Des Moines, Iowa Home Blogs Iowa Des Moines Wrongful Death

Topics

On the Road

Major Medical

Protecting Your Family

In the Workplace

Miscellaneous

Why might a pedestrian not realize a garbage truck is backing?

Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335
Visit Steve Lombardi on FacebookVisit Steve Lombardi on LinkedInVisit Steve Lombardi on TwitterVisit Steve Lombardi on Avvo
Posted by Steve LombardiOctober 31, 2009 2:08 PM
Tags: Pedestrian Safety, Metro, garbage truck, car, semi-truck, motorcycle accident, Iowa
2 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

When we receive real life examples of how personal injury accidents occur sometimes we post them as a Q&A. In this instance see how easily you can become victimized by injuries in which you had no part in creating.

QUESTION: Hi, I just read your article about injuries with the trucks backing up without the back up alarms. My car today was hit by a garbage truck (Ankeny Sanitation) when my boyfriend was getting out of the car- the truck came from behind our car and was backing up without a back up alarm. It hit the door and bent it forward- luckily my boyfriend did not already fully step out because when he turned his head the truck was inches from his face- if he had it probably would have taken his head off!

I left a message with their company today to see if they will do anything about my car- the driver of the truck said he had brought up the issue that his back up alarm didn't work just this morning in a company meeting, but they obviously still sent him out without it working.

I'm wondering if there are laws that say they have to have their back up alarm working now? This is so horrible what I read happen to others and it really is a dangerous problem!

Thanks so much, Sarah

ANSWER: Hi Sarah, thank you for the excellent question. I'm happy to answer it. Yes there are laws that require companies with trucks manufactured with back-up alarm systems to maintain them. The truck isn't supposed to be put back into service until the rear-warning device is repaired and fully operational. You're right on the money. They will certainly have to pay for your car. And your boyfriend should thank his lucky stars he wasn't killed. Tell him it will make him a wiser juror and more understanding father.

Steve Lombardi

Here's an example of a garbage truck accident with a pedestrian. In this instance the pedestrian is a fellow worker of the truck's crew.


To read more about these types of accidents visit our blog The Verdict.
2 Comments

Have an opinion about this post? Please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Mike BryantInjuryBoard Attorney Member
Posted by Mike Bryant
November 01, 2009 8:52 AM

Great information and so very true. Between no bells and the bells that blend into the surround your surroundings these are big giant silent killers. Just think about: Do people ask to get run down or think, gee that won't hurt much.

Sarah
Posted by Sarah
November 02, 2009 12:37 PM

Even though the driver at the time of the accident stated that he had brought up in a company meeting that the back up alarm was not working- he is now telling their insurance company that it was working at the time of the accident! They are trying to say that the accident was not their fault and that the door was opened in the way of their truck.

I think this just goes to show that they for one do not realize or care about the safety of those who might be in their path. I'm sure that with this particular truck they have probably serviced the back up alarm to try to cover their story that it was working at that time- and if that caused them to service it and it works now for another innocent bystander who might be in their path then I'm glad that they did. Even though it looks like we may be out of a car it's the safety of everyone that matters most. And if our misfortune with our car helps to save someone who might have not been warned standing in their path in the future then so be it. I just hope they really do have the alarm working now.

Leave a comment

Have an opinion? There are 3 ways to leave a public comment (or click here to email the author privately).

For information on acceptable commenting practices, please visit Lifehacker's guide to weblog comments. Comments containing spam or profanity will be filtered or deleted.

Method 1: Guests

Provide the information below. Your email address will not be published or sold.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Method 2: Facebook Users

Connect using your facebook account.

Method 3: InjuryBoard Members and Contributors

Please sign in

Comments:

5000 characters remaining.




Subscribe to InjuryBoard Des Moines

 InjuryBoard Des Moines RSS Feeds

Keep up with the latest updates using your favorite RSS reader

Injury Board Des Moines is brought to you by The Lombardi Law Firm

Legal Assistance Center

More Info
The Lombardi Law Firm (866) 735-1102 Ext 335 www.lombardilaw.com/
google
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving: Ames, Ankeny, Boone, Clive, Des Moines, Grinnell, Jefferson, Leon, Marshalltown, Newton, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Urbandalte, West Des Moines, Winterset
4200 Corporate DriveSuite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 [ Show Map ]
Better Business Bureau Accredited Business Confidential

Your question will be referred to an attorney near you. If your question is of a legal nature, then by submitting this form you agree you are not forming a formal attorney / client relationship. Read our full privacy policy.

Looking for an InjuryBoard attorney closer to home? Click here.

Additional Resources

Subscribe to Blog Updates

Enter your email address if you would like to receive email notifications when comments are made on this post.

Email address

Blog Archives

View previous posts from:

Interesting Links

Popular Tags

American Culture Collision Collisions Death driver safety Financial Wrongdoing highway Injury Iowa Lombardi

Regional Blogs

Find an InjuryBoard Blog in your area: