Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck accidents are unique in that many of them involve pedestrians rather than other vehicles. Often times the victims struck are those working in the back of the truck picking up household and commercial trash. In fact, a study done by Right of Way, a pedestrian’s safety advocacy group, shows that garbage truck vs. pedestrian accidents claim 24 lives per 100 million miles traveled. This averages to approximately eight deaths per year when pedestrians and cyclists are hit by moving garbage trucks. In fact, garbage trucks strike more pedestrians and other non-driving individuals than any other type of vehicle.
Many factors contribute to the great number of pedestrian deaths as a result of garbage truck accidents such as the stop and go nature of the vehicle. Poor visibility in the side view mirrors by the driver is one of the leading causes of garbage truck accidents. A general rule to follow when crossing behind, or on the side of, a garbage truck is that if you can’t see the driver’s mirrors, he can’t see you. To avoid garbage truck accidents resulting in pedestrian injury or death, a driver should always check all mirrors before engaging in reverse. Additionally, all fellow workers should be accounted for before putting the vehicle into motion at all. Ideally, a driver will always wait for the signal by those who ride on the back before putting the truck into gear.
Another common cause of garbage truck accidents is sudden starting and stopping or other abrupt maneuvers which may result in the workers on riding on the back of the truck to lose their grip, possibly falling into the path of the truck itself. In addition to the driver always easing the vehicle along when there are riders on the back, those riders should always wear proper footwear with sufficient grip as well as gloves which have grip to hold onto the handles even in inclement weather.
Garbage truck accidents can be quite serious given the weight of the vehicle itself in addition to any load it may be carrying. Serious injuries and often death is usually the result of a pedestrian being struck by a garbage truck and many times, the accident could have been prevented by taking a few extra steps to ensure pedestrian safety. Responsibility does not rest solely on the part of the truck driver however. Pedestrians should always be aware of their surroundings and never cross behind a moving vehicle, regardless of how slow they may be traveling.
Victims of garbage truck accidents may seek to recover damages if they feel like the accident was caused by negligence or carelessness on the part of the driver or the company responsible for the truck’s maintenance. Whether due to driver error or mechanical failure, injuries sustained due to the actions of another can be pursued in civil court proceedings. A personal injury attorney can advise you of your rights under the law as well as reviewing the situation to determine if a lawsuit exists.
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Truck Accidents 
