When you hire a San Antonio garbage truck accident lawyer at Trevino Injury Law, we find out who owned and operated the truck, meet the strict deadlines that apply to claims against a city, and pursue full compensation for your injuries.
Garbage trucks stop dozens of times on every route, back up in tight alleys, and swing heavy mechanical arms within feet of cars, cyclists and pedestrians. When one causes a crash, the first question is who was behind the wheel: a City of San Antonio driver or a private waste hauler.
That answer changes almost everything about your claim, from the notice you must give to how much the law allows you to recover. We investigate route data, cameras, maintenance records and the hauler’s contracts so the right party is held responsible.
What Could Your Garbage Truck Accident Case Be Worth?
Answer a few quick questions about your accident. Takes about 60 seconds.
See What My Case Might Be WorthThe insurance company offered less than $20,000. I ended up with over $1 million. — Jackie Galindo
We secured a $17 million settlement in a head-on collision case involving three fatalities. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A garbage truck’s route GPS, camera footage and maintenance files can be overwritten quickly, so we act early to demand that every company and agency involved preserve that evidence.
At Trevino Injury Law, our San Antonio truck accident lawyers identify whether a public agency or a private hauler is responsible, send the required notices on time, and prepare your case for trial when the insurer or the city disputes fault. Call 210-TREVINO for a free case review. You pay nothing unless we win. Se Habla Español.
Who Is Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident in San Antonio?
Liability depends on who owned and operated the truck: a city or other government entity, a private waste hauling company, or a contractor working for either one. Residential trash in San Antonio is collected largely by the city’s Solid Waste Management Department, while private haulers serve many businesses, apartment complexes and surrounding communities.
- The driver: distracted or rushed driving, backing without checking mirrors or cameras, or failing to watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
- The City of San Antonio or another public entity: when its employee was driving a city-owned truck within the scope of the job.
- A private hauling company: negligent hiring, training or supervision, unrealistic route schedules, or poorly maintained brakes and lifting arms.
- Maintenance and equipment companies: when a failed brake, backup camera, alarm or hydraulic arm caused the crash.
Private haulers answer for their drivers’ negligence much like other trucking companies. Learn more about how trucking company negligence is proven in Texas.
Can You Sue the City of San Antonio for a Garbage Truck Accident?
Yes, in many cases. The Texas Tort Claims Act waives a city’s immunity for injuries caused by an employee’s negligent operation or use of a motor vehicle, but it also limits those claims in ways that do not apply to private companies.
- Motor vehicle waiver: a governmental unit can be liable for injuries that arise from an employee’s operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle within the scope of employment (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.021).
- Damage caps: a municipality’s liability is capped at $250,000 for each person, $500,000 for each single occurrence of bodily injury or death, and $100,000 for property damage (§ 101.023(c)).
- Notice deadline: the government must receive written notice of the claim within six months of the incident, describing the damage or injury, the time and place, and how it happened (§ 101.101(a)).
- Shorter city deadlines: the statute recognizes notice provisions in a city charter or ordinance, which can be shorter than six months (§ 101.101(b)).
- Actual notice: formal written notice may not be required if the government already had actual notice of the injury (§ 101.101(c)).
The Supreme Court of Texas has applied this waiver to vehicle crashes involving government employees. In Ryder Integrated Logistics, Inc. v. Fayette County, the Court held that a claim alleging a sheriff’s deputy’s negligent use of his vehicle caused a highway collision could proceed under the Tort Claims Act. Because missing a notice deadline can end a claim, call a lawyer as soon as you learn a city truck was involved.
What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents?
Most garbage truck accidents happen during the stop-and-go work of a collection route, when trucks back up, pull away from the curb or swing their lifting arms near traffic. Commercial routes also put these trucks on busy roads such as Loop 410, Loop 1604 and I-35. See the most dangerous San Antonio highways for commercial truck crashes.
- Backing accidents: trucks reverse into alleys and cul-de-sacs, often without a spotter.
- Blind spots: the cab sits high, and drivers can miss cars, cyclists and pedestrians close to the truck.
- Sudden stops and pull-outs: frequent stops lead to rear-end collisions and sideswipes.
- Mechanical arm and equipment failures: an automated arm, hopper or brake that fails can strike vehicles or people.
- Rushed routes: tight schedules push drivers to hurry and skip safety checks.
- Spilled debris: trash that falls from the truck can cause drivers to swerve.
Commercial vehicle crashes are common in Bexar County. TxDOT recorded 2,684 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in Bexar County in 2024, with 18 deaths and 46 suspected serious injuries.
Who Gets Hurt in Garbage Truck Accidents?
Garbage truck crashes hurt drivers and passengers, but they also injure people on foot and on bikes, along with the sanitation workers who ride and work beside the trucks. Because these trucks weigh many times more than a car, injuries are often severe:
- Traumatic brain injuries. See commercial vehicle brain injury claims.
- Spinal cord and back injuries.
- Crush injuries, amputations and broken bones.
- Pedestrian and cyclist injuries. Learn about pedestrian accident claims.
- Wrongful death. See our San Antonio wrongful death lawyer page.
Medical bills can pile up while fault is investigated. Learn who pays medical bills after a truck accident in Texas.
What Evidence Proves a Garbage Truck Accident Claim?
The strongest garbage truck claims rely on records the city or hauler controls, so they must be requested and preserved quickly. We typically pursue:
- The Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report and any citations issued.
- Route schedules, GPS data and stop logs showing where the truck was and how fast it was moving.
- Onboard and backup camera footage, plus nearby home and business video.
- Maintenance and inspection records for brakes, cameras, alarms and the lifting arm.
- The driver’s training, licensing and work history.
- For city trucks, public records requests and the written notice of claim.
- Photos of the scene and statements from witnesses and residents.
Video and GPS data can be overwritten in days. A spoliation letter puts the hauler or agency on notice to preserve it.
Garbage Truck Accidents: Quick Answers
How Long Do I Have to File a Garbage Truck Accident Claim in Texas?
Most Texas personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. If a city or other government entity owned the truck, written notice is generally due within six months, and a city charter may require it sooner.
Is There a Limit on What I Can Recover From the City?
Yes. Under the Texas Tort Claims Act, a city’s liability is capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death. Claims against private haulers are not subject to these caps.
What If a Private Company Was Collecting Trash for the City?
A private contractor is generally not protected by governmental immunity, so it can be pursued like any other commercial trucking company. The contract between the city and the hauler can matter, so we obtain it early.
Can a Sanitation Worker Bring a Claim?
Possibly. A worker hurt by another driver can usually pursue that driver, and other options depend on the employer and its coverage. Compare similar issues in dump truck accident cases and box truck accident claims.
Why Hire a San Antonio Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer?
Claims involving city trucks move on government deadlines, and private haulers bring their own insurers and defense lawyers. Trevino Injury Law identifies who operated the truck, sends the required notices on time, secures the route and camera data, and prepares every case for a Bexar County jury. We secured a $17 million settlement in a head-on collision case involving three fatalities. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Don’t Guess About Your Rights. Get a Definite Answer
The insurance company is already evaluating your accident. Call 210-TREVINO Now to level the playing field, or contact Trevino Injury Law online. It’s confidential and you pay nothing unless we win.
Cities and waste haulers count on injured people missing a deadline or settling too soon. Injured families across South Texas trust South Texas injury lawyers who try cases before Bexar County juries to protect those deadlines and hold the responsible party accountable.
Call 210-TREVINO for a free, confidential consultation. Se Habla Español. You pay nothing unless we win.
