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Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer in Miami: Bobby Nuñez Fights for You
A fully loaded garbage truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, stops constantly, and has some of the worst blind spots on the road. If one of these trucks hit you, your car, or someone you love in South Florida, Bobby Nuñez personally investigates exactly who was behind the wheel and who they worked for, because that answer changes everything about your case.
Florida gives you only two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim, and if the truck involved was owned by a city or county, an even shorter notice deadline can apply. The sooner Bobby Nuñez gets involved, the sooner route records, maintenance logs, and dashcam footage get locked down before they disappear. Call (305) 444-4407 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Garbage Truck Accidents Need a Different Approach
Garbage truck crashes are part of the broader category our Miami truck accident lawyer practice handles every day, but these accidents come with a wrinkle most other truck cases don’t: the truck that hit you might belong to a private waste company, or it might belong to the city or county itself, and that single fact can completely change how your claim has to be filed.
Why These Trucks Are So Dangerous
A fully loaded rear-loader garbage truck typically weighs 40,000 to 60,000 pounds, and a fully loaded front-loader can weigh 60,000 to 80,000 pounds, several times heavier than most other vehicles on the road. These trucks also make frequent stops in tight residential streets, back up repeatedly, and operate with significant blind spots around the cab and rear. Refuse and recycling collection is consistently ranked among the most dangerous occupations in the country: federal labor data puts the 2024 fatality rate for refuse and recyclable material collectors at 37.4 per 100,000 workers, the 5th deadliest job in the United States that year.
Common Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents
- Rear-end collisions caused by the truck’s frequent, sudden stops
- Blind-spot collisions while turning or merging
- Backing accidents in residential streets, alleys, and parking areas
- Driver distraction or fatigue during long, repetitive collection routes
- Brake failures and other poor-maintenance mechanical issues
- Route and time pressure leading to rushed or unsafe maneuvers
- Defective lifting arms, hoppers, or other specialized equipment
Private Hauler or Government Truck? Why It Changes Your Case
Not every garbage truck in South Florida belongs to the same kind of company. Some routes are run by private waste haulers under contract, including Waste Management (WM), Waste Pro, Republic Services, and GFL Environmental. Others are run directly by a city or county sanitation department using government-owned trucks and government employees. Figuring out which one hit you is one of the first things Bobby Nuñez does, because Florida law treats the two situations very differently.
| Type of Truck | Examples | Key Legal Difference |
| Private waste hauler | Waste Management (WM), Waste Pro, Republic Services, GFL Environmental, and other contracted haulers | Handled as an ordinary Florida negligence claim, with full compensatory damages available and no special government notice requirement |
| Government-owned truck | City sanitation department or county solid waste division vehicle | Florida’s sovereign immunity law caps damages at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, requires written notice within 3 years, and any amount above the cap needs a separate claims bill passed by the Legislature (Fla. Stat. § 768.28) |
If your accident involved a Waste Management truck or another private hauler, your claim generally proceeds like any other commercial vehicle case, we investigate the driver’s training, the company’s fleet maintenance records, and its insurance coverage. If a city or county truck was involved, we move quickly to preserve evidence and file the required government notice well within the deadline, since missing it can bar your claim entirely. For a deeper look at company-level negligence and federal trucking regulations, see our page on trucking company negligence and liability.
Who Else May Share Liability After a Garbage Truck Accident
Beyond the truck’s owner, other parties can share responsibility depending on what caused the crash:
- The driver, for speeding, distraction, fatigue, or failing to check blind spots
- A third-party maintenance contractor, for poor repairs or ignored safety recalls
- The truck or equipment manufacturer, for a defective lifting arm, hopper, or braking system
- A staffing or dispatch company, for inadequate training or unsafe route scheduling
Injuries Common in Garbage Truck Accidents
Given the size and weight of these trucks, even a lower-speed impact can cause serious harm, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability
What to Do After a Garbage Truck Accident
- Call 911 and get medical attention, even if you feel fine at the scene
- Photograph the truck, including any company name or logo (Waste Management, another private hauler, or a city/county seal), its license plate, and the accident scene
- Get the driver’s name and, if possible, their employer’s name and insurance information
- Collect contact information for any witnesses
- Avoid discussing fault with the driver, the hauling company, a government adjuster, or any insurance adjuster before speaking with Bobby Nuñez
- Keep every medical record, receipt, and pay stub connected to your recovery
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Garbage Truck Accident
Depending on the facts of your case, and subject to the sovereign immunity cap discussed above if a government truck was involved, compensation may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent injury or disability
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Florida Law and Deadlines After a Garbage Truck Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 5,472 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving large trucks in 2023, an 8% decrease from 5,969 in 2022, a reminder of how serious any large commercial vehicle crash can be.
- Statute of limitations: You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)), and two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(d))
- Comparative negligence: Florida bars recovery if you are found 51% or more at fault for the accident (Fla. Stat. § 768.81)
- No-fault (PIP) coverage: Florida requires a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection, covering 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages, regardless of fault (Fla. Stat. § 627.736)
This section explains general Florida law and is not legal advice about your specific case. The sovereign immunity deadlines above apply only when a government entity owned or operated the truck.
Why Choose AccidentLawFirm.com After a Garbage Truck Accident
Bobby Nuñez handles garbage truck accident cases personally, from the first phone call through resolution. You are not handed off to a case manager or a junior associate.
- Free consultation, no obligation
- Contingency fee: no fee unless we win
- Personal handling by Bobby Nuñez, not a rotating team of junior lawyers
- A track record that includes results such as $993,000, $442,000, $299,000, $240,000, $182,000, $165,000, and $100,000 recovered for injured clients
- Se habla español — falamos português — we serve clients in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
- Recognition including America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys and Top 10 Miami Truck Accident Lawyer 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About Garbage Truck Accidents
Who is liable if I’m hit by a garbage truck in Florida?
It depends on who owns the truck. If a private hauler like Waste Management, Waste Pro, Republic Services, or GFL Environmental operated it, the company is generally liable for its driver’s negligence like any other commercial vehicle owner. If a city or county sanitation department owned the truck, Florida’s sovereign immunity law applies instead, with a damages cap and a strict notice deadline.
Does it matter if the garbage truck was privately owned or owned by the city or county?
Yes, significantly. A claim against a private hauler proceeds as an ordinary negligence case with no special damages cap. A claim against a government-owned truck is capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident under Fla. Stat. § 768.28, and requires written notice within 3 years, so identifying the truck’s owner early is critical.
What if the garbage truck involved was a Waste Management (WM) truck?
If a Waste Management truck hit you, your claim is generally treated as a private commercial vehicle case, not a government claim. Bobby Nuñez investigates the driver’s employment status, WM’s maintenance and training records, and the applicable commercial insurance coverage, the same approach used for any private hauler.
What should I do immediately after a garbage truck accident?
Call 911, get medical attention, photograph the truck including any company name or government seal, get witness information, and avoid discussing fault with the driver, the hauling company, or any adjuster before speaking with an attorney.
How long do I have to file a garbage truck accident claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of the accident for a personal injury claim, and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. If a government-owned truck was involved, you must also present written notice to the government agency within 3 years, so it’s important to act quickly.
What compensation can I recover after a garbage truck accident?
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, property damage, and wrongful death damages for surviving family members, subject to Florida’s damages cap if a government truck was involved.
How much does it cost to hire AccidentLawFirm.com?
Nothing up front. Your consultation is free, and we work on contingency, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless Bobby Nuñez wins your case.
Do you handle garbage truck accident cases outside Miami-Dade County?
Yes. We represent clients throughout South Florida, including Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Lee, Collier, and Martin counties. Call (305) 444-4407 for Miami-Dade and Monroe, or (954) 488-3000 for Broward.
Talk to Bobby Nuñez About Your Garbage Truck Accident Today
Our 5-Star Reviews Are No Accident. Whether the truck that hit you belonged to Waste Management, another private hauler, or the city itself, Bobby Nuñez will find out exactly who was responsible and fight to get you every dollar you’re owed.
Call (305) 444-4407 (Miami-Dade) or (954) 488-3000 (Broward) for your free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
AccidentLawFirm.com — 2151 SW 42nd Ave, Suite 200, Miami, FL 33134. Or contact us online any time.
