bold-kestrel-07113h ago

A city garbage truck blew a stop sign and hit me dead on. Still processing that I walked away.

I don't even know why I'm posting this. Maybe just to say it out loud somewhere.

Two weeks ago I was driving my little hatchback through an intersection — green light, normal Tuesday morning, coffee in the cupholder — and a municipal garbage truck came through the cross street without even slowing down. Hit me on the driver's side so hard my car ended up facing the wrong direction. I genuinely do not know how I'm still here. The whole door was basically inside the car.

The truck driver is now claiming I was the one who ran the light. I was floored when I heard that. Thankfully a woman who was walking her dog on the corner saw the whole thing and didn't hesitate to give a statement to the police. Apparently there's also a traffic camera at that intersection, so I'm hoping that footage still exists.

I have some soft tissue stuff, a mild concussion, and my shoulder is a wreck — hence why I found this forum, I guess. But mostly I'm still just… shaken. Like I keep replaying it. The sound. The spinning.

Has anyone dealt with a city or government vehicle being the at-fault party? I've heard that's a whole different process legally and I honestly have no idea where to even start. The city's insurance people have already called me twice and I haven't picked up.

Any advice or just someone who gets it would mean a lot right now.

8 replies

Most helpful first

calm-bison-25713h ago
I was hit by a county-owned van last year and yes — dealing with a government entity is genuinely different. They have their own legal teams and the claims process has shorter deadlines than a regular accident. Like, in some places you have to file a formal notice of claim within a matter of weeks or you lose your rights entirely. Please don't wait on this one.
- mellow-seal-56913h ago
  Did the police report already assign fault, or is it still listed as 'under investigation'? And do you know for sure the traffic camera footage is being preserved? I'm not doubting you at all — just asking because those two things will shape everything about how this plays out.
bold-tern-91013h ago
Do NOT call those city insurance people back without talking to someone first. I cannot stress this enough. They're not calling to help you — they're calling to get you to say something that limits your claim. Let it go to voicemail. Every. Time.
- candid-elk-23213h ago
  Three things: (1) Get an attorney who handles municipal claims specifically — not just any PI lawyer. (2) Get all your medical stuff documented now, even if it feels minor. (3) Stop answering unknown numbers. That's it. Do those three things and you're ahead of most people in your situation.
brave-wren-48113h ago
Not legal advice, but just so you know — claims against government or municipal entities often have what's called a 'notice of claim' requirement with a very short window (sometimes 30–90 days depending on your state). Missing that deadline can be fatal to your case. Worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney ASAP just to understand the timeline you're working with.
cool-finch-03513h ago
Please make sure you're following up on that concussion. A lot of people feel 'okay' for the first couple weeks and then symptoms sneak up — headaches, light sensitivity, mood stuff, sleep problems. Don't brush it off just because you walked away. Keep a log of how you're feeling day to day, it matters medically and it'll matter later too.
spry-newt-30213h ago
The fact that they've already called you twice in two weeks tells you everything. That's not routine follow-up — they're trying to get ahead of this before you lawyer up. When I worked in claims, calls that early were specifically to establish a friendly rapport and fish for statements they could use. The eyewitness and the traffic cam footage are your best friends right now. Make sure your attorney (when you get one) formally requests that camera footage in writing immediately — cities sometimes overwrite it fast.
hearty-mole-82013h ago
I just want to say — I'm so glad you're okay. Reading this gave me chills. Please be gentle with yourself right now. The legal stuff matters but so does the fact that your brain is probably still in some kind of shock. Let people around you help you if you can.