Santa Clarita Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hit by a garbage truck on McBean Parkway, run off the road on Soledad Canyon, or clipped while walking near the curb in Canyon Country, Saugus, or Stevenson Ranch on collection day, you’re dealing with a different animal than a typical fender-bender.

These trucks weigh upwards of 25 tons fully loaded, they have blind spots big enough to hide a parked car, and, this is the part almost nobody tells you up front, figuring out who you’re actually filing a claim against can be more complicated than the crash itself.

I spent close to a decade on the insurance defense side before I started representing injured people, defending truck drivers, bus drivers, motorists, and companies that operate commercial fleets.

I know how these cases get evaluated from the other side of the table, and garbage truck cases in particular carry a wrinkle most attorneys, and most accident victims, don’t see coming until it’s almost too late.

Who May Be Held Responsible

Liability in a garbage truck accident isn’t always a single party, and it isn’t always obvious:

• The garbage truck driver: The obvious responsible party if the crash resulted from speeding, running a stop sign, failing to yield, making an unsafe lane change, or general recklessness;
• The employer or owner of the truck: An additional responsible party includes the employer of the truck driver, i.e. the company that owns or operates the garbage trucks. These parties can be held responsible for the driver’s negligence while on the job, pursuant to the doctrine of respondeat superior. For example, if the garbage truck accident occurred in Santa Clarita, that would be Burrtec;
• Maintenance or repair companies: If a mechanical failure like a brake or steering malfunction caused the crash, whoever was responsible for servicing that vehicle may share liability; and
• Parts manufacturers: If a defective component, like a faulty brake system, contributed to the accident, a product liability claim against the manufacturer may be appropriate.

Potential Trap: Who Is The Employer or Who Actually Owns the Truck?

Here’s the part of these cases that trips people up, and it’s specific to how waste collection works in California cities like Santa Clarita, Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, and Val Verde.

Trash pickup here is typically handled under a contract between the city, such as Santa Clarita, Burbank, Glendale (or a municipal waste authority), and a private hauling company. The truck rolling down your street on collection day is usually operated by a private contractor, but not always. And that distinction changes your entire timeline.

If the truck is directly owned and operated by a government entity, your claim falls under the California Government Claims Act, which requires filing a formal claim within six months of the accident. That’s a fraction of the standard two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury cases in California. Miss that six-month window, and you can lose your right to recover entirely, no extensions, no second chances.

If the truck is operated by a private company under a service agreement with the city, the standard two-year deadline generally applies to the private company, but the six month statute applies to the City.

The problem is that from where you’re standing after a crash, a garbage truck just looks like a garbage truck. You don’t automatically know which category it falls into. That’s exactly the kind of detail that gets buried in a claims file, and it’s exactly the kind of thing I used to help sort out for the defense side, which is why I know how important it is to nail down early when I’m working for the injured person instead.

How Do Most Garbage Truck Accidents Occur?

• Driver carelessness or error: speeding, failure to check mirrors, distraction, fatigue, unsafe lane changes, reversing without proper lookout, or failing to yield
• Blind spots: the sheer size of a garbage truck creates significant blind zones, putting pedestrians, especially small children; motorcyclists; cyclists; skateboarders; scooters; and smaller vehicles at risk
• Mechanical failure: brake failures or steering problems
• Unsecured loads: unsecured trash falling from the truck, improper loading, or load weight shifting and affecting handling
• Weather: Inclement weather, such as rain and fog, can reduce visibility and make these already hard-to-maneuver vehicles even harder to control

California’s Comparative Fault Rule

What if you are partially at fault for the accident? For example, if you were driving too fast when a garbage truck makes an unsafe left turn in front of you. What happens then?

California follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

In the above example, if you were driving too fast when a garbage truck makes an unsafe left turn in front of you, you might still recover damages, just reduced proportionally.

I’ll tell you plainly: insurance companies use this rule as a tactic. In my years on the defense side, arguing that an injured person bears some percentage of fault, even 10 or 15%, was a standard way to chip down a settlement number before negotiations really started. Understanding that this tactic exists is the first step in not letting it work against you.

What Should You Do After a Garbage Truck Accident?

1. Get medical attention — even if your injuries seem minor at first. Some injuries, including concussions and soft tissue injuries, may not show symptoms right away.
2. Report the accident — call law enforcement and notify the waste management company or local authority if it’s clear which one operated the truck. If the garbage truck accident occurs in Santa Clarita, you would call the LA County Sheriff’s Department. If the garbage truck accident occurs in the San Fernando Valley, you would contact the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
3. Document everything at the scene — the driver’s name, the company name on the garbage truck, contact information, witness details, and photos of the vehicle damage, the accident site, and your injuries.
4. Don’t discuss fault — not with the driver, not with an adjuster, not with the hauling company before speaking with an attorney.
5. Keep records — medical bills, repair estimates, lost wages, anything tied to the financial impact of the crash.
6. Talk to an attorney promptly — given the possibility of a six-month government claims deadline, waiting even a few weeks to “see how you feel” can cost you your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the name of the garbage truck owner or the company operating the truck?
Generally, the name would be imprinted on the truck, as the owner or operator.

Does it make a difference if the garbage truck is owned by the city or a private company?
Yes, significantly. A government-owned and operated truck puts your claim under the California Government Claims Act’s six-month filing deadline. A privately operated truck under a municipal contract generally falls under the standard two-year statute of limitations.

Can the driver’s employer (i.e. the waste management company) be held responsible for the driver’s actions?
Often, yes. Under respondeat superior, an employer can be held responsible for an employee’s negligent (careless) actions performed within the course and scope of their job duties.

What if the accident was caused by a mechanical defect?
If a maintenance failure or defective part caused the crash, the maintenance company or parts manufacturer may share liability alongside, or instead of, the driver.

How long do I have to file a claim?
It depends entirely on who operated the truck. Private company claims generally follow California’s standard two-year statute of limitations. Government-operated truck claims generally require a formal claim within six months. Given how much is riding on that distinction, it’s worth speaking with an attorney right away rather than guessing.

Injured by a Garbage Truck in Santa Clarita? Let’s Talk.

Between the size of these vehicles, the layered liability, and the potential for a shortened government claims deadline, garbage truck accidents are not cases to sit on.

I’ve spent time on both sides of these claims, and I know how to move quickly on the parts that can’t wait. I also live and work in Santa Clarita. So, I have a personal connection and deep ties to our great city and its residents.

As a Santa Clarita Personal Injury Lawyer, I (Mason Rashtian) from The Mason Law Firm, help those injured by a garbage truck anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley, including Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, or Val Verde.

Call (661) 476-5678 or text (661) 476-5678 today for a free consultation.

Our slogan: “We meet our clients by accident!”

Mason Rashtian, The Mason Law Firm | mrscvlaw.com