
If you were injured by a garbage truck, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Continue reading and reach out to our firm today to discuss the details of your case and your options. Our skilled New York City & Westchester County personal injury attorney is on your side.
What are the different types of garbage trucks?
Not only are garbage trucks big and heavy, but they are also made up of many moving parts and typically carry hazardous materials. There are many different types of garbage trucks that vary in size, weight capacity, equipment, and function. Even at low speeds, a garbage truck could fatally injure a person. There are four major types of garbage trucks that are used to accumulate trash across the United States, including:
- Front-loader trucks: This kind of truck has a hydraulically held forklift on the front of the vehicle that lifts and dumps the contents of the dumpster into the hopper. It is then compressed into the rear of the truck.
- Rear-loader trucks: This type of truck has a large space at the rear of the truck. The garbage collector can hang off the back of the truck to easily jump off to gather and empty the contents of receptacles into the truck.
- Side-loader trucks: This kind of truck can be loaded either manually or with the use of an automatic robotic arm. The robotic arm picks up trash from the side of the vehicle and empties the contents into the truck.
- Roll-off garbage trucks: This type of truck carries a roll-off container, which can be dropped off, loaded, and then picked up to empty the contents at a landfill or recycling center. Roll-off garbage trucks are primarily used for large-scale commercial waste removals including construction and demolition sites.
How do garbage truck accidents occur?
There are several different ways that garbage truck accidents can happen. The drivers operating heavy machinery are usually within close proximity to other vehicles and pedestrians. As a result of the truck’s large size, it may have many blind spots that could block the driver’s view. This could result in crashing with another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian. This can be especially dangerous when operating the truck on narrow and densely occupied streets.
While speed may not be a concern, garbage trucks can still generate horrible and even fatal injuries. Common causes of garbage truck accidents may include:
- Driving while speeding
- Dumping waste that hits another vehicle or person
- Distracted driving
- Driving while fatigued
- Falling objects from the truck
- Failure to check blind spots
- Driving in the wrong lane
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to follow traffic rules or signals
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Hazardous waste spill
- Rear-end collision
- Lack of training
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED NEW YORK FIRM
Baez Legal Group handles a wide array of injury claims, including those sustained in auto accidents, slip & falls, and more. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.