On behalf of Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation posted in Personal Injury on Friday, June 4, 2010.
Early in the morning in most cities, a fleet of garbage trucks, recycling trucks and yard waste trucks travel the streets and roads of the community. These trucks can usually be driven from the right or left side of the cab depending upon the task at hand
When the trucks are driving on the roads, and not engaged in pick ups, the driver usually sits on the left side of the vehicle, as most drivers do. When the driver sits on the left side to drive, there is a significant blind spot in the lower right front of the truck. Accidents most often occur in this driving configuration when the truck is turning right.
In the trash pick up mode, the waste company will have the trucks follow highly specified routes of travel that position the trucks so that the hydraulic dumping arms face the side of the street destined for pick up. In this configuration, the driver of the truck usually stands on the right side of the cab. When the driver is on the right side cab, there is a significant blind spot in the left front of the truck. Accidents most often occur in this driving configuration when a pedestrian or other vehicle is moving from driver’s left.
Accidents involving garbage trucks most often occur because the driver cannot see a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist or other vehicle because of the blind spot created by the design, configuration and operation of the truck.