71-Year-Old Woman Seriously Injured In Bredenton Garbage Truck Accident At Lake Bayshore Drive Parking Lot
BRADENTON, FLORIDA (January 19, 2022) – A 71-year-old woman was critically injured in a Bradenton garbage truck accident in a parking lot on Lake Bayshore Drive.
Manatee County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:21 a.m.on Tuesday. The woman was walking through the parking lot with the assistance of a walker when she was hit by a garbage truck.
The force of the impact knocked her to the ground and left her seriously injured. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
She was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Florida Highway Patrol interviewed the garbage truck driver who remained at the scene.
A full investigation into the Bradenton collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Bradenton Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians for a number of reasons. They have large blind spots that make pedestrians difficult to see. Moreover, they tend to operate during the early morning hours when pedestrians are less visible. According to Motor Biscuit, in 2017 alone 107 people were killed and over 1,400 people were injured in garbage truck accidents. There are a number of steps that garbage truck drivers should take to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Garbage truck drivers should check their blind spots before turning.
- Garbage truck drivers should ideally use spotters when backing up.
- Garbage truck drivers should slow down in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Private garbage truck companies tend to have a worse safety record than their public counterparts. These companies are incentivized to complete their assignments as quickly as possible even when this might compromise safety. Many garbage truck accidents happen in parking lots which can be tricky to navigate for any driver. Parking lots tend to lack many of the safety features that help keep pedestrians safe such as stop signs, traffic control devices and street lights.
All drivers in Florida have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian. Pursuant to Florida Vehicle Code 316.183, no person shall drive a motor vehicle faster than what would be reasonable or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a garbage truck driver failed to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company that a garbage truck driver worked for could also be held at fault for a collision involving their driver. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course of their job duties. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any pedestrian collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Work records from truck drivers should be reviewed.
The FMCSA requires most commercial trucks to carry at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a garbage truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Florida Garbage Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this Bradenton garbage truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligent actions of another driver? 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 are entitled to under the law. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
