Garbage trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, meaning it is more difficult for them to slow down and stop when necessary. If any driver speeds and causes an accident, they face liability for the resulting damages. Garbage truck drivers have a professional duty to obey posted speed limits and other traffic signals on their routes to minimize their risk of causing accidents.

These are only a few possible causes of garbage truck accidents in Beverly Hills. Once you have proven how your accident happened, you can proceed with claiming compensation for your damages from the defendant.

Recovering From Your Garbage Truck Accident in Beverly Hills

California law allows the victim of another party’s negligence or misconduct to seek full compensation for all the damages the defendant caused. This includes economic damages such as vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, and lost income if they cannot work because of their injuries. The plaintiff can claim compensation for both immediate and future economic damages resulting from the defendant’s actions, such as the cost of future medical care they require.

A plaintiff in a personal injury suit can also seek compensation for their pain and suffering, and state law does not limit this aspect of their recovery. The attorneys at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, approach every case we accept with the goal of helping our client recover as fully as the law allows, and we are often able to exceed our clients’ initial expectations for the outcomes of their cases. Garbage truck accidents may be less common than other types of accidents, but they can easily result in life-changing damages. If you find yourself in the aftermath of a garbage truck accident that someone else caused, it is crucial to reach out to legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible to have the greatest chance of success with the recovery efforts you pursue.

FAQs About Beverly Hills, CA Garbage Truck Accident Law

Must I Hire a Beverly Hills Garbage Truck Accident Attorney?

You can attempt to handle your auto insurance claim filing process and a subsequent personal injury claim on your own. There is no law requiring you to hire legal counsel for your recovery efforts. However, you must acknowledge the risks you would face in attempting this. You may overlook key details that influence your ability to recover your damages, or you could unintentionally accept less compensation than you rightfully deserve under state law. Hiring legal counsel can improve your chances of success with your recovery efforts, and you will be better prepared to face unexpected challenges that could arise with your claim.

Who Is Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident in Beverly Hills?

Proving liability for your recent accident is an essential first step toward recovery of your damages. It’s possible that the garbage truck driver caused the accident, in which case their employer could face liability for your damages. Vicarious liability often comes into play in commercial vehicle accident cases in which employers bear responsibility for the actions of their employees. It is also possible for a third party to bear liability, and you will need to prove exactly how they caused the accident to recover compensation for your damages.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Garbage Truck Accident in Beverly Hills?

The total value of any accident claim hinges on the severity of the victim’s damages. Under California’s personal injury laws, the plaintiff has the right to seek full compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and the pain and suffering they experienced. A Beverly Hills garbage truck accident attorney is the ideal resource to consult when you need to know the potential value of your civil claim. They can help you identify the extent of immediate and future damages you can expect from a successful case.

How Long Will It Take to Resolve a Garbage Truck Accident Case in Beverly Hills?

When another party is liable for the garbage truck accident you recently experienced, it may take anywhere from several weeks to several months to resolve the legal proceedings that follow. The factors that typically determine how long it will take to resolve any civil case include the clearness of fault, the defendant’s willingness to accept liability and negotiate a settlement, and the scope of the victim’s damages. Your Beverly Hills garbage truck accident attorney can offer an estimate of how long it might take for you to resolve your claim.

What Happens if I Was Partially Responsible for Causing My Recent Accident?

The state upholds the pure comparative fault rule. This rule comes into play whenever a plaintiff shares fault with a defendant for causing the damages cited in a civil suit. If you are found partially responsible for your recent accident, the judge handling your case will assign you a fault percentage, and this percentage is taken from your final case award. For example, 10% fault means losing 10% of the total compensation won from the defendant.

Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, can provide the responsive legal representation you want on your side in the aftermath of a serious garbage truck accident. Not only can these accidents potentially cause severe injuries, but they also tend to generate more complex questions of liability that the average person will not be able to answer on their own. If you are ready to learn what a Beverly Hills garbage truck accident attorney can do for your recovery, contact us today to schedule your consultation with our team.