The Kinross teenager’s car struck a wheelie bin while she was backing out of a driveway in Mindarie.
“I was reversing out of the driveway when I heard a loud bang,” Tamikah Talma (18) said in an email to the City of Wanneroo.
“I got out of my car to find that the rubbish bin that had been put on the left-hand side of the driveway (by the home owner) for collection had been emptied but left on its side in the centre of the driveway right behind my car.
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The City’s assets director Harminder Singh said an investigation found the bin had not fallen over during rubbish collection, and urged drivers to be aware of their surroundings.
“Every driver has a responsibility to look out for obstacles on public roads, no matter how the object ended up on the road,” he said.
“All drivers should always be vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.”
Mr Singh said while the City had public liability insurance with the Local Government Insurance Scheme, potential liability depended on individual circumstances and outcomes of investigations.
“Under the City’s procedures, if a bin is knocked over during collection, the truck driver gets out to return the bin to where it was originally placed and removes any rubbish that might have fallen out,” he said.
“During pick-up, the driver sits on the left-hand side of the truck, next to the lifting arm, which provides a clear view of bins.”
Mr Singh said following the customer’s report last month, the waste operations supervisor investigated.
“Maps were used to locate the house and the driver confirmed the bin had not been knocked over during collection,” he said.