Las Vegas Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

In any accident-based lawsuit, it’s important to establish liability, or who was at fault for the accident and damages caused by it.

Liability for a garbage truck accident can be complex. This is because garbage trucks usually involve several parties. There may be help in operating and maintaining or managing them.

It’s important to establish who was liable for the accident because Nevada follows a fault-based system. The fault-based system means responsible parties may pay for damages.

Possible At-Fault Parties

Our law firm will help to determine potential at-fault parties. Some may think it’s as simple as the fault goes to:

• the driver
• the waste management company

In reality, it’s much more complex than that.

The basis for a personal injury lawsuit is usually the concept of negligence.

Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care, resulting in injury or damage to another person.

Another important concept is duty of care. A waste management company has a duty of care to safely manage garbage truck operations in the city. This is to help avoid foreseeable harm to motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and the public.

So, in order to determine fault your Las Vegas garbage truck lawyer will investigate:

• driver actions
• company policies
• equipment conditions
• driver logs
• maintenance records
• witness statements, and more.

Garbage Truck Driver

One possible at-fault party in a garbage truck accident is the driver. Certain possible negligent actions the driver may have taken can include:

• distracted driving
• driving while fatigued
• speeding
• failing to check blind spots
• unsafe backing up
• running stop signs in neighborhoods
• failing to monitor surroundings during trash pickup

Garbage truck drivers are required to operate vehicles in a safe manner under traffic laws.

Waste Management Company or Employer

Most of the time, trash trucks are owned and operated by waste management companies.

Companies can be liable for accidents due to poor:

• hiring
• training
• supervision
• safety enforcement

Some examples of this include:

• failure to maintain trucks
• overworking drivers
• ignoring safety protocols

One example of a large company that operates waste management trucks in Las Vegas is Republic Services.

Government Entities Responsible for Municipal Trucks

If the truck involved in the accident is owned or operated by a city or municipal agency, there may be additional rules. Suing a government entity can be more complex and include special legal procedures such as potentially shorter notice deadlines to file claims.

Vehicle or Equipment Manufacturers

A garbage truck has many different components that may not work right. Brakes, hydraulics, warning systems and more. If defective equipment helped cause the wreck, the manufacturer may be named in the lawsuit.

Maintenance Providers and Third-Party Contractors

Garbage fleets often use outside vendors. If one failed to inspect or repair the truck properly, that company may be part of the lawsuit. Worn brakes, tire blowouts, and bad lights are common examples.

The purpose of a garbage truck accident lawsuit is to help affected people get compensated for their losses due to the damages from the accident.

The damages one may be able to seek include both:

• Economic damages, which are tied to dollar amounts. These are things like medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, lost earnings, and property damage.
• Non-economic damages, which are not tied to exact dollar amounts and are harder to calculate. These include things such as pain and suffering.

It’s important to remember that severe injuries from heavy truck collisions often result in higher long-term costs and damages

If you are involved in an accident involving a garbage truck in Nevada, it’s important to take actions that protect both your safety and legal rights.

Prioritizing your safety and medical care can minimize further harm. Securing documentation and pursuing early legal support can protect your legal rights.

Here are some recommended steps you can take to maximize your protection after an accident:

Step 1: Check yourself to ensure you are safe, then if possible make sure others are safe. Move to a safe location out of traffic and assess injuries to prevent further harm.

Step 2: Call 911. This ensures law enforcement documents the accident and creates a police report.

Step 3: Seek medical attention immediately. It’s also important to note that even if you think everyone is fine, it can still be necessary to seek medical attention because some injuries like concussions take time to show symptoms.

Step 4: Document the scene of the accident. Take detailed photos and videos of the garbage truck, accident scene, equipment, road conditions, injuries and anything else you think may help explain what happened.

Step 5: Collect names and contact information of the driver, witnesses, and any other involved parties.

Step 6: We recommend that you avoid speaking with insurance adjusters or company representatives without first consulting an attorney. Insurance companies often try to minimize what they pay out. They may use tactics like recording conversations, then using your own words against you to try and pay less.

Step 7: Contact a Las Vegas garbage truck accident attorney if desired to begin evidence preservation and case evaluation.

Garbage truck accidents can happen for a variety of different reasons. These are large heavy vehicles that make frequent stops in neighborhoods, alleys, and busy streets.

This section breaks down what the data says are some of the more common causes of garbage truck accidents.

Backing or Reversing Maneuvers

Backing up is a recognized garbage truck hazard. A safety alert from NIOSH found that 18% of the refuse truck fatalities it reviewed happened while the truck was backing up.

Blind Spots Around the Truck

Like most large trucks, garbage trucks have large blind spots. NIOSH specifically identifies this as a hazard for refuse truck accidents.

Driver Distraction or Inattention

This one isn’t specific to garbage trucks, but according to NHTSA, non-driving activities can increase crash risk. This applies to all drivers who take their attention off the road.

Driver Fatigue or Drowsiness

NHTSA says 14% of truck drivers said they had almost crashed due to their drowsiness. Many trash collection jobs start very early in the morning. Shifts are long and often repetitive.

Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions

When a larger vehicle drives too fast, it further increases their stopping distance. This speed can reduce their ability to stop and can also increase how severe injuries are during a crash.

Wide Turns and Turning Conflicts

Garbage trucks often need extra space to make turns. This is especially relevant during right hand turns. FMCSA warns other drivers not to get between a truck and a curb during a turn.

Unsafe Exterior Riding Practices

It’s common to see refuse workers riding on rear steps or outside parts of the truck during collection. According to the CDC, out of 604 refuse-vehicle-related fatal incidents they analyzed, 181 included exterior riding deaths.

Garbage truck accidents, like any accident involving large trucks can produce severe injuries. These injuries can result in long-term disability or even fatalities. This is due to the size and weight of garbage trucks.

Here are some examples of injuries an affected party may sustain after an accident:

• Traumatic brain injuries caused by high-impact collisions or sudden force.
• Spinal cord injuries that may lead to paralysis or permanent impairment.
• Crushed limbs or severe fractures due to vehicle weight and impact.
• Internal injuries and bleeding from strong collision forces.
• Soft tissue injuries including neck, back, and muscle damage.

There are obviously more ways one could be injured after a collision with a large trash truck, but those are some common ones.

An accident involving a garbage truck can be more complex than the average car accident.

This is because garbage truck accidents may involve:

• commercial vehicles
• multiple parties
• regulatory issues

These cases often require detailed investigation, which is why legal representation may be helpful.

Multiple Liable Parties and Layered Responsibility

As we mentioned above, it’s very possible that more than one party may be responsible for the same crash.

Imagine a situation where the driver may have been careless behind the wheel. But at the same time, the waste management company may have failed to enforce safety rules.

Nevada fault laws may allow responsibility to be divided between parties. Each party’s percentage of fault can affect how damages are paid.

Government Involvement and Special Legal Deadlines

Some garbage trucks in Nevada are owned or operated by municipalities.

As we explained above, claims against government entities can follow different rules than claims against companies.

If required steps are missed, the right to recover compensation may be limited or lost. Prompt action is often important when a public entity is involved.

Commercial Vehicle Regulations and Safety Standards

Garbage trucks are commercial vehicles, so they are usually subject to safety rules.

These rules can involve:

• regular maintenance
• driver qualifications
• training
• inspections
• required safety equipment (backup alarms, lights, mirrors, and braking systems)

If a company did not follow safety standards or required processes, that can help support a claim of negligence. Keep in mind, violations don’t automatically prove the company is liable but it can serve as important evidence.

This section reviews some of the laws relevant to garbage truck accident claims in Nevada.

Disclaimer: These law summaries are not exhaustive and are provided for general understanding only. They reflect Nevada law at the time of writing and may be subject to updates or change. For legal advice or a full interpretation, consult an attorney. Always check with an attorney or the Nevada Legislature for the most current information.

Nevada’s Comparative Negligence Law

NRS 41.141 – Generally allows an injured person to recover damages if they are 50% or less at fault for the incident, but any recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.

Example: After an investigation, fault is placed 30% on the injured driver and 70% on the garbage truck driver. In this scenario, if $100,000 in damages are awarded, that figure may therefore be reduced to $70,000.

Nevada’s Statute of Limitations

NRS 11.190 – Requires actions for personal injury or wrongful death to be filed within 2 years of the injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act.

Some Nevada Specific Laws related to Garbage Truck Accidents

NRS 41.130 – Holds a person and potentially their employer liable for damages when injury is caused by wrongful acts, neglect, or default.

NRS 41.085 – Allows heirs and personal representatives to bring an action and recover damages when a person’s death is caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.

NRS 484C.110 – Prohibits a person from driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or with specified prohibited levels in their system.

NRS 484B.600 – Prohibits driving at a speed greater than is reasonable, proper, posted, or that endangers persons or property.

NRS 484E.010 – Requires a driver involved in a crash causing injury or death to immediately stop, remain at the scene, and comply with required post-crash duties.

NRS 484E.030 – Requires a driver involved in a crash to provide identifying information, show their license upon request, render reasonable assistance to injured persons, and report the crash if no police officer is present.

NRS 706.386 – Requires certain motor carriers to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity before operating in intrastate commerce.

NRS 706.151 – Establishes the State’s policy to regulate motor carriers, require licensing, and promote safe and efficient transportation services.

According to FMCSA cargo body type reporting, 20 large trucks involved in Nevada crashes during calendar year 2025 were listed as “Garbage/Refuse.”

Come see us, we are located at:
7785 W Sahara Ave Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89117