Whether the vehicle is a flatbed, a wheel lift, or a hook-and-chain, operating a tow truck is very different than driving a standard passenger car, pickup, or SUV. It is crucial for professional tow truck drivers to be skilled and considerate at all times while operating a vehicle. Unfortunately, not everyone in this field of work takes their duty of care as seriously as they should.
Many common causes of tow truck accidents can be connected directly to a specific reckless or careless act by the person driving the truck. Here are some of the most common accident causes, all of which the experienced truck accident attorneys at Phillips Law Group have experience building successful personal injury claims around.
You need a commercial driver’s license to legally operate a tow truck as part of a towing company, so every tow truck operator should already have the knowledge they need to safely drive their vehicles. However, sometimes inexperience can cause tow truck drivers to make mistakes such as incorrectly loading a vehicle or taking a turn too quickly, which can increase the risk of a crash.
All commercial drivers are expected to be sober and alert at all times while operating a vehicle, but not all of them follow this requirement. If you need a tow late at night, you may end up with a truck driver who is fatigued—or even drunk—enough to cause a wreck.
When tow truck drivers are loading, carrying, or unloading a vehicle, they are expected to use specific signs and signals to warn other drivers about what they are doing. A tow truck driver who fails to do this can very easily cause someone near them to collide with stopped vehicles or, even worse, with people.
Tow trucks are machines just like any other type of motor vehicle, and they also have special machinery attached to them that their drivers use to raise, lower, and secure disabled vehicles. If a tow truck driver fails to keep their truck in good condition through regular maintenance, a breakdown or malfunction while carrying a disabled car can lead to that car sliding off into the roadway and causing a serious crash.
Even if none of these common causes of tow truck accidents were what led to your injury, you can still successfully file suit if you can prove that a negligent act by a tow truck driver was the main reason you were hurt. Assistance from knowledgeable legal counsel will be key to avoiding procedural obstacles and getting the best possible outcome from a lawsuit. To learn more about your recovery options, call Phillips Law Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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