Elderly Woman Seriously Injured In Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Garbage Truck Accident By The Intersection of 15th Avenue by 85th Street
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (October 9, 2022) – An 81-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Brooklyn garbage truck accident by 15th Avenue by 85th Street.
New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. An elderly woman was crossing the street when she was hit by a garbage truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. She was taken to the NYU Langone-Brooklyn in Sunset Park in stable condition.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Brooklyn Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck accidents are far more common than many people realize. According to one report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are around 2,500 garbage truck accidents every year. Garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians because of their large blind spots. They also may weigh 10 – 20 times more than passenger vehicles. Even a low impact collision can be catastrophic. There are a number of steps that garbage truck drivers should take in order to avoid collisions.
- Garbage truck drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Garbage truck drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
- Garbage truck drivers should use a spotter when they back up.
Garbage truck companies in the private sector tend to have a much worse safety record than their public counterparts. According to one report from ProPublica, “In New York City overall, private sanitation trucks killed seven people in 2017. By contrast, city municipal sanitation trucks haven’t caused a fatality since 2014.” Garbage truck companies make more money when they are able to follow a strict schedule. This often leads to garbage truck drivers cutting corners with safety to complete their routes as quickly as possible.
All garbage truck drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid pedestrians pursuant to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1146(a). When a garbage truck driver fails to reduce their speed to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. The company that the garbage truck driver worked for could also be held at fault. Companies are typically liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who were working within the scope of their job duties. Victims of garbage truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Any person that is injured in a garbage truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, garbage truck companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability when their driver hits a pedestrian. A garbage truck accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Brooklyn Trash Truck Accident
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this garbage truck accident. It is our sincere hope the she will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Brooklyn garbage truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
