A New York City cyclist was recently injured by a sanitation vehicle in midtown, during what’s already proving to be a particularly precarious season for garbage truck drivers. This news comes on the heels of increased scrutiny by the NYPD being aimed at private sanitation companies, announced in conjunction with an inspection of privately owned garbage trucks, which were found to be faulty on a city-wide level.
While traffic accidents are unfortunate, sometimes they are also unavoidable. Making New York City safer will always be a good thing, but the NYPD’s energized campaign against sanitation companies could have unfair consequences for garbage truck drivers. No matter what the case is, if you are a garbage truck driver involved in a collision, you deserve fair representation.
Cyclist Injury Happens During Citywide Initiative
It is being reported that the bicyclist injured in this collision was a 43-year-old man, riding through Midtown on Fifth Avenue near West 47th Street. He bumped into a Five Star Carting Company truck that was traveling in the same direction on Monday evening, shortly before 9:45 p.m. The man received injuries to his left arm and right leg and was taken to the hospital, where it was reported that his condition was critical but stable. The truck driver involved in this incident received five summonses as a result, including four for over/under-inflated tires and one for not having a fire extinguisher.
These summonses are the latest in a long line of 1,826 others for garbage truck violations in NYC, following a recent NYPD inspection that found private garbage truck companies throughout the Bronx and Manhattan were operating vehicles with numerous dangerous infractions. These infractions include: faulty brakes, leaky fuel lines, and missing lights. The NYPD Business Integrity Commission has stated that it plans to combat these infractions by assigning at least one police vehicle from each precinct, along with specialized officers and traffic units to conduct citywide inspections on private carting trucks.
Legal Defense for Garbage Truck Drivers
Public safety on the roads of New York City should always be a major concern, but the NYPD’s aggressive campaign against sanitation companies could unfairly impact truck drivers. While NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas M. Chan has promised to get faulty garbage trucks off the road, drivers worried about their livelihood should be prepared in the event they need representation. Don’t let your employer hang you out to dry if your truck has maintenance issues. If you’re a private garbage truck driver involved in a collision, call a NYC traffic attorney at Gannes & Musico, LLP now.
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