Blog Post

Safety Concerns may Overturn Newport Beach Waste Disposal Trucking Bid


August 08, 2007
Topic: Truck Accidents

 

As if the increasing frequency of truck accidents in California was not enough, it now appears that the Newport Beach City Council awarded a 10 million dollar waste disposal contract to a company that has a history of poor truck maintenance.

New documents based on police and California Highway Patrol reports and a complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorney have come to light. These reveal a multitude of maintenance problems with the truck fleet operated by Newport Beach based Ware Disposal which won the hefty 10 year contract.

In 2005, the company received poor ratings on California Highway Patrol inspection reports. The infractions included the use of bald tires, faulty brake systems, and lights and turn signals that were in need of repair. Inspectors back then went as far as to warn that the company's trucks presented an "imminent danger to public safety." The matter was then referred to the Orange County District Attorney's Office and consequently, Ware Disposal pled guilty on various counts and was fined $11,000.

Even more appalling is the number of California Highway Patrol and police citations that the company has received since 2003 - reportedly more than 110. According to the Orange County Register, Ware Disposal's was the lowest bid and that city staff actually wanted to go with a more experienced, higher bidder. Cost factors seem to have taken priority over safety concerns here.

Ware Disposal claims that they have made recent efforts to improve their fleet, but some find it difficult to trust company that in 2005 had inspectors saying they "continue to show a complete disregard for regulatory and statutory (safety) requirements," even after numerous citations. Astoundingly, officials in Newport Beach admitted that the safety record of bidders was not a factor during the bidding process, and are only now examining contractors' safety history since these revelations about Ware Disposal.

Nationwide, approximately 170,000 people are injured every year by truck accidents. These are especially prevalent in California, which is always among the top 3 states with the maximum number of trucking accidents. If you or your loved ones have been injured in a truck accident, it's extremely important that you waste no further time fighting for your rights. Call the car accident lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

 


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.