Orange County Garbage Truck Accident Attorneys
Garbage Truck Accident Lawyers in Orange County, CA
You might not think of the truck that comes and collects your garbage every week as particularly dangerous. They are slow and cumbersome to navigate around, but do they really pose a threat?
Many people underestimate the risks of garbage trucks. In 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 107 fatalities connected to garbage trucks, with an additional 1,400 injuries.
Factors Contributing to Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks are dangerous for several reasons – they are heavy, they don’t turn easily, they have large blind spots, and they have to back up frequently. They pose a particular danger to pedestrians and children because of these elements. Though these vehicles and their operators perform an essential service, their poor visibility and handling pose a real threat to residents of Orange County, California.
A garbage truck can weigh as much as 50 tons fully loaded. They often weave in and out of traffic, which makes their movement more unpredictable. These erratic movements pose a danger to those who use the shoulder (i.e. bike lanes, pedestrians) as well as those who are small enough to fit completely into a garbage truck’s blind spot (motorcyclists, drivers of smaller motor vehicles).
Garbage trucks recently made headlines when an investigative journalist followed a private trash collection company based in New York. The company had installed cameras in their trucks, which showed drivers falling asleep while operating vehicles. Despite this, the crews were on the road up to 14 hours a day, six days per week.
When a person sustains injuries as the result of a garbage truck accident, they may be able to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death suit as compensation. A personal injury claim helps a victim of negligence pay for incurred medical costs, compensate for lost wages, and helps alleviate the financial stresses of recovering from an accident.
Elements of a Garbage Truck Accident Claim
The first step in filing a garbage truck accident claim is determining the responsible party. Like semi-truck and heavy tractor trailers, operators and managers of garbage trucks must adhere to federal regulations set forth by the FMCSA. These comprehensive rules establish standards that all companies, drivers, and employees must adhere to. Violation of these rules often determine who is responsible for a garbage truck accident.
In garbage truck accidents, one or more parties may be responsible for the injuries a person incurs. A few of the possible responsible parties include:
- The operator of the garbage truck. While the operator may cause the accident, liability often falls with the company who employs them. Examples include negligent hiring or failure to properly monitor employees.
- Municipal governments. Trash pick up services may be through private entities or through the local government. In the latter case, swift action is essential. Claims against the government feature shorter statutes of limitation and very specific filing processes. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a municipally operated garbage truck, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your options as soon as possible.
- The manufacturer of the truck or its component parts. In some cases, a truck may malfunction because a hydraulic arm gets stuck or a tire blows out, leading to another person’s injury. In this case, it is possible that the manufacturer of these parts is liable for any damages that result.
Why Consult with an Orange County California Personal Injury Attorney?
Personal injury claims in Orange County serve as an important avenue for recourse for injured people and their families. Victims of garbage truck accidents suffer both monetary and intangible losses as a result of another person’s negligence. By law, that person is eligible to collect damages to compensate for those losses. A victim of negligence may collect several different types of damages in a personal injury claim. Some possibilities include:
- Special damages cover tangible losses and expenses related to the injury or accident. Examples include, but are not limited to, lost wages, loss of earning potential (in the case of permanent or grievous injury), compensation for medical bills, the projected cost of future medical care, and any household expenses.
- General damages intend to compensate the victim for the immaterial losses resulting from the accident. For example, general damages may include payment for pain and suffering or mental anguish.
- Wrongful death damages intend to help a family pay for the costs associated with the loss of a loved one. They include payment for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial contribution, loss of partnership or consortium, and costs associated with pre-death medical care.
- Punitive damages, awarded in select circumstances, seek to punish the plaintiff for wrongdoing or wanton misconduct.
What To Do After a Garbage Truck Accident in Orange County, California
Claims involving garbage, recycling, and waste disposal trucks are often complex because they may require expert testimony, such as safety experts for the trucking industry. It’s also likely there are several insurance companies or policies involved. Claims involving local or municipal governments may also complicate matters. As such, it’s essential to seek help from an Orange County personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A personal injury attorney can help you better understand your options and decide on the next appropriate course of action. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help identify the party responsible for your injuries and hold them accountable for the damages their negligence caused.
The attorneys at Easton Law Firm understand the complexities that govern garbage accident cases. We have over 100 years of combined experience and are dedicated to those who have been seriously injured or endured the wrongful death of someone they love. If you require help understanding your legal options following a garbage truck accident, contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton was voted #1 in 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2027. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2026. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2026. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
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