Bicyclist Injured by Garbage Truck in NYC, City Launches Crackdown Initiative

A 43-year-old man was struck and seriously injured by a private garbage truck in Midtown the night of Oct. 28. According to an NBC New York news report, this bicycle accident comes on the same day that NYPD launched an initiative to crack down on private trash trucks many of which were found to have multiple violations during recent inspections.
The bicycle accident occurred at the corner of 47th Street and Fifth Avenue in Midtown. The man was rushed to an area hospital where he is said to be in serious but stable condition. The driver of the truck remained at the scene. The victim sustained injuries to both his arms. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the driver would face any charges.
NYPD Crackdown in Effect
This crash comes on the same day NYPD called for a crackdown on private garbage trucking companies following a series of deadly collisions. Police say some of these companies are routinely violating the law, often with fatal consequences. In one Brooklyn incident, several cars were damaged when a suspected drunk driver behind the wheel of a sanitation truck plowed into them. On Oct. 11, a garbage truck driver going the wrong way struck and killed a pedestrian in Brooklyn.
Surveillance camera footage showed that the driver then attempted to turn around the truck to make it appear as if he were traveling in the right direction on the roadway. Since 2016, 20 cases involving these trucks have led to fatalities, officials said. The city has issued more than 1,800 summonses since last year involving these trucks including running red lights, backing up unsafely and defective equipment. The NYPD has promised “to be in full force” watching these trucks and cracking down on them over the next week to make sure operators are following the law.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured
If you have been injured in a New York bicycle or pedestrian accident, there are a number of steps you can take in order to protect your legal rights. First, make sure you file a police report and obtain a copy for your records. Your personal injury lawyer may be able to get a copy of this report as well, which essentially records most details of the accident including the time, date and place, and a narrative describing what occurred including who might have been at fault.
Get prompt medical attention and treatment for your injuries. Collect as much evidence as possible from the accident scene including photos, eyewitness statements and contact information for the relevant parties. Surveillance videos are a critical piece of evidence these days and can help establish the facts in an accident case. Do not admit fault or make any statements that may jeopardize your case. Stay away from social media sites and never post anything about your accident. Any statements, photos or videos you post online may be used against you. Immediately contact an experienced New York City bicycle or pedestrian accident lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation, help you collect and compile evidence and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Victims who have been injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident may be able to obtain compensation for damages including, but not limited to medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in a pedestrian accident may also seek damages by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYPD-Garbage-Truck-Crackdown-NYC-Cyclist-Hit-Midtown-498976721.html