A man was hospitalized in critical condition after being run over by a garbage truck in Gowanus earlier this month. The terrifying truck accident in New York City happened on September 9th around 10 PM at the intersection of 12th Street and Third Avenue. The victim was riding an e-bike when a garbage truck making a left turn smashed into him. The victim suffered massive head trauma and was rushed to a nearby hospital by EMS workers.
The driver of the trash truck stayed at the scene of the accident and is allegedly cooperating with NYPD investigators. It was allegedly only the man’s second week on the job which raises the question: had he had enough training to be behind the wheel of a massive garbage truck on tight city streets?
The intersection at which the truck accident occurred is located in a neighborhood that’s a dangerous mix of industrial and residential usage. That means pedestrians and cyclists regularly come into close contact with large commercial vehicles-like garbage trucks. What’s more, because the streets are so tight, traffic congestion is magnified, increasing the danger of collisions such as this one.
There has been something of a plague of trash truck accidents in New York City recently, with several fatal crashes this year alone. Most of the victims in these crashes have either been elderly pedestrians or bicyclists struck by inattentive or careless drivers.
Drivers of any motor vehicle have a responsibility whenever possible to avoid colliding with a bicyclists and pedestrians-even when the automobile operator has the right of way. Drivers must be always reasonably vigilant and observant. They must also slow their travel speed to accommodate for traffic congestion even if it means operating well below the posted speed limit.
If you’ve been injured by a careless truck driver in NYC, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer in New York City fighting for your rights as a victim. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today for your free consultation.