NYC’s Dual Trash Collection System
New York City’s residents and businesses generate a lot of trash, and collecting it is a huge job. The city relies on both public and private collection services: DSNY generally serves residences, while private trash collectors serve businesses.
Public Trash Collection
The DSNY provides trash pickup for residences, government agencies, and many nonprofits. It has a fleet of more than 2,000 rear-loading trucks that collect around 24 million pounds of trash, recycling, and compostable material daily.
Private Carting Companies
The private system, regulated by the NYC Business Integrity Commission (BIC), comprises dozens of waste-hauling companies that serve commercial properties and businesses. These companies handle around 3 million tons of waste each year.
However, New York City is overhauling its commercial waste collection through the DSNY Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) program, dividing the city into 20 distinct zones to reduce traffic and emissions. Under this new system rolling out through 2027, NYC business owners can no longer hire any private carter and must choose from three authorized providers assigned exclusively to their specific zone.
Why Choose The Sanders Law Firm After a Garbage Truck Accident
Garbage truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that lead to extensive medical treatment, long-term care, and uncertainty about your future. At The Sanders Law Firm, we understand these struggles and have dedicated our practice to helping victims and their families seek justice.
Since 1967, our large team of attorneys and legal professionals has taken a litigation-forward approach, preparing every case for court. We work with an expansive network of medical consultants and investigators to build trial-ready cases that give us leverage when negotiating with insurance companies. With relentless NYC grit, we’re ready to go the distance to secure the compensation you deserve.
We offer clear communication at every stage of the claims process with multilingual support staff available around the clock. To make quality legal care accessible to all New Yorkers, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay if we win your case.
Commercial Waste Trucks Have a Spotty Safety Record
New York City’s private sanitation industry faces serious safety hazards, putting motorists, bikers, pedestrians, and sanitation system employees at risk. According to a report by the Center for New York City Affairs, between 2022 and 2024, 17 garbage companies slated for the city’s new Commercial Waste Zones system were involved in 61 serious crashes, resulting in 103 injuries and three fatalities.
While overall crash rates recently decreased by nearly 18%, a NYC Comptroller audit reveals ongoing systemic risks. BIC violations surged by 110%, with 7,641 charges issued between January 2021 and December 2024. Alarmingly, 86% of these infractions involved safety violations, and the 18 carters selected for the CWZ system averaged 241 safety violations each over four years.
Major infractions include missed inspections, faulty brakes, worn tires, inoperable lighting, improperly secured loads, and other preventable mechanical breakdowns that put everyone on the road at risk.
DSNY Garbage Trucks Account for Large Share of Crash Settlements
New York’s public garbage trucks have a better safety record than private trash companies, but the City has paid out large sums to settle lawsuits involving DSNY vehicles.
In fiscal year 2025, operations involving the New York City Department of Sanitation accounted for a substantial portion of municipal settlements. Key numbers include:
- There were 1,428 claims filed against the DSNY.
- A total of 396 claims were settled, resulting in $75.34 million in settlements.
- Automobile accident claims were the most common type of claim filed.
- Auto accident settlements totaled $48.62 million.
- The highest settlement amount was $10 million for an auto accident claim.
Why DSNY Cases Can Be Complex
DSNY cases are often complex because municipal injury lawsuits involve strict legal deadlines and government procedures that may not apply to standard car accident claims, including:
- Notice of Claim deadline: Injury victims must file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident, or they lose their right to sue.
- 50-H hearing requirement: The city has the legal right to question the claimant under oath before a lawsuit can be officially filed in court.
- Sovereign immunity issues: DSNY may not be liable if the accident occurred during emergency operations, such as snow removal, under specific statutory immunity rules.
- FOIL request strategies: Gathering evidence requires navigating the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to secure internal DSNY maintenance logs, route data, and vehicle black box records.
Our New York garbage truck crash lawyers have the experience and resources to handle every step of your claim, so you can focus on your health and recovery.
Compensation Available in Garbage Truck Accident Claims
Garbage truck accidents often cause life-altering injuries due to the massive size disparity between commercial vehicles and passenger cars. While New York is a no-fault insurance state, victims may seek economic losses beyond no-fault coverage and, with a serious injury, damages for pain and suffering.
While every case is different, many victims are entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the financial losses caused by the crash, such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost income
- Loss of future earnings capacity
- Vehicle repair costs or total loss value
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are the intangible losses or subjective ways your life is affected by the accident. Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
Notable Case Result: $600,000 for Victim T-Boned by Garbage Truck
Our firm secured a $600,000 settlement for a local doctor who suffered severe injuries when a garbage truck ran a red light and T-boned their vehicle. The massive impact shattered the client’s hip, ultimately requiring a total hip replacement surgery and extensive physical rehabilitation.
The turning point in the litigation came when our legal team successfully won a summary judgment on liability. By proving to the court that the truck driver was at fault for failing to stop, we forced the defense to the negotiating table, where the case was resolved in mediation for $600,000.
Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique and depends on the specific facts and legal factors involved.
How We Approach Garbage Truck Accident Cases
At The Sanders Law Firm, we fight for victims who were injured by someone else’s negligence. Here’s how our garbage truck accident attorneys approach every case:
- Evidence gathering: We secure truck maintenance records, driver logs, DSNY or private-company manuals, and medical files during immediate scene investigations.
- Working with industry experts: Our team works with an expansive network of accident reconstructionists, biomechanical engineers, DSNY operations experts, and top-tier medical specialists.
- Establishing liability: For DSNY claims, we navigate sovereign immunity challenges, Notice of Claim deadlines, and 50-H hearing preparation. For private carters, we expose unsafe hiring practices, prior safety incidents, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) non-compliance.
- Trial-ready mindset: We prepare every lawsuit for court. Insurance companies know we will aggressively go to trial, creating maximum leverage to secure a favorable settlement.
Our attorneys stand by our clients as protectors, ensuring they are represented, educated, and empowered throughout the legal process.
New York City Garbage Truck Accident Claims
The way a New York City garbage truck accident claim is handled depends on whether the vehicle is privately or publicly owned.
An accident with a private sanitation truck can be filed against the driver or the company that operates the vehicle. Other parties, such as the truck manufacturer, could be liable as well, depending on the circumstances.
Filing a Claim Against the City
Filing a lawsuit against a public entity like the City of New York is generally more complicated than a private party injury claim. A claim must be filed with the Comptroller’s Office within 90 days of the incident. After that, the City will investigate the claim and may offer a settlement. A claimant can accept a settlement offer or reject it and bring a claim in court.
Talk to a New York City Garbage Truck Accident Lawyer
Private and public sanitation workers put in long hours to haul away the thousands of pounds of trash we generate every day. Trash pickup is a service we couldn’t live without and sometimes take for granted. But garbage trucks can pose safety risks to the same residents who rely on them for sanitation.
The Sanders Law Firm has provided legal representation to injured New Yorkers for nearly six decades. We are one of the largest, most aggressive, and most successful injury firms in the state, with a long track record of winning verdicts and settlements for our clients, including multi-million-dollar awards against the City of New York.
If you were injured in an accident with a private garbage truck or a DSNY garbage truck, we can help. Call 833-726-3377 or contact us online for a free case review. We can speak over the phone or at one of our New York offices.