Going for a walk in the evening or a lovely bike ride along your favorite path can be an excellent way to let off steam or just to relax. However, one of the frequent causes of car accidents on the road is negligence of drivers in regards to navigating around pedestrians. Garbage trucks, in particular, have issues with pedestrian-related collisions, which is the reason for learning the why behind this phenomenon. The last thing you want is for your walk or bike ride to end in serious injury or death, so heed the following.
Why Garbage Trucks Are a Unique Danger to Pedestrians and Cyclists
All vehicles on the road present a danger to pedestrians and cyclists simply because of their speed and closeness to others on the road. This issue is only made worse in garbage trucks for a variety of reasons:
- Size and Blind Spots: Limited visibility makes it harder for drivers to see pedestrians and cyclists.
- Frequent Stops and Sudden Movements: Unpredictable driving patterns increase accident risks
- Narrow Streets and Tight Turns: Garbage trucks operate in residential areas where pedestrians and cyclists are common.
- Heavy Weight and Slow Stopping Time: Collisions with garbage trucks are more likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities.
All of the above factors combined mean that collisions with garbage trucks are particularly deadly for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Common Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents Involving Pedestrians and Cyclists
There are a variety of reasons for why garbage truck accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists occur. The first and most prominent is simple driver negligence, where distracted driving, speeding, failing to check blind spots, and other similar situations lead to a collision.
A lack of proper safety equipment due to a failure to maintain the vehicle is also frequently to blame. Whether it’s faulty mirrors, broken backup cameras, or warning signals not working, failed equipment can lead to accidents. Weather conditions can also sometimes play a role. Slippery streets and low visibility make accidents more likely, both due to vehicle handling issues and driver error.
The fault may not always be on a garbage truck driver either. Abrupt or improper action by pedestrians, such as jaywalking, riding in blind spots, or not wearing reflective gear when the sun sets, can all lead to incidents as well.
Legal Liability in Garbage Truck Accidents
As alluded to above, knowing who to blame when a pedestrian-on-garbage truck collision occurs is difficult. Both parties can theoretically be held responsible, under a comparative negligence system, depending on the circumstances. In addition to this, the waste management company itself may have some liability if the accident was due to mechanical failure in the vehicle due to a lack of maintenance. If it’s a government-owned truck, poor road conditions or the aforementioned lack of maintenance can lead to municipal fault.
Regardless, to prove fault, you will need to gather evidence including surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts, truck maintenance records and driver logs, and expert accident reconstruction testimony. On top of this you will need to work with an accredited attorney to present this information in such a way that it makes an impact.
Safety Measures to Prevent Garbage Truck Accidents
Even if you have a slew of evidence to prove fault after a collision with a garbage truck, which results in you being made whole through monetary compensation, you still need to deal with the pain of injury. Due to this, everyone should hope to never get into an accident in the first place. For pedestrians and cyclists, heed the following pedestrian accident prevention tips that can help:
- Stay visible with bright or reflective clothing.
- Avoid truck blind spots and stay alert near garbage trucks.
- Follow traffic laws
- Use designated crossings or bike lanes.
On the other side of things, for garbage truck operators and companies:
- Implement better training programs for drivers.
- Install advanced safety features like proximity sensors and cameras.
- Enforce stricter maintenance and inspection policies.
Preventing an accident isn’t always possible, but the above steps can go a long way in keeping you and others safe on the road.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Garbage Truck Accident
Given the above, if you do happen to be involved in an accident with a garbage truck, the first and most important step is to seek medical attention immediately. Even if you think you’re fine, there may be internal injuries you are unaware of. Documenting these injuries will also help your case from a legal standpoint, not to mention the fact that getting treatment will help your general health.
You should also report the accident promptly by filing a report with the city, waste management company, or the police. While this may not always be required depending on the scope of the accident or where you live, it’s still recommended to get a formal record of the event. Also, gather as much evidence as possible after the fact. Take photos, collect witness statements, and request surveillance footage so that you and a personal injury lawyer can discuss your legal options and build an effective case against the garbage truck company.
Fight for your rights after a car accident
As a pedestrian, and even as a bicyclist, the odds are already in your favor after a collision with a vehicle, given that you always have the right of way. Provided that you did not make an illegal maneuver on the road as a pedestrian or cyclist, you should have an effective personal injury case on your hands once you start to gather evidence.
However, collisions with garbage trucks have a number of nuances that other types of collisions don’t. You should work closely with a personal injury attorney who can help you sift through all the evidence and details of what occurred to build an effective case. Don’t settle for living with your injuries when you can pursue compensation for damages to make yourself whole in the eyes of the law.
