Garbage trucks regularly drive through residential neighborhoods that have potential hazards such as narrow streets, parked cars and areas where children are playing. Due to their large size, garbage trucks have significant blind spots and limited maneuverability that can create several safety challenges. Garbage truck accidents can happen during routine collection activities that include frequent stops, reversing and turning on residential roads.
When a garbage truck accident occurs, the consequences can often be severe. Collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists can lead to severe injuries from the forces generated during the crash. Property damage can also occur if the garbage truck hits a vehicle in the road or another object in its path. You could also experience an accident with a garbage truck as you drive in your passenger vehicle. Understanding how these types of accidents happen and what to do if one occurs helps you protect your legal rights after a collision with a garbage truck in your neighborhood.
What Role Does Driver Error or Negligence Play In Garbage Truck Accidents?
Garbage truck drivers often perform tasks that can lead to distracted driving. Although commercial trash collection companies often adopt cell phone policies, it’s possible for a driver to use their personal device while they are working. Alternatively, a truck driver might get distracted from performing collection tasks and fail to notice a pedestrian or object in their path.
Drivers can also make errors as they maneuver the truck. During garbage collection, it’s common for truck drivers to need to reverse the vehicle to maneuver around tight corners, cul-de-sacs and narrow streets. If a driver fails to check their surroundings and use the appropriate backing procedures, then they could cause an accident.
Large garbage trucks tend to have big blind spots that are similar to other commercial vehicles. A professional trash collector should always check the blind spots to make sure there aren’t any people or vehicles out of the mirrors’ and camera’s view. You should also know that garbage truck drivers might also choose to speed, skip stop signs and perform other illegal maneuvers as they are driving their route.
In some cases, driver fatigue is the cause of accidents. Long shifts, working an early morning route or having personal health issues could all cause a driver to be drowsy as they drive. During accident investigations, it is common for investigators to check for signs of careless driving that could point toward the driver being liable for the incident.
What Garbage Truck Features and Road Hazards Increase the Risk of Accidents?
Residential neighborhoods commonly have hazards along garbage collection routes that could take the form of construction zones or children playing in the street. Since garbage trucks have large blind spots, it’s critical for drivers to remain alert for rapidly changing road conditions. For instance, a child darting into the road between two cars could easily get hit if a driver isn’t constantly scanning the road and driving at a safe speed limit.
Narrow streets with parked vehicles can create smaller paths for garbage collection trucks to travel through. In some cases, a truck might need to change course to avoid trying to fit through a narrow, one-vehicle lane. Weaving between cars that are tightly parked could cause the truck to scrape the sides of the vehicles or cause other types of property damage.
Although it might seem as though some hazards aren’t avoidable, truck drivers and trash collection companies can take steps to mitigate many issues. For instance, a commercial trash collection company could make sure there are always two people in the vehicle to allow one person to act as a spotter. Inspecting trucks to ensure that the cameras and mirrors are functional is also important for helping drivers spot potential risks on their routes.
How Do Mechanical Failures and Poor Maintenance Lead to Collisions?
Garbage trucks experience lots of wear and tear from heavy lifting, frequent driving and being exposed to the weather. Over time, brake systems can fail. Worn brakes or poor maintenance can prevent a garbage truck from stopping safely if it encounters a hazard. Tire and steering problems can also contribute to accidents in residential neighborhoods. A blown-out tire can quickly cause a truck driver to lose control over their vehicle, and narrow residential roads leave little room for taking corrective action.
Garbage truck accidents can also involve unsafe operation of the collection equipment that is attached to the vehicle. For instance, a malfunctioning lifting mechanism or compactor could injure bystanders who are too close to the vehicle. Or, an improperly secured load could cause debris to fall into the roadway, which increases the risk of collisions and property damage.
Who Is Liable for Garbage Truck Accidents In Residential Communities?
The garbage truck driver is often at fault in accidents that occur in residential communities. But, it is also important to look at other parties that could be held liable for your injuries or property damage. During accident investigations, it’s common to begin by looking at whether or not a driver was speeding or showing signs of being distracted. Once the driver’s behavior is assessed, a skilled truck accident lawyer like those at Folkman Law might continue to check to see if other parties were responsible for the incident.
A waste collection company or employer might be liable for a truck accident if they failed to provide the driver with adequate training or conduct background checks that included checking their driving history. The employer could also be at fault if they forced a driver to continue working beyond a reasonable number of hours. Negligent maintenance is another area that a waste collection company might be responsible for after an accident. Although drivers commonly report concerns about a vehicle, garbage collection companies should perform routine inspections and maintenance tasks to keep vehicles safe.
Third-party repair and maintenance companies or parts manufacturers could also be liable for accidents that are related to vehicle failures. For instance, failing brakes could be due to a defect from the parts supplier. Proving that a part was defective or that a faulty repair led to the accident can get complicated, but lawyers frequently include this possibility in their investigation.
Experiencing a garbage truck accident in your neighborhood can leave you dealing with major costs from medical treatment and property repairs. Making sure to report the incident right away and reaching out to a lawyer can help you navigate any legal challenges that occur as you work on your recovery and hold the liable party responsible for the damages.
