Garbage Truck Accidents in Residential Neighborhoods

September 19, 2018 | truck accident

If you live in a residential neighborhood in Indianapolis, you undoubtedly have seen garbage trucks making their weekly rounds to pick up trash in curbside trashcans and dumpsters. These vehicles provide an essential service that allows for us to live in densely populated areas but also expose everyone around them to a significant risk of injury.

Any type of truck accident has the potential to result in serious injury, but garbage trucks are particularly dangerous because of their size and weight. Fortunately, in many cases, people who are hurt in garbage truck accidents are entitled to compensation under Indiana law. To find out whether you can file a claim, call our office today to speak to a truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis.

What Causes Garbage Truck Accidents?

Garbage truck accidents occur for many of the same reasons that any other truck accidents occur, such as distracted driving, speeding, failing to yield the right of way, and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. It is important to note, however, that trash trucks have large blind spots – and they often operate in residential areas where there are narrow streets and alleys, often with pedestrians walking nearby. In addition, garbage trucks stop and start often, making it difficult for others to anticipate their next move. Not surprisingly, many serious accidents occur because the garbage truck’s driver simply did not see that there was a person or other vehicle around them when they began to move. These blind spots exist in the following areas:

• Directly in front of the garbage truck
• Directly behind the garbage truck
• To the rear of the driver’s side window
• To the right of the cab

Garbage trucks often haul tons of trash. That extra weight makes them harder to stop than other vehicles and may make them more likely to roll over.

What Should You Do After an Accident With an Indianapolis Garbage Truck?

In the unfortunate event that an accident with a trash truck in the Indianapolis area injures you or a loved one, it’s important that you take steps to protect your legal rights. Here are some of the things you should and should not do after you’ve been hurt in an accident.

• If you can, take pictures of the aftermath of the accident. Be sure that the police respond to the scene and determine whether the garbage truck driver violated any traffic laws.
• See your physician and undergo a thorough medical evaluation, even if you think that your injuries will heal on their own. An official medical record can go a long way when it comes to establishing damages to the insurance company.
• Contact an attorney as soon as possible for a free consultation to be advised of your rights. Waiting to retain an attorney could hurt your ability to recover compensation.

Call Merry Fountain Today for a Free Consultation

Indianapolis auto accident lawyer Merry Fountain is a skilled injury advocate. If you are looking for an injury law attorney in the greater Indy area—Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, Brownsburg, Avon, Kokomo, Lebanon—she’s here to help! Call her anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878), or simply click Tell Us About Your Case for a free consultation.