| Watch Out for those New York City Sanitation | | | | minor property damage, you may want to handle this |
| Trucks | | | | matter by yourself; for a more serious matter, I |
| We see sanitation trucks every day hauling away | | | | advise that you consult a personal injury attorney |
| tons of New York City garbage and recycling | | | | with experience bringing cases against the New York |
| materials. We couldn't live without the work | | | | City government. Here are some questions and |
| performed by those trucks and the men and women | | | | answers (FAQ) that may help you in a case against |
| who work on them. According to a new report by | | | | New York City: |
| the Comptroller's Office, we all need to watch those | | | | A sanitation truck hit my parked car and caused |
| sanitation trucks a little more carefully. New York City | | | | some damages. Do I need an attorney to recover |
| sanitation vehicles caused over 1,000 accidents in | | | | damages? |
| 2009 and cost taxpayers over $17 million in claims. | | | | No, you can file a claim against the City and try to |
| Sanitation Trucks Caused over 6,000 Crashes in | | | | collect the damages yourself. You need to file a claim |
| Three Years | | | | with the New York City Comptroller's office. You can |
| The New York Post reports that sanitation vehicles | | | | click here to learn how to file a claim. Once you file |
| were involved in more than 6,000 crashes in the past | | | | your claim, a representative from the City |
| three years. That number is all the more startling | | | | government will contact you and work to resolve the |
| since there are only 5,500 vehicles in the Sanitation | | | | matter. |
| department fleet. That means that each vehicle is | | | | What if the City does not contact me or work with |
| involved in an accident once every three years. | | | | me to resolve my claim for property damage? |
| To be fair, most of these accidents are fender | | | | If you file a claim for property damage and the City |
| benders. Many involve property damage when a | | | | fails to resolve the mater to your liking, you can bring |
| truck sideswipes a parked car or knocks off a side | | | | the City to Small Claims Court to collect your |
| view mirror. Many of the accidents occur during | | | | compensation. Small Claims Court hears cases |
| snowfalls when the trucks add a plow. However, last | | | | involving damages up to $5,000. You do not need a |
| year, accidents with sanitation trucks injured 294 | | | | lawyer to represent you in Small Claims Court. You |
| people, some very seriously. | | | | can learn more about Small Claims Court by clicking |
| These accidents cost all of us. Not only do these | | | | here. |
| accidents pose a danger to citizens and visitors, but | | | | I was hurt in an accident with a NYC sanitation truck, |
| also they cost the City money. In 2009, the City paid | | | | do I need a lawyer to seek damages? |
| out over $17 million in claims related to sanitation | | | | Technically, you do not need to retain a lawyer to |
| truck accidents. | | | | pursue damages for an injury. You can file a claim |
| Lawsuits Lead to a Safe City | | | | with the Comptroller's Office and try to resolve the |
| Why am I, a personal injury attorney, writing about | | | | matter yourself. I can tell you from my experience |
| this report from Comptroller Jon Liu's office? | | | | defending the City against such claims, the attorneys |
| Naturally, I am concerned when individuals suffer | | | | for the City tend to assume that persons |
| injuries or property damages. I have represented | | | | representing themselves either do not have a real |
| many clients who have been hurt by City trucks and | | | | injury or could not get an attorney to take their |
| vehicles. I am always willing to assist people injured in | | | | case. Even with a real injury, the person representing |
| accidents with sanitation trucks. | | | | himself or herself runs the risk of not receiving the |
| Yet this situation speaks to a matter of public policy | | | | maximum value for his or her case. Here's how I |
| and the role that personal injury lawyers play in | | | | think about this issue: you do not need to hire a |
| making the City safe. I began my legal career | | | | dentist to remove a damaged tooth, but you are far |
| working the New York City Law Department where | | | | better off with the trained and experienced dentist |
| I defended the City against lawsuits. I learned that | | | | than yanking it out yourself. |
| the City government, like any large business, pays | | | | What advantages will I gain if I hire an attorney to |
| attention when an issue involves money. | | | | represent me in a case against the City? |
| I believe that the City government from Mayor | | | | A lawyer will help you assess your case to make |
| Bloomberg on down to the every sanitation driver | | | | sure that you understand the value of the case. The |
| would like to reduce the number of sanitation truck | | | | attorney will file the claim against the City and make |
| accidents. However, it is when lawyers hold the City | | | | sure that you meet all the legal requirements for filing |
| accountable for damages caused by these accidents | | | | a suit. (Many cases handled by individuals are lost |
| that the City pays attention. | | | | when they miss a filing deadline or serve papers |
| When the City has to pay the price for the | | | | incorrectly.) The attorney will work to settle the case |
| negligence of the truck drivers who cause these | | | | and if an appropriate settlement is not offered, an |
| accidents, then we all benefit. When a Sanitation | | | | attorney will file a lawsuit and prosecute the case so |
| truck driver injures a person or causes property | | | | that you receive maximum compensation for your |
| damage, it is important to seek damages not only to | | | | injuries. |
| compensate the individual for the damages, but also | | | | With a good personal injury attorney, the lawyer |
| to hold the City accountable. Faced with a payout of | | | | does the work for you and makes sure you get the |
| over $17 million and a report from the City | | | | most money possible. That's far better than doing |
| Comptroller's Office, the City is more likely to | | | | the work yourself, not knowing if you are doing it |
| improve training and remediation programs and to | | | | right and not knowing if you got the money you |
| remove poor drivers, thus saving the City | | | | should have received. |
| government money in the future and making the City | | | | I hope you found this information helpful. If you or a |
| safer. | | | | loved one has been injured in an accident with a |
| What to Do If a NYC Sanitation Truck Has Caused | | | | sanitation truck or other motor vehicle and believe |
| You Damage | | | | that you have a case, I will be glad to assist you. |
| If a NYC Sanitation Truck has injured you or caused | | | | You can call me at 1-800-660-1466. |
| you property damage, you may be entitled to | | | | This material is intended for informational uses only. It |
| compensation. To receive that compensation, you | | | | is not meant as legal advice. To receive legal advice, |
| need to file a claim against the City and you may | | | | you should consult an attorney. |
| need to take the City government to court. For | | | | |