New Yorkers will understand that the amount of trash that is generated in a municipality this size will require a lot of garbage trucks moving around at all hours to pick it up. When the number of businesses that use private haulers is added to the mix, there is major danger of encountering one of these vehicles when out as a driver, bicyclist or pedestrian. This can lead to accidents. People should be cautious and aware of this.
Since there is little oversight into the behavior of private sanitation companies and they might try to cut corners to finish their routes as quickly as possible, it lays the foundation for there to be accidents. The number of accidents has led to law enforcement cracking down on these vehicles. According to ABC’s Eyewitness News, the New York City Police Department is paying stricter attention to these vehicles, conducting inspections and issuing citations if there are violations.
In one incident, a detective found the vehicle’s brakes were faulty, there was low air pressure and there were fluid leaks. With these issues and the patchwork drivers do to keep the vehicles on the road, people are placed in danger. According to the NYPD, there were more than 20 fatalities in just the last two years after accidents with private garbage vehicles. Some have involved clear flouting of traffic laws such as driving the wrong way on a one-way street. During the time the news crew was with law enforcement, they saw vehicles that were in poor shape. As it did its crackdown, the NYPD gave out more than 500 each of moving violations and summonses – all in a single week. Seventeen trucks were removed from service entirely.
People who have suffered personal injury because of a reckless garbage truck or lost a loved one in a fatal accident will have many issues they must think about. There can be lost wages, medical expenses, the need for treatment and rehabilitation, funeral expenses and more. The first thought when confronted by these issues is to consider a lawsuit. However, people will not know where to turn in their time of need and not have the wherewithal to make an informed decision. That is when it is wise to have help in finding the right personal injury attorney through an experienced team that knows which case and which attorney are a good match. Calling for help is the first step toward being compensated after injuries suffered in a private garbage truck accident.