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Writer's pictureAlex Maltese

What Happens If You Are Injured By a Garbage Truck in New York?

A crucial part of New York City's infrastructure is its sanitation services. Sadly, everyone nearby garbage trucks is in immediate danger. These trucks are enormous, hefty vehicles with numerous blind spots, and the consequences of a collision with a bike, pedestrian, or automobile can be fatal.


If someone gets hurt in a collision with a garbage truck in New York, they may be eligible for compensation and should contact a Long Island semi accident lawyer for their losses, such as medical costs and lost earnings. However, the process is very different from a regular vehicle accident claim, so pursuing a successful trash truck accident claim can take time and effort.


Dangers of Garbage Trucks

Dangers of Garbage Trucks


Even when not wholly packed, garbage trucks may weigh enough to cause terrible consequences. The cars are difficult to drive due to their weight and size, their wide blind spots, the city's frequently congested, small streets, and other factors. Serious accidents can be caused by a trash truck driver who loses concentration, makes a mistake in judgment, or doesn't have the necessary experience to drive the vehicle properly.


When pedestrians, motorcycle riders, or bicycles are involved, these incidents may be severe. This is because certain safety systems in passenger cars shield the people inside of them from the impact of a collision, but bicycles and pedestrians take the full hit on their own, which can sometimes lead to fatal results. Even a light accident with a garbage truck can potentially cause terrible medical consequences.


Due to their massive size and constrained range of vision, garbage trucks sometimes have more blind spots than normal motor vehicles. These trucks also frequently have greater ground clearance than many regular cars, making it harder for drivers to see pedestrians or other potential dangers. Blind areas next to trash trucks can also make it difficult for drivers to see vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians crossing in front of them when the truck is being backed up. If interested, you can learn where blind spots are on trucks.


However, the driver's carelessness brings many trash truck accidents. The most frequent types of driver carelessness include speeding, tailgating, aggressive driving, distracted driving, intoxicated driving, driver weariness, and failing to respect fundamental traffic regulations.


If someone got seriously hurt in a trash truck accident, they could have to pay a lot of money for medical care and might need different kinds of rehabilitation services for a lot of time. While healing, they'll probably be incapable of working, which will cost them money. Additionally, if the accident caused them a disability, they might be permanently unable to follow the same career path they had before, which might have long-term effects.


Fortunately, a solution exists. They could sue the city to seek damages for their losses if the accident was brought on by the driver's or another sanitation worker's carelessness.


Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident

Who Is Liable for a Garbage Truck Accident in NYC?


Most victims could file a lawsuit against the truck driver, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and possibly even the whole city if the garbage truck driver or another sanitation worker were responsible for an accident that injured them.


The legal principle is known as sovereign immunity. This stipulates that a city or country can't be held accountable for a violation or be sued in civil court or prosecuted in criminal court, shielding many cities and states from litigation. However, NYC has surrendered its rights to this immunity. Therefore, anyone can sue this city in the same manner as a private individual but doing so takes a few extra procedures within a limited time frame. Also, learn if you can sue amazon if your vehicle was hit by an amazon delivery driver.


In particular, the victim has 90 days after the incident to submit a Notice of Claim to the Sanitation Department. This will inform them that they plan to file a lawsuit; if they don't do so before the deadline, the claim will be rejected. On the other hand, if they fail to do this, they won't be allowed to sue the city for the losses they sustained.


Bottom Line


When someone gets hit by a garbage truck, the best thing they can do is hire a professional lawyer to take care of their case while they heal their injuries. That's why the Law Office of Carl Maltese is always available to represent its clients in court and help them gain the compensation they deserve.


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