Pedestrian Critically Injured In Manteca Trash Truck Accident By The Intersection of West Yosemite Avenue and Airport Way
MANTECA, CALIFORNIA (April 16, 2022) – A man was critically injured in a Manteca garbage truck accident by West Yosemite Avenue and Airport Way.
San Joaquin County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:51 a.m. on Monday. A city of Manteca solid waste vehicle was traveling east when it hit a man standing in the roadway.
Police officers said that it was dark at the time of the collision and there was poor lighting in the roadway. First responders and police officers were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Manteca police officials began CPR on the victim before paramedics took over. The victim was transported to a local area hospital in critical condition.
A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Manteca Garbage Truck Accidents
Unlike most other commercial trucks, garbage trucks regularly travel through residential areas. They often do so during early morning hours when pedestrians are less visible. According to data from the FMCSA, there were 2,420 crashes involving garbage trucks in 2017 alone. These accidents resulted in 107 fatalities and 1,427 serious injuries. There are a number of reasons that garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians.
- Garbage trucks have large blind spots all around the vehicle that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- Garbage trucks can weigh as much as 50,000 lbs and can be very difficult to stop.
- Garbage trucks have a high ground clearance. This makes it more likely for pedestrians to become trapped underneath during a collision.
Garbage truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They are supposed to exercise due care to avoid pedestrians and drive at a reasonable speed. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. Driving the speed limit may be dangerous during times of low visibility when a pedestrian may not be visible within a roadway. Serious traffic infractions can jeopardize a truck driver’s ability to maintain their CDL.
Depending on the facts of any case, a city could potentially be liable for a garbage truck accident. Many cities operate trash collection services and employ garbage truck drivers. In general, employers are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. This could include a garbage truck driver going from one assignment to the next. Victims of garbage truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
- Death
Any person that is injured due to the negligent actions of a garbage truck driver may be able to seek aid through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Many victims may not fully realize the extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after an accident. This is why it is so important to continue to seek follow up care. It’s also important to speak with an experienced attorney about your situation.
Investigating A San Joaquin County Trash Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the pedestrian injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There are a number of questions that need to be answered about what happened. Was the driver of the garbage truck speeding? Were they distracted? Did they see the victim before hitting them?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a garbage truck accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
