New York City Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer
Many New Yorkers can set their morning alarms by the sound of a garbage truck making its rounds. We all depend on these specialized vehicles to help keep our city safe and clean. As with any motor vehicle, however, a garbage truck can lead to a serious accident when operated in a negligent or reckless fashion.
According to one federal agency, there are roughly 1,400 people injured nationwide each year in garbage truck accidents. The victims include both garbage truck workers and members of the general public. If you are one of those victims, our New York City garbage truck accident lawyers can review your case and advise you of your options for seeking compensation under the law. Michael Gunzburg, P.C., is a New York personal injury law firm with 37 years experience in assisting clients throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Whether your accident was caused by a city-owned or private garbage truck, we can represent you in taking necessary legal action.
Who Is Responsible When a Garbage Truck Hits Someone in New York City?
Most residential areas of New York City are served by municipal sanitation trucks owned and operated directly by the City. Business areas, in contrast, usually contract out their sanitation needs to privately owned companies. Whether a garbage truck is publicly or privately owned, however, they must still follow strict federal and state safety regulations.
When a failure to follow the rules leads to an accident, the victims may have a personal injury claim against the city or the company that owns the garbage truck. This is true even where the accident was the result of a reckless act by the individual truck driver. Under New York law, employers are vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees. This rule applies to both the city and private sanitation companies.
Additionally, a garbage truck accident may be liable for an accident arising from a fault or failure with the truck itself. For example, if poor maintenance practices caused a garbage truck’s brakes to fail while out on the road, the owner is considered negligent. Or in the case of a privately owned garbage truck, the company may have improperly pressured their drivers to stay out on the road too long, leading to fatigue that, in turn, led to a serious accident.
Our New York City Garbage Truck Accident Lawyers Are Here for You
A New York personal injury lawsuit enables garbage truck accident victims to seek financial compensation for their medical bills, loss of income, and other damages such as their ongoing pain and suffering. Keep in mind, however, that if your claim is against New York City, there are additional legal rules that must be followed before you can demand compensation. Our New York City garbage truck accident lawyer can advise you further on this and many other issues. So if you have been seriously injured by a garbage or sanitation vehicle, call Michael Gunzburg, P.C., at 212-725-8500 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
