Hulburt Law Firm represents people and families affected by serious garbage truck accidents throughout San Diego County as part of our truck accident practice. We investigate the collision, preserve evidence, identify the responsible parties, and pursue compensation for the full impact of your injuries.
These cases require early attention. If a City of San Diego truck was involved, a written claim generally must be presented to the City within six months of the crash, long before the two-year deadline that applies to most injury lawsuits. Our attorneys can determine which deadlines apply and guide you through the next steps.
Seriously injured in a garbage truck accident? We can help.

Garbage trucks operate close to homes, sidewalks, cyclists, and other vehicles. Frequent stops, large blind spots, wide turns, and backing maneuvers create risks that require careful driving and safe collection practices. We represent people injured in collisions involving trash trucks, recycling trucks, and other sanitation vehicles, whether they are run by the City of San Diego or a private hauler.
A truck backing through an alley, out of a driveway, or along a residential street can strike someone the driver failed to see. Even at low speed, these collisions can cause devastating crush injuries. We investigate visibility, available cameras, warning systems, backing procedures, and whether the driver checked that the path was clear.
People walking or riding near a collection truck have little protection when a driver turns across their path or pulls away from the curb. We examine the truck’s movement, the driver’s sight lines, the location of crosswalks and bicycle lanes, and any video showing the moments before impact. These cases draw on our pedestrian accident and bicycle accident practices.
Garbage trucks need room to turn, but their size does not excuse unsafe driving. A wide turn, failure to yield, or careless lane change can force another vehicle off the road or trap it beside the truck. Physical evidence, witness accounts, and vehicle positioning can help establish how the collision occurred.
Collection routes involve repeated stops and starts, often in the travel lane. When a crash occurs, we investigate following distance, speed, brake lights, warning equipment, and where and how the truck stopped. A collision with the rear of a garbage truck does not answer every question about fault.
An unsecured load, dropped container, or improperly operated lifting arm can injure someone without a direct collision between vehicles. These cases may require examination of the collection equipment, maintenance history, operating procedures, and the actions of the driver or crew.
A sanitation worker struck by a negligent motorist may have a personal injury claim separate from workers’ compensation. We evaluate claims against responsible third parties, including other drivers and businesses. Hulburt Law Firm does not handle workers’ compensation claims.
When a garbage truck collision takes a life, surviving family members need a clear explanation of their rights and compassionate guidance. We investigate potential wrongful death claims, identify the parties responsible, and pursue compensation for the losses the law allows. If a City truck was involved, the six-month government claim deadline applies to the family’s claim as well.
Conor and Leslie Hulburt founded Hulburt Law Firm to represent people facing serious injuries and the loss of a loved one. The firm accepts a limited number of cases, so you work directly with the attorneys who get answers from the driver, the waste company, and any public agency involved.
Conor Hulburt has substantial experience handling truck and commercial vehicle cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. His cases have included a construction worker crushed by a reversing dump truck, a bicyclist killed when a commercial truck drifted onto the shoulder, and passengers injured when a fatigued box-truck driver crossed the Interstate 8 median into oncoming traffic.
Conor holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating, and Best Lawyers named him the 2027 San Diego Lawyer of the Year for plaintiffs’ product liability litigation. Conor and Leslie were both recognized by Super Lawyers in 2026.

Our attorneys have recovered compensation in cases involving severe injuries and fatal collisions.
A dump truck driver backed into a construction worker without first checking that the path was clear, crushing his leg against a bulldozer.
A commercial truck driver drifted off the roadway and struck and killed a San Diego bicyclist who was lawfully riding on the shoulder.
A fatigued box-truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel, crossed the Interstate 8 median into oncoming traffic, and struck an RV, seriously injuring its occupants.
A serious garbage truck case depends on early investigation, careful documentation of your injuries, and preparation for trial when a fair settlement is not offered.
We begin by listening to what happened and how you have been affected. We review the information available, look for urgent deadlines, and explain whether we can help. You do not need to know who owned the truck or have a complete set of records before contacting us.
We work to identify the truck’s owner, operator, and driver. Depending on the circumstances, relevant evidence may include onboard video, route records, GPS data, inspection reports, maintenance records, and nearby security footage. We seek preservation of available evidence before it is lost or overwritten.
We review your treatment, prognosis, and the practical effects of your injuries. Serious garbage truck collisions can cause brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, amputations, and lasting disability. When appropriate, we consult specialists to evaluate future care, reduced earning ability, and the assistance you may need.
We examine every supported basis for responsibility. That may include the driver’s conduct, the employer’s safety practices, a mechanical failure, or another party’s contribution to the collision. We also investigate available insurance and address government claim requirements when a public agency may be involved.
We build a demand supported by evidence of fault and the harm you have suffered. Before recommending a settlement, we consider future treatment, lost income, permanent limitations, and other losses. Our role is to help you make an informed decision about whether an offer fairly resolves your claim.
When a fair resolution cannot be reached, we are prepared to pursue the case in court. Litigation allows us to obtain records, question witnesses under oath, and present expert testimony. Throughout the process, we explain the decisions ahead and prepare the case for trial.
A garbage truck claim may involve a driver, a private waste company, or a public agency, and each can bring different rules and deadlines.
The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department collects residential trash, recycling, and organic waste for roughly 225,000 eligible residential customers using City trucks and City employees. Businesses and privately serviced residences use City-approved private franchise haulers, including EDCO, Republic Services, and Waste Management. Many other cities in the county contract collection to a private hauler entirely; Republic Services serves Chula Vista, for example, and Waste Management serves Oceanside. A truck collecting waste in San Diego is therefore not necessarily a City vehicle.
That distinction matters because claims against public agencies follow different procedures and deadlines from claims against private companies. We investigate ownership, employment, and operating arrangements rather than relying solely on the name or logo on the truck.
A garbage truck driver must use reasonable care around other road users. Unsafe backing, failure to yield, distracted driving, or an improper turn may support a negligence claim.
A private hauler is generally responsible for its employee’s negligence while the employee is working within the scope of the job (Civil Code section 2338). A public agency is likewise responsible for an employee’s negligent driving on the job under Government Code section 815.2, but only if the government claim procedure is followed. Depending on the evidence, a case may also involve unsafe maintenance, inadequate training, or defective equipment. Identifying the correct defendants requires examining what each party did and how it contributed to the injury.
California’s comparative fault rule allows an injured person to recover compensation even when they share responsibility for the collision. The recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault rather than eliminated (CACI No. 405, in the Judicial Council’s civil jury instructions).
For example, a claim that a cyclist passed too close to the truck or a driver followed too closely does not end the investigation. We examine the conduct of everyone involved and whether the evidence supports the blame being assigned.
Depending on the facts, compensation may include:
A fatal collision may also support claims for eligible family members’ losses and a separate claim on behalf of the estate. The available damages depend on the claim and the circumstances, and California juries measure them under the damages instructions that begin at CACI No. 3900.
California personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Exceptions can change that deadline. A crash involving a private hauler may also involve a public agency, such as a City vehicle or a dangerous road condition, so the private company’s involvement does not rule out an earlier government claim requirement. Our guide to the personal injury statute of limitations in San Diego explains the exceptions.
An injury claim against a California public agency generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues, usually the date of the collision (Government Code section 911.2). This is a written claim presented to the agency, not a lawsuit filed in court.
No lawsuit can proceed until the agency has acted on the claim or it is deemed rejected (section 945.4). The agency generally has 45 days to act. A compliant written rejection usually starts a separate six-month period to sue, measured from mailing or personal delivery of the notice; when no compliant notice is given, the period is generally two years from the crash (section 945.6). Naming the City driver personally does not avoid these rules. The California courts’ self-help guide to government claims and our article on the six-month claim deadline after a San Diego bus crash walk through the same procedure.
A police report or conversation with a City representative should not be treated as a substitute for the required claim. Have the deadlines evaluated promptly.
We look beyond the collision report to examine how the collection route, truck condition, driver’s actions, and surrounding conditions contributed to the harm.
When available, video, vehicle data, mapping, and visual presentations help us reconstruct the collision and explain complex evidence clearly.
We evaluate both immediate losses and future needs, then pursue the responsible parties and available coverage supported by the evidence.
We prepare to challenge disputed accounts, question defense witnesses, and present a persuasive case in court.
Your case is more than medical records and insurance paperwork, so we listen to your concerns, keep you informed, and help you understand your choices.
Get medical attention and report the collision. If you can do so safely, photograph the truck, the company or agency name, the license plate, the fleet number, vehicle damage, and the surrounding area. Obtain witness contact information, note any homes or businesses with cameras facing the street, and keep any photographs or video. Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence. If your injuries prevent you from documenting the scene, an attorney can investigate other sources.
Potentially, yes. A City vehicle’s involvement does not automatically establish liability, but a public agency may be responsible when its employee negligently causes injury while performing their work. A written claim generally must be presented to the City within six months of the crash, and no lawsuit can proceed until the claim is rejected or deemed rejected. Identifying the agency and evaluating the facts early is important.
You can still contact us. The collision report, photographs, witnesses, route assignments, and vehicle records may help identify the owner and operator. A company name on the truck is a useful starting point, but additional records may be needed to identify the correct legal entity and whether a public agency is involved.
Useful evidence may include onboard camera footage, nearby surveillance and doorbell video, route and location data, witness statements, maintenance records, and driver training materials. The available evidence varies by truck and operator. A backing camera does not necessarily record footage, and a truck may not retain every type of electronic data. Early investigation helps determine what exists and request its preservation before it is overwritten.
There is no reliable value based solely on the type of truck involved. Important factors include the severity of your injuries, future medical needs, time away from work, permanent limitations, fault, and available sources of recovery. We evaluate how the injuries affect your life and what evidence is needed to establish those losses.
An offer should be evaluated against the full consequences of your injuries. A settlement release may end your right to seek additional compensation, including for future treatment. Before accepting, understand which claims you are releasing and whether the amount accounts for your likely future needs.
Low speed does not rule out a serious injury. A person can be pinned, knocked down, or run over during a slow backing or turning maneuver. The investigation should consider how the injury occurred, rather than treating speed or limited vehicle damage as the only measure of severity.
Seek legal advice immediately. California allows a written application to present a late claim, made within a reasonable time and no later than one year after the crash, stating the reason for the delay (Government Code section 911.4). Relief is not automatic and additional deadlines apply. Do not assume the claim is lost or that you can safely wait.
The timeline depends on the injuries, disputed facts, number of parties, and whether litigation is necessary. A claim against a public agency adds the government claim stage before a lawsuit can be filed. Some cases can resolve through negotiation; others require extensive discovery and trial preparation. We can discuss the likely stages of your case without promising a settlement date.
The initial case review is free. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney’s fee unless we obtain a recovery. The written fee agreement explains the fee and how case costs are handled.
Hulburt Law Firm represents people injured in garbage truck accidents throughout San Diego County, including San Diego, North County, East County, and the South Bay.

Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.