Los Angeles Streetsweeper Truck Accident Attorneys

Ehline Law and our Los Angeles street sweeper truck accident attorneys have successfully represented injured victims in obtaining maximum compensation for a truck crash or other serious accident-injuries like a spinal cord injury.

If you suffered injuries from a street sweeper truck accident that was not your fault, contact us now to learn more about your rights as an injured victim. We can help you recover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering after forming an attorney-client relationship with our award-winning law firm in Los Angeles County, CA.

Types of Street Sweeper Trucks

Weighing up to 14,000 pounds, the street sweeper is a large truck that operates within the boundaries of a city to maintain and ensure cleanliness. Different types of street sweepers have the same objective of cleaning the city but different functions. Truck accidents involving a street sweeper require legal advice from an experienced truck accident lawyer. This is because the trucking company is often an agent or fully employed by a government agency. The truck accident claim may be governed partially or fully by the Tort Claims Act.

Here are some of the different types of street sweeper trucks:

• Conventional street sweepers: These are the traditional street sweepers that come equipped with rotating brooms. Using the rotation, the broom shoves the debris onto a conveyor belt that collects it in a container at the other end. These street sweepers are often common around construction sites as they can handle heavier objects like rocks, gravel, and more.
• Vacuum sweeper: Just from the name, it is easy to tell that these street sweepers function similarly to home vacuums but are much larger. The brooms on these street sweepers push the dirt into the vacuum, which sucks it all up into a large capsule. These street sweepers are commonly found on public roads early in the morning, keeping the roads and gutters clear of debris.
• Regenerative air sweepers: Similar to vacuum sweepers, air sweepers are much larger than their counterparts and sweep in more debris, especially smaller particles, due to their strong suction capabilities. They also clean a larger area of land as compared to vacuum sweepers.

Types of Street Sweeper Accidents

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than half a million truck accidents occur annually across the United States.

A street sweeper accident can occur in a community, on the street, in a neighborhood, on the road, or even on state routes.

However, certain types of accidents occur more often than others, including the following.

Rear-end Collisions

There are just under 2 million rear-end collisions in the country each year, which can result in serious injuries and, in some cases, wrongful death. Rear-end crashes lead to 1,700 deaths, leaving half a million people injured yearly, with many motor vehicle accidents related to reckless driving.

Street sweepers are large vehicles with a front blind spot spanning about two to three meters. An inattentive driver can easily run over a motorcycle or a small car before it is too late. If you see a street sweeper coming up behind you, change lanes safely or speed up to prevent a rear-end collision.

Hit and Run

Since street sweepers are massive vehicles, a driver can hit a small vehicle, a motorcyclist, or a pedestrian without even noticing. In some situations where a driver notices an accident, they panic and leave the accident site to avoid trouble with the authorities. If caught, it is a crime to leave an accident scene, and violators can either face incarceration, fines, or both. Either way, the truck owner won’t just roll over and pay the fair and just compensation you deserve.

Rollovers

Due to its heavy weight, a commercial truck can roll over if the tire bursts, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30% of all rollovers are deadly. It is the responsibility of the truck owners to maintain their vehicles and conduct pre-inspection checks before operating the street sweeper. No amount of financial compensation can bring back a dead person after an auto accident, which is why safety inspections are so vital to avoid truck crashes.

Street Sweeper Accidents in California

Although most road accidents involve passenger vehicles, street sweeper accidents are more common than you think.

Let’s look at some of the recent street sweeper accidents in California.

“Ball of Fire” in Riverside County

On May 19, 2022, the California Highway Patrol received a distressed call at around 5 a.m. of a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 215 in Riverside County.

Emergency services immediately reached the accident site, where the fire was already engulfing the other lanes of the interstate highway. The authorities diverted traffic for the next three hours before they extinguished the fire and cleared the wreckage.

The fire’s remains showed a massive four-vehicle collision involving three passenger cars and one large street sweeper, with one driver dead in the fire.

Inattentive Street Sweeper Driver Kills a Man

On December 27, 2010, a 55-year-old man, Dennis Schenk, ended up hitting a 20,000-pound large street sweeper as he tried to avoid the vehicle with its rear end sticking into Dennis’s lane. The truck driver had made an illegal turn, resulting in his vehicle protruding into another lane, causing a collision with Dennis’s car.

Without knowing about the collision, Alejandro Pena, the man driving the street sweeper, activated the sweeper to clean the road. However, the sweeper broke the passenger car’s window and caused serious traumatic brain injury and lacerations, resulting in the death of Dennis Schenk. The decedent’s parents sued Pena and settled the case for $2.75 million.

“Combustible” Street Sweeper Blazing on I-15

On March 16, 2022, at about 5.25 pm, a street sweeper caught fire along the northbound I-15 freeway. The San Bernardino County firefighters made it in time to extinguish the flames while the law enforcement authorities blocked access to the road for about 45 minutes, resulting in traffic delays.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the street sweeper driver made it out alive without sustaining any injuries from the fire.

On November 23, 2021, a 34-year-old man drove into the back of a street sweeper, and according to the San Diego Police Department, the driver did not see the commercial truck before the crash.

The accident resulted in severe injuries to the 34-year-old man, including a broken sternum, broken ribs, and internal injuries. The police believe that there was no involvement of alcohol in the accident.

Dragged into a Trench

On February 16, 2018, a street sweeper driving southbound on Morena Boulevard swept a hose at a nearby construction site, causing two workers to trip and fall into a deep trench. The nearby workers noticed the incident and confronted the street sweeper driver, who immediately took off, leaving the truck behind.

The two construction workers who fell into the trench suffered from broken ribs and hands. The emergency services rescued the two workers and took them to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Common Causes of Street Sweeper Accidents

Street sweeper operators start their work early in the morning, cleaning the streets until late afternoon. Because of their schedule, they are often on duty during rush hours, creating many opportunities for drivers to get involved in catastrophic injury accidents.

Street sweepers also do not operate like typical vehicles, which increases the chances of street sweeper drivers losing control of their truck for many different reasons, including:

• Poorly trained drivers: To operate the street sweeper truck safely, the drivers must undergo extensive training about the truck functions and pre-trip inspections.
• Drivers must also complete a certain number of training hours before becoming licensed street sweeper drivers. The lack of proper driver training for these commercial vehicles can increase the risk of severe accidents on the road in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Fatigue: A street sweeper driver wakes up early in the morning and starts operating the larger vehicle, cleaning the streets before most people are on the road.
• However, the drivers’ schedule changes, and as a result, a driver may show up to work tired. Fatigue or sleep deprivation can significantly affect motor skills, putting others in danger.
• Harsh weather conditions: It’s safe for large trucks to operate on the roads during the fall or summer months as compared to when it’s raining or snowing. 16% of fatal commercial truck accidents happen because of bad weather.
• During the winter months, the cold temperatures can potentially freeze the water sprayed onto the roads by the street sweeper, making the surface slippery for the vehicle to drive on.
• Employers are responsible for ensuring that their drivers are not operating during risky scenarios, especially harsh weather conditions, to prevent accidents. Our injury lawyers protect the rights of truck accident victims on behalf of the client, relentlessly pursuing financial recovery from all defendants on behalf of the surviving family.
• Poorly maintained street sweepers: Employers and street sweeper drivers must ensure that their trucks are properly maintained regularly. They should inspect the truck for any signs of wear and tear and tend to it immediately if necessary.
• Any defect in parts or components of a street sweeper truck can be an accident waiting to happen. Components like rubber seals, dust separators, and suction inlets are some parts that require special attention during inspections.
• Inattentive driver: Street sweepers are large vehicles, and those driving them must look around before proceeding with caution, especially during turning and backing up. These trucks have large blind spots, which makes it possible for the drivers not to see any bicyclists or smaller vehicles.
• The sheer size of the truck makes it easy for the driver to rear-end or collide with a car, bicycle, or even a pedestrian if the driver is not paying attention or fully aware of their surroundings. Street sweeper drivers must be extra vigilant on the road, especially around schools and busy zones.
• Inattentive driving: In the United States, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, nine people die daily due to distracted driving.
• There is a common misconception that distracted driving only occurs when the driver is using the phone, but that’s not true as it can happen when they’re doing any activity while behind the wheel, such as eating, changing the radio, or talking to other passengers, and so on.
• Defective manufacturing: Products that hit the shelves without proper quality control can result in all sorts of accidents, which is why manufacturers of defective products have to do a recall. A defective street sweeper increases the risk of a street sweeper accident. Are you or your loved ones trying to get justice from a street sweeper manufacturer? We can help; our contingency fee attorneys won’t take a fee unless we win.

Common Injuries from Street Sweeper Accidents

Although street sweepers are much slower than passenger vehicles, they are still extremely dangerous to other drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Injuries sustained in a car accident are much different than injuries from a street sweeper accident.

The suction is often strong enough to trap victims, but crushing injuries are the most common as many truck accident victims get stuck between two forces.

Here are some of the common street sweeper accident injuries victims suffer:

• Crushed body parts: In most street sweeper trucking accidents, crush injuries occur when a person gets stuck between an active street sweeper and the street, ground, or pavement. The force exerted on the stuck body can result in crushed limbs.
• Amputations: Amputations are the aftermath of crushed limbs that are beyond repair. A doctor may suggest amputation and require the victim to attend rehabilitation or wear a prosthetic limb. This can significantly affect a person’s life both mentally and emotionally.
• Internal bleeding: A street sweeper accident can cause internal injuries, resulting in internal bleeding. Diagnosing internal injuries early on can help prevent complications, but delaying medical examination or treatment can lead to life-threatening conditions.

How to Prevent Street Sweeper Truck Collision

Because of the massive size and heavy weight of street sweepers, passenger vehicles must exercise extreme caution on the road while driving along one. Drivers who do not take precautions increase the risk of accidents, even if they drive in their lane and follow traffic rules.

Accidents occur randomly, but taking preventive measures can reduce your chances of being involved in a street sweeper accident.

Here are some tips motorists must follow when encountering a street sweeper:

• Avoid driving too close to the truck: Vehicles and motorcycles must adhere to the three-second rule to help maintain a safe distance in the event that the street sweeper accidentally brakes. The safe distance allows the other drivers enough time to brake or steer to avoid a collision.
• Avoid driving in the blind spot: Street sweepers have multiple blind spots, which is why it is important to stay away from those spots. If you see a street sweeper in your side view mirror, you’re definitely in the truck’s blind spot and should move lanes or speed up after assessing the situation.
• Avoid high beam lights: Street sweeper operators are on the road cleaning before the sun is out. Driving in the dark is already challenging for a truck due to lowered visibility, but if you’re driving with high beam lights on, you’re blinding the truck driver and further increasing your risk of collision. When approaching any commercial truck, it is best to dim your lights.
• Wait during turns: Since these trucks are large, they need more space to make a turn. It is best to let a commercial truck complete its turn before proceeding to make your turn to avoid getting rear-ended.
• Avoid texting: Even a second of distraction in a fast-moving vehicle can result in a deadly accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 people die annually from distracted driving. In California, it is illegal to use your phone while driving. Those caught using their phones while behind the wheel may face fines and even risk street sweeper accidents.

Tips for Street Sweeper Truck Drivers on the Road

Eliminating street sweepers from the road is the easiest way to prevent any street sweeper accidents.

However, street sweepers are essential road equipment that cleans storm drains and prevents flooding during rainy seasons. Removing these industrial-sized trucks from the roads can cause more harm than good.

Rather than removing street sweepers, these truck drivers can take preventive measures while operating on the roads, such as:

• Pay attention to the road at all times.
• Avoid wearing earphones when operating the vehicle.
• Follow traffic rules and always stay within the speed limits.
• Wear protective gear when operating the vehicle.