Private garbage trucking companies in New York City have been the source of a slew of serious accidents and unsafe practices over the years. A number of reasons have been cited for private garbage truck accidents, including reckless drivers, negligent hiring, and drivers who are overworked. In addition, poorly maintained trucks are on the road across the city. A report prepared by Transform Don’t Trash NYC found that over the past 2 years 55% of the trucks operated by the city’s top garbage truck companies failed inspections by the federal Department of Transportation. New Yorkers have been calling for stricter regulations, and now the New York City Police Department is cracking down on unsafe garbage trucks.
Mass Inspections
Between October 29, 2018, and November 4, 2018, the NYPD inspected 142 private garbage trucks to determine if they were safe. Of these 142 trucks, only 10 were found fit to be on the road. Officers found safety violations such as malfunctioning brakes, poor tire pressure, and faulty steering columns in dozens of trucks. The NYPD’s Citywide Traffic Task Force issued 1,070 summonses to private garbage truck companies during the one-week period. This is in addition to the 1,826 summonses the NYPD had already issued since January. The NYPD is hoping to send a message to private garbage truck companies that safety violations will not be tolerated.
Dangerous Results
Private sanitation trucks typically travel through residential neighborhoods and are often in close proximity to pedestrians and cyclists on sidewalks and crosswalks. Their size and lack of maneuverability already make garbage trucks dangerous to be around. Add to that a truck that has not been maintained and has numerous safety violations, and the results can be dangerous and sometimes deadly. On October 30, 2018, a cyclist was struck and seriously injured by a private garbage truck in Manhattan and according to the NYPD, broken down private garbage trucks were the cause of 20 deaths in 2016. It is clear that something needs to be done to protect New Yorkers from negligent garbage truck companies.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident with a private garbage truck, you should have an experienced personal injury attorney evaluate your case. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured New Yorkers. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.