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Baton Rouge Garbage Truck Driver Injury Lawyer
Garbage Truck Driver Injury Attorney in Baton Rouge, LA
Key Takeaways
- Garbage truck drivers face elevated injury risks due to vehicle collisions, hazardous materials, heavy machinery, and frequent stops on congested and residential roads.
- In 2022, garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 115 fatal crashes nationwide, along with nearly 1,500 injury accidents and approximately 2,600 towaway accidents.
- In 2025, East Baton Rouge Parish reported 193 commercial vehicles involved in fatal or injury crashes, resulting in 327 suspected injuries and six fatalities.
- Most injured garbage truck drivers can recover benefits through workers’ compensation, even if the driver’s own actions contributed to the accident.
- Additional compensation may be available through a personal injury claim when another driver, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or third party caused the injury.
- Common non-collision injuries include falls, lifting-related strains, equipment malfunctions, falling objects, and exposure to hazardous materials found in refuse.
Operators of garbage trucks are at a higher risk of injury compared to a lot of other forms of employment. Dangerous property, hazardous materials, and vehicle collisions are some of the potential ways that garbage collectors can be injured. A skilled Baton Rouge garbage truck driver injury lawyer can help injured truck drivers, whether you work for a private company or a governmental service. We help you recover essential financial compensation.
Find a Baton Rouge Garbage Truck Driver Injury Attorney You Can Rely On
At Murphy Law Firm, we can help you recover through a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. For the past 30 years, our firm has helped people like you get the compensation you are owed, and we’ve secured over $250 million in verdicts and settlements. However, past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits. You should also understand what to do after a car accident in Louisiana to ensure your rights are protected from the start.
As an injured employee, you need financial support as you recover. If a third party is to blame, you can recover even more damages. Our experienced Baton Rouge workers’ compensation lawyer advocates for you and works to secure this compensation.
Garbage Truck Vehicle Collisions in Baton Rouge
In 2022, there were 115 garbage or refuse trucks involved in fatal crashes throughout the United States. There were also nearly 1,500 trucks involved in injury accidents and nearly 2,600 involved in towaway accidents. Car accidents occur throughout Baton Rouge each day. Although garbage truck accidents are much less common, they can occur.
There are a lot of busy and congested roads in Baton Rouge, including I-10 and I-12, which are major transportation corridors. It is helpful to see which are the most dangerous roads in Baton Rouge where these collisions frequently occur. While these are less-common locations for garbage truck accidents, they can happen. Typically, garbage truck accidents are more likely in parking lots, on side streets, and at other stops on their route.
In East Baton Rouge Parish, there were 193 commercial vehicles involved in fatal or injury crashes in 2025, and six of the vehicles were in fatal crashes. The collisions these vehicles were in resulted in six fatalities and 327 suspected injuries.
Garbage truck drivers who are injured in a collision can file for workers’ compensation with their employer. Even if the garbage truck driver’s negligence caused the crash, they can likely still recover compensation through workers’ comp. If another driver were to blame for the accident, a garbage truck driver could recover additional damages by filing with that driver’s personal car insurance.
Other Causes of Garbage Truck Driver Injuries
Vehicle accidents are not the only cause of garbage truck driver injuries. There are numerous hazards for drivers and other workers on these routes. This includes:
- Falls. Garbage truck drivers and collectors can slip and fall due to dangerous weather conditions like rain or even ice, because of slippery floors in trucks, or hazards around garbage containers. Falls are also more likely because collectors frequently exit their vehicles. While some falls are minor, others can cause injuries like brain injuries, neck and back injuries, and even fractures.
- Falling objects. Garbage can be lifted into garbage trucks manually or through machinery. If objects in the trash are unsecured or there are loose objects in trash cans, they can fall on employees during loading.
- Equipment malfunctions. Sanitation workers generally have heavy machinery for putting garbage into the vehicle. If this machinery malfunctions or other errors are made, it can result in crushing accidents, caught-by injuries, and other incidents.
- Lifting injuries. Employees can sustain sprains and strains because of repeated movements and lifting heavy objects. When repetitive motion strains are caused by work duties, it can result in compensation.
- Hazardous exposure. There are a lot of dangerous materials in trash, including broken glass, chemicals, needles, metal, and other hazards. This can lead to infection, disease, or other hazardous injuries.
Like in a vehicle collision, injured employees can file workers’ compensation claims to recover partial damages. It is vital to learn how federal regulations affect truck accident lawsuits when pursuing a claim against a commercial entity. However, there may be cause to file a personal injury claim against another party, such as a property owner or the manufacturer of vehicle equipment.
Meet Our Attorney
Peyton Murphy
Peyton Murphy, a Louisiana lawyer with 30+ years of experience, specializes in personal injury cases. He founded Murphy Law Firm in Baton Rouge in 1993 and fights for his clients’ compensation.
Contact Peyton
FAQs
Who Is Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident?
Each accident is different, and the liable party in an accident will depend on the facts of the collision. Most often, one of the drivers in the accident is liable, whether that is the garbage truck driver or another driver. However, these are complicated incidents, and other parties could be liable. The accident may have been caused by a faulty car part or malfunctioning machinery, meaning a product manufacturer, inspector, or mechanic might be liable.
Is Louisiana a No-Fault Accident State?
No, Louisiana is not a no-fault accident state. If you are in a vehicle accident, the at-fault driver is liable for the damages caused by the accident. Claims are filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance.
For accidents involving garbage trucks, claims might be filed against the truck company’s commercial insurance or against a governmental agency. Claims might also be against a driver’s personal car insurance if someone other than the garbage truck employee were to blame.
What Is the Negligence Law in Louisiana?
The negligence law in Louisiana for personal injuries means that in an accident, a negligent party can be held liable for the injuries they cause. In a vehicle accident, a driver might be negligent if they failed to use a turn signal, drove distracted, or were speeding, and this action or inaction was the cause of the accident. Negligence occurs when someone breaches the duty of care they owe to others.
Why Do You Need to Hire a Garbage Truck Driver Injury Lawyer in Louisiana?
While it isn’t legally required, you need to hire a garbage truck driver injury lawyer to protect your interests. These incidents can be complicated, with many potentially at-fault parties and several insurance companies involved. You need the resources of an attorney to protect your rights and your ability to recover compensation. An attorney investigates the crash, its cause, and the liable parties, and then gathers evidence to file a strong claim. They negotiate on your behalf.
Schedule a Consultation With a Garbage Truck Driver Injury Lawyer
It is much easier to recover financial compensation with the help of the attorneys at Murphy Law Firm. You can take the time you need to rest, and our firm will work to recover the damages you need to move forward with your life. Reach out to our firm today.
Baton Rouge, LA Garbage Truck Driver Injury Resources
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