One Person Injured in Surprise Garbage Truck Accident

Sanitation Truck Involved in Major Injury Collision With Passenger Vehicle By Reems Road and Waddell Road in Surprise

SURPRISE, ARIZONA (May 10, 2026) – At least one person was injured in a Surprise garbage truck accident near the intersection of Reems Road and Waddell Road.

Surprise police are saying that the collision occurred around 7:00 AM on Wednesday morning. A sanitation truck was involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle before crashing through a residential wall.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the injured victim. The driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to the hospital.

Their vehicle was towed away from the scene with fairly severe damage. A full investigation into the cause of the accident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Surprise Garbage Truck Accidents

Garbage truck drivers must obtain a commercial license and are expected to operate their vehicles with an abundance of caution. They must be especially cautious when attempting to make any left turn through an intersection. According to Arizona Vehicle Code 28-772, “The driver of a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction and that is within the intersection or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard.” There are several factors that could contribute to any car accident.

• Blind Spots: Commercial trucks have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles. These blind spots can contribute to a truck driver making a dangerous turn in front of another vehicle.
• Speed: Truck drivers are substantially more likely to be involved in collisions if they are traveling at an unsafe speed. Even traveling the speed limit can be dangerous, depending on the prevailing road conditions.
• Driver Distraction: A large number of collisions involve drivers that are distracted by their cell phone or other objects.
• Fatigue: Truck drivers are often pushed to work long hours and may naturally become fatigued. Even staying awake for only 17 hours can substantially reduce a person’s ability to operate their vehicle safely.

If a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with another vehicle, this could be construed as negligence. The driver of the truck could also be held at fault for the crash. Liability for a garbage truck accident could also extend beyond any specific truck driver. For example, the municipal entity or private business that the truck driver worked for could also be liable. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who are working within the course and scope of their job duties.

Steps to Take After Arizona Garbage Truck Accidents

Many people are seriously injured or killed every year in accidents involving garbage trucks. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were around 80 fatal crashes involving garbage trucks in 2020. Another 1200 injury crashes were reported in that same year. It is important that accident victims take a number of measures to protect their health and legal rights.

• Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation as early as possible. Many of the injuries associated with a truck accident will not be immediately obvious.
• Any surveillance footage that may have captured the crash should be sought.
• The police report created after the accident should be reviewed. These reports can sometimes contain errors but are still very valuable nonetheless.
• Any person injured in a truck accident should consider their legal options with an experienced truck accident attorney.

Truck accidents tend to be highly preventable. They are often the results of truck drivers who are not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. Unfortunately, truck drivers and their insurance providers will almost never accept responsibility when they cause a serious accident. It is more likely that they will blame the victim. This is why it’s so important that these incidents are properly investigated by an outside party.

Investigating Surprise Truck Accidents

We at The Law Offices of John Phebus extend our best wishes to the victim of this Surprise garbage truck accident. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.

Have you been injured in a Surprise garbage truck accident? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced truck accident attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (623) 267-9283.