The driver of a garbage truck has been charged with second degree vehicular homicide and failure to yield while entering the roadway after a Monday morning pedestrian accident that killed a 70-year-old grandfather, according to a news report from Fox5 Atlanta. The man was walking near the YMCA on the 2200 block of Campbellton Road in Atlanta at around 11 AM when he was struck by the garbage truck. He died at the scene.
The driver reportedly remained at the scene to be interviewed by police and was later arrested and booked into the Fulton County Jail. According to a report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the driver worked for a private garbage company that was not affiliated with the city. Family members of the pedestrian stated that the man — who was a retired father and grandfather — was devoted to family and had a wonderful sense of humor.
While collisions involving garbage trucks aren’t heard about every day, this type of vehicle is actually responsible for around 100 deaths and 1,400 injuries each year. Garbage trucks pose particular risks for pedestrians, including significant blind spots that impair the driver’s ability to see people walking behind or alongside the vehicle, and they travel predominantly in neighborhoods, where pedestrians are frequently found. Additionally, these trucks have a high center of gravity that makes them prone to rolling over if the driver attempts emergency driving maneuvers such as swerving to miss a pedestrian, and the increased weight of the vehicles means that they have a longer traveling distance between when the driver brakes until the truck comes to a complete stop.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a garbage truck or another type of large, commercial vehicle, let the experienced legal team at Cambre & Associates LLC help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the expenses and impacts of your injury. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
