Garbage truck drivers must navigate these large vehicles through the crowded New York residential roads. And having to share these lanes with other drivers and pedestrians leaves them at risk of being involved in an accident. If you find yourself left with detrimental injuries and damages after your encounter with a garbage truck, continue reading to understand how an experienced car accident lawyer in Queens of The Law Offices of George Poulos can help you fight back via a personal injury claim.
What are the common causes of garbage truck accidents in New York state?
Due to the size, contents, and machinery involved with commercial garbage trucks, they can leave far more devastating aftermaths of injuries and damages than an ordinary car accident. Even though these trucks are not quite capable of speeding, they may be prone to an accident from other forms of garbage truck driver, company, or manufacturer negligence. The common causes read as follows:
- Garbage truck driver negligence:
- Failure to check multiple blind spots.
- Distracted driving (i.e., texting while driving).
- Drowsy or fatigued driving.
- Drugged or drunk driving.
- Failure to properly dump waste (i.e., it hits another vehicle or pedestrian).
- Failure to properly dump a hazardous waste spill (i.e., it hits another vehicle or pedestrian).
- Failure to prevent falling objects (i.e., it hits another vehicle or pedestrian).
- Failure to follow traffic rules or signals (i.e., not yielding at the right-of-way).
- Failure to break on time (i.e., it causes a rear-end collision).
- Garbage truck company negligence:
- Failure to keep up with vehicle maintenance.
- Failure to ensure drivers are adequately trained.
- Garbage truck manufacturer negligence:
- Defective parts in the vehicle that cause malfunctions.
Who is the liable party for my garbage truck accident?
As insinuated above, the liable party for your injuries and damages is likely a garbage truck driver, company, or manufacturer. However, this all depends on the circumstances of your accident. The following are just some possibilities:
- The garbage truck driver or operator.
- The garbage truck owner, (i.e., a private trucking company or a government entity).
- The waste removal company or employer.
- The vehicle maintenance company.
- The manufacturer of the defective parts.
- Other drivers involved in your accident.
To identify who exactly is liable for your accident, contact one of the skilled Queens personal injury attorneys today.
Am I able to recover damages for my garbage truck accident?
If you incurred damages from your garbage truck accident, you may be able to recover them via a personal injury claim, so long as you can satisfy the burden of proof. The following are just some damages you may be compensated for:
- Economic damages:
- Medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- Property damages.
- Non-economic damages:
- Disfigurement.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional trauma.
- Diminished quality of life.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of George Poulos is an experienced Workers’ Compensation, personal injury, and Social Security Disability law firm with offices in Queens and the Bronx. If you require strong legal representation, contact our firm today.
