Pedestrian Killed In Hell’s Kitchen Garbage Truck Accident By West 49th Street and 10th Avenue In Manhattan
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (December 29, 2019) – A pedestrian has tragically died after being hit by a private sanitation truck near the intersection of 10th Avenue In Manhattan.
New York Police Department officials are saying that the accident took place around 5:00 a.m. For reasons that remain under investigation a trash truck making a left turn hit the victim while he was crossing the street.
The force of the crash knocked the victim to the ground. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Unfortunately, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the garbage truck was cited for failure to exercise due care and failure to yield to a pedestrian. An investigation into the Hell’s Kitchen accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Manhattan Garbage Truck Accidents
Accidents with garbage trucks have become far too common in NYC. Private garbage trucks, in particular, account for a disproportionate number of the crashes. According to Streets Blog NYC, private sanitation trucks have killed at least 21 people in 2016. According to Brooklyn Council Member Antonio Reynoso, “As New Yorkers know all too well, it is not uncommon to see a private sanitation truck tear down a city street or flout the rules of the road, often done in an attempt to finish an excessively long route. It is time to regulate the private sanitation industry through a commercial-waste-zones system for the safety of streets, dignity of workers, and health of our environment.” Here are just a few of the common causes of garbage truck accidents:
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Fatigue
A number of collisions take place because truck drivers make dangerous left turns. According to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law (Sec. 1411), “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” Garbage trucks have very large blind spots and if their drivers are not paying attention it’s easy for them to overlook a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Garbage truck companies are liable for the negligent conduct of their employees – insofar as those employees are working within the course and scope of their job duties. The family of any victim that dies in a garbage truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Potential beneficiaries in a civil claim may include a victim’s spouse, children, parents and siblings. Unfortunately, garbage truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for truck accidents. A truck accident attorney can investigate your claim free of cost and get you the answers that you deserve about what went wrong.
Investigating A Hell’s Kitchen Garbage Truck Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man that died in this accident. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to the NYPD as they continue their investigation. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. As personal injury attorneys and consumer safety advocates we sincerely hope that measures are put in place to prevent additional accidents like this. The private sanitation truck industry must be held accountable with reasonable safeguards for pedestrians.
