Garbage trucks make their thundering way down the road, through narrow alleys, and around tricky curves in practically every community across the country.
According to a Truck accident attorney, Garbage collection is crucial to the smooth operation of cities. Yet, the sheer size and weight of garbage trucks, their larger-than-usual blind spots, and their abnormally shaped and heavy loads make even a slight collision more likely to cause significant damage.
Why Are Trash Trucks So Risky To Drive?
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one hundred seven people were killed, and over 1400 were seriously injured in accidents involving garbage trucks and other waste removal vehicles in 2020. About a quarter of the fatalities and injuries were sanitation employees; the rest were drivers, walkers, and cyclists.
Why do garbage trucks pose a greater risk to pedestrians than other vehicles? One reason is that they are more likely to roll over in accidents because of their size and low center of gravity. The loading arms of a garbage truck further block the driver’s line of sight, and the elevated driving position of the truck’s operator contributes to greater blind spots.
Garbage trucks typically leave for the day when it is still dark. They start and stop all the time, with some drivers even stopping their trucks inside the center of the highway to save time. When collecting trash, garbage trucks in some places are even allowed to drive on the opposite side of the street, on bike lanes, and even the incorrect way down one-way streets.
Even though garbage trucks often have to reverse out of tight alleys and streets, they are not routinely outfitted with backup cameras. In the case of an accident, some of the rubbish they transport may be explosive or otherwise dangerous, increasing the risk of burns and other injuries. How to Navigate Around Waste Collection Vehicles
Although you have no say over the sanitation firm or the driver’s activities, you can take steps to protect yourself from harm when a garbage truck is in the area.
- Don’t get too close to the trash truck; a buffer zone of 30 feet is recommended. The truck driver will be able to see you, and you’ll be safe if any debris falls off the truck if you stay clear of the truck’s blind spots.
- Just slow down and relax. Road fury won’t make the garbage truck go any faster if you’re caught behind it. Irrational actions amplify crash risk.
- Focus completely on driving. Don’t drive while multitasking with a phone, talking to passengers, eating, or diverting attention from the road.
- Don’t try to get ahead of a trash truck until the driver signals you.
- Remember that the garbage truck you’re following might have to stop suddenly.
- Children and pedestrians should always maintain a distance of 25 feet from a garbage truck.
Keep children away from the street while the sanitation workers are there. The garbage truck driver may not observe a child playing in the street and should be aware that the truck cannot stop as rapidly as a conventional car.
If you plan on going for a walk, jog, or bike ride in the early morning hours, you should dress for visibility (wearing, for instance, a jacket with luminous tape). When waiting for the bus or walking to school in the dark, kids should dress the same way.
Who Should We File A Lawsuit Against If A Trash Truck Wrecks?
If you or a loved one were hurt in a garbage truck accident, the liable parties might be required to pay for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and other damages.
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Corporation For Waste Management And Disposition
Suppose one of their employees gets hurt or causes damage to someone else’s property while on the job; the firm that owns the tractor-trailer and runs the service could be held personally responsible. If a faulty or lack of maintenance truck was permitted to remain in service or the driver wasn’t subjected to proper pre-employment screening, the corporation may also bear some of the blame.
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Driver Of The Trash Truck
If the truck driver was speeding or otherwise negligent before the accident, he or she could be held financially responsible.
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One Who Works With Mechanical Devices
If maintenance and repairs weren’t done properly on the garbage truck, it could be the mechanic’s fault that inspecting and maintaining the truck.
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Producing Trash Compactors
The manufacturer could be held responsible if the accident was caused by a faulty truck or part.
Final Musings
The sanitation company and its health insurer will try to minimize the money they have to pay you and your family after the truck accident. You need a Truck Accident Lawyer with experience winning cases against the top organizations in the world.
They will also know how to get the evidence you need, how to keep it safe, and how to utilize it to prove that the firm and the driver were at fault for your injuries.
