Like most other large cities, Minneapolis employs a fleet of garbage trucks as part of basic waste management programs. Though these trucks are important to our city’s cleanliness and to our daily lives, they can also pose a variety of safety problems for residents and visitors alike.
Causes of Garbage Truck Accidents
Though similar to other traffic accidents in many ways, garbage truck accidents are often caused by different factors than other vehicle collisions. This is due in large part to the way garbage trucks operate and the different duties they are expected to perform. Common causes of garbage truck accidents include:
- Sudden stopping and starting. When picking up waste, garbage trucks often make sudden stops, which can create a collision hazard for surrounding traffic. Failing to account for this possibility is a serious error on the part of a garbage truck driver.
- Limited visibility in narrow alleyways. Although garbage trucks are often very large and difficult to handle, they are often required to travel through narrow streets and alleys, where lighting and visibility tend to be poor. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially at risk in such situations, since they are harder to see.
- Falling objects. The trash and trash containers that garbage trucks pick upon their routs also constitute a possible danger to surrounding people. If the garbage truck makes a sudden turn, or if operators fail to secure loose items, these objects can fall, becoming dangerous road obstructions or even deadly projectiles.
Contact Us
Walker Law Office has years of experience representing the victims of vehicle-related injury. For more information and a free consultation with our experienced and professional staff, call Walker Law Office, P.A. at (612) 821-0094, (214) 550-3333 or email walker@walkerjustice.com.