Garbage, Utility, and Municipal Trucks Legal Support

Garbage trucks, utility trucks, snowplows, street sweepers, sewer maintenance vehicles, and other municipal trucks are a constant presence in Michigan communities. They provide essential services — collecting trash, clearing roads, repairing power lines, maintaining infrastructure — but they also bring unique and serious dangers to the streets we all share.

These oversized vehicles are heavy, slow-moving, and often make sudden stops. They operate in tight neighborhoods, alleys, school zones, and construction areas. Many have massive blind spots, unpredictable turning patterns, and extended mechanical arms or equipment. When something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic. Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, children, and sanitation workers can all suffer severe injuries at the hands of a municipal or utility truck.

Victims should never have to untangle these issues alone. When a municipal driver is careless, when a city department fails to train or supervise its workers, or when a waste company cuts corners on maintenance, you deserve immediate legal protection.

At Marko Law, we have extensive experience holding city agencies, utility companies, private contractors, and insurers accountable. Our Detroit-based trial team knows how to cut through immunity defenses, expose negligence, and fight for the justice Michigan victims deserve.

Who May Be Liable in These Crashes?

Municipal Truck Drivers

A city or township employee may be liable when they:

• Operate the truck carelessly
• Speed in residential areas
• Fail to check blind spots
• Ignore backup alarms or safety procedures
• Operate distracted or fatigued

City Departments

Cities are responsible for:

• Hiring qualified drivers
• Conducting background checks
• Training employees
• Enforcing safety rules
• Maintaining vehicles

Private Waste-Hauling Companies

Many Michigan cities outsource garbage collection to private companies. These companies may be liable when:

• Their drivers are poorly trained
• They pressure workers to rush routes
• Their trucks are unsafe or poorly maintained
• They ignore known safety hazards

Utility Companies (Electric, Gas, Water)

Utility crews operate some of the largest and most dangerous service vehicles on city streets. They may be responsible when:

• Drivers mishandle large bucket trucks or service vehicles
• Equipment malfunctions due to poor maintenance
• Vehicles are parked or positioned unsafely
• Hazardous conditions are created during repair work

Maintenance or Repair Contractors

If a third-party contractor works on a municipal or utility truck and performs negligent repairs — such as faulty brakes, damaged hydraulics, worn tires, or malfunctioning lift equipment — they can be held accountable for resulting injuries.

Manufacturers or Distributors of Defective Components

Defective parts can turn an essential service truck into a deadly hazard. Manufacturers may be liable for:

• Brake failures
• Steering defects
• Tire blowouts
• Hydraulic malfunctions
• Faulty backup cameras or alarms

Special Legal Issues with Garbage, Utility & Municipal Trucks

Government Immunity — And When It Does Not Apply

Cities, counties, and state agencies often claim government immunity, which protects them from many types of lawsuits. However, immunity does not apply when a municipal employee negligently operates a motor vehicle. If a garbage truck driver, snowplow operator, or utility worker causes your crash through negligence, the city can be held liable.

Short Deadlines to File Claims

When a government entity is involved, the timeline to take action is much shorter than in standard auto cases. Victims may only have a matter of months to file the required notice — missing this deadline can bar the entire claim.

Strict Documentation Requirements

Michigan law requires specific information to be included in municipal notices of intent, such as:

• Date and location of the crash
• Nature of the injuries
• How the municipal vehicle caused the harm

Any errors or omissions can undermine the case — another reason early legal representation is critical.

Special Rules for Sanitation & Public Works Vehicles

Some municipal vehicles have unique operational allowances, such as:

• Frequent stopping
• Backup maneuvers
• Right-of-way exceptions
• Equipment arms extending into traffic

Even with these allowances, operators must still follow safety protocols. Violating those protocols can establish liability.

What to Do Immediately After a Municipal or Garbage Truck Accident

Call 911 and Report the Crash

Request police and medical response. An official report is vital for proving what happened.

Seek Medical Treatment Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. The force of these crashes often causes internal trauma or delayed symptoms.

Photograph the Scene

Capture images of:

• The municipal truck
• The crash site
• Visible injuries
• Skid marks, debris, road conditions
• Any identifying information on the truck (unit numbers, logos, etc.)

Gather Witness Information

Get names, phone numbers, and statements from:

• Neighbors
• Pedestrians
• Sanitation workers
• Other drivers

Do Not Speak to City Officials, Insurers, or Waste Companies

They may appear cooperative, but their goal is to minimize liability. Do not give recorded statements. Do not sign anything. Let your attorney handle all communications.

Preserve Your Vehicle

Do not repair or dispose of your vehicle before a lawyer or expert inspects it.
Damage patterns, impact points, and debris can be crucial to proving negligence.

Contact an Experienced Municipal & Commercial Truck Attorney

Government truck cases require:

• Knowledge of municipal immunity
• Understanding of special filing deadlines
• Aggressive evidence preservation
• Ability to confront city attorneys and corporate insurers

Evidence Needed to Prove Negligence

Police and Crash Reconstruction Reports

Law enforcement and reconstruction specialists document:

• Vehicle positions
• Points of impact
• Contributing factors
• Preliminary fault assessments

These reports help establish an objective foundation for the case.

Dashcam, Bodycam, and Street Camera Footage

Video evidence can show:

• Driver behavior
• Blind spot failures
• Illegal backing or turning
• Speed
• Route patterns

Many municipal vehicles — including garbage trucks and snowplows — have onboard cameras that can be requested before they’re overwritten.

Truck Maintenance Logs and Service Records

Municipal and utility trucks often operate under heavy stress. Maintenance records reveal:

• Missed inspections
• Equipment failures
• Brake or hydraulic problems
• Neglected repairs

A history of poor upkeep can prove systemic negligence.

Driver Training Files and Disciplinary Histories

These records show whether:

• A driver was properly trained
• They had prior complaints or accidents
• The city or company failed to supervise them

Patterns of unsafe behavior are powerful evidence.

GPS, Telematics, and Onboard Tracking Data

These systems track:

• Speed
• Hard braking
• Route location
• Reverse maneuvers
• Equipment arm usage

This data can show exactly what the truck was doing seconds before the crash.

Work Orders, Route Logs, and Municipal Contracts

This evidence clarifies:

• Whether the vehicle was being used appropriately
• Whether a private contractor was operating under city authority
• Whether workers were following required procedures

Contracts often reveal who is legally responsible.

Component Testing for Mechanical Failure

Experts analyze:

• Brakes
• Hydraulics
• Steering systems
• Safety mechanisms
• Backup alarms

Mechanical failures often point to negligent repairs or defective components.

Testimony from Sanitation Workers, Utility Crew Members, or Witnesses

People at the scene can provide firsthand accounts about:

• Driver conduct
• Equipment malfunctions
• Unsafe work practices
• Environmental hazards

Witness statements frequently expose the truth that government entities try to downplay.

Compensation Available to Victims

Medical Expenses and Future Care Needs

This includes:

• Emergency treatment
• Surgeries
• Ongoing medical care
• Rehabilitation
• Medications
• Assistive devices

Wage Loss and Reduced Earning Capacity

When injuries affect your ability to work, compensation may include:

• Lost wages
• Reduced hours
• Lost career opportunities
• Permanent disability affecting future earning potential

Pain and Suffering Damages

Garbage truck and utility vehicle crashes often cause:

• Chronic pain
• Severe physical limitations
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Emotional Distress and Psychological Harm

Victims may suffer:

• PTSD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Long-term trauma

Loss of Consortium and Family Damages

Families may recover damages for:

• Loss of companionship
• Loss of support
• Strained relationships due to injury

Long-Term Disability and Home Modifications

Severe injuries may require:

• Wheelchair ramps
• Bathroom retrofits
• Mobility aids
• In-home nursing care

Stand Up to Powerful City & Utility Entities

Collisions involving garbage trucks, utility vehicles, and municipal trucks leave devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences. These crashes are uniquely traumatic because they often involve massive vehicles operating in residential neighborhoods, school zones, and work areas where families should feel safe. When government agencies or private contractors fail to follow basic safety rules, innocent people suffer life-changing injuries — and too often, those institutions try to dodge responsibility.

Victims deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve a legal team strong enough to take on city departments, utility companies, private waste haulers, and the insurers who protect them. At Marko Law, we bring Detroit grit, courtroom strength, and unwavering dedication to every case. We go toe-to-toe with powerful institutional defendants — and we do it to protect you, your family, and your future.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

Phone: +1-313-777-7777
Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Website: https://www.markolaw.com/