Tow Truck Accidents

TOW TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HUNTSVILLE AL

Decatur Tow Truck Accident Attorney

Whenever one vehicle is towing another, there is a greater risk of an accident. Tow trucks weigh an average of 10,000 pounds, which can make it more difficult for the truck to stop. In the United States, you will find approximately 35,000 towing companies, with hundreds of thousands of people being employed by them. Tow truck drivers respond to about 15 million accidents every year. Our Huntsville and Decatur tow truck accident attorneys are skilled at handling all truck accident cases. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident involving a tow truck, then you should contact an Alabama personal injury lawyer today.

Tow truck workers or first responders who sustain injuries in a roadside accident in Alabama may potentially claim compensation by taking specific legal steps. In Alabama, drivers who do not move over or slow down while passing emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, can face various fines. If a tow truck driver survives their injuries, they have the option to seek economic and non-economic damages with the support of a Huntsville personal injury attorney. Economic damages include quantifiable losses such as medical expenses and lost wages, while non-economic damages encompass the emotional and psychological effects of the accident, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. These workers must consult with an attorney, follow necessary procedures post-accident, and prioritize seeking medical attention to ensure a successful compensation claim process. Our attorneys have been getting maximum recoveries on tow truck accident cases in Alabama for over 30 years, Call us now at 256-534-3435.

What Should you do after a Tow Truck Accident?

Our Huntsville and Decatur tow truck accident attorneys are skilled at handling all truck accident cases. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident involving a tow truck, then you should contact an Alabama personal injury lawyer today. Our attorneys have been getting maximum recoveries on tow truck accident cases in Alabama for over 30 years. The attorneys at Ferguson & Ferguson are nationally recognized tow truck accident lawyers.

In addition to seeking legal assistance, it is crucial to take immediate steps to protect your rights after a tow truck accident. First, never underestimate the potential for hidden injuries following such incidents. Refrain from declaring yourself uninjured to responding officers, as adrenaline can mask symptoms that may arise later. Seeking prompt medical attention is paramount, particularly for injuries like neck and back issues that may manifest days after the accident.

Furthermore, documenting the accident scene is vital. Capture photos and videos of the scene, including damages to your vehicle and any visible injuries. Note road conditions and any foreign object obstructions present. It is also advisable to record the speed limit on the road and gather witness statements or contact information. Providing detailed information to responding officers and obtaining a thorough police report can serve as crucial evidence later on.

If you encounter challenges with the offending driver’s insurance company or face difficulties in receiving coverage, consulting with an attorney is highly recommended. The experienced tow truck accident attorneys at Ferguson & Ferguson offer a free consultation to review your case and provide guidance on the legal steps to take. Remember, we take all personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, ensuring that you pay only if we win. Contact our office today at 256-534-3435 to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.

Causes of Tow Truck Accident in Alabama

Tow trucks can cause accidents due to their size and complexity. Common causes of tow truck accidents in Alabama are driver error, inadequate training, improper vehicle maintenance, overloading, and distracted driving.

1. Driver error: Mistakes made by drivers, such as speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, or failure to yield, are among the top causes of tow truck accidents in Alabama.

2. Inadequate training: Tow truck drivers require specialized training to operate their large vehicles safely. Lack of proper training can result in dangerous situations that lead to accidents.

3. Improper vehicle maintenance: Tow trucks undergo constant wear and require regular upkeep to function safely. Failure to maintain a truck could result in mechanical defects and lead to accidents.

4. Overloading: Tow trucks have specific weight limits. If overloaded, they can become difficult to control and more likely to crash.

5. Distracted driving: If a tow truck driver is texting, eating, or using a GPS device while driving, they are significantly more likely to crash into other road users.

Types of Tow Trucks

Some common types of tow trucks that one might encounter in Huntsville include flatbeds, hook-and-chain tow trucks, wheel-lift tow trucks, boom tow trucks, integrated tow trucks, quick-pick tow trucks, rotator tow trucks, car carriers, frame-lift tow trucks, swing-lift tow trucks, rollbacks, winch-and-pull tow trucks, tilt-tray tow trucks, four-wheel lift tow trucks, sling tow trucks, and under-lift tow trucks. There are several different kinds of tow trucks on the road in Decatur and Huntsville, including the following:

• Hook and Chain Tow Trucks: Chains are hooked around a vehicle frame or axle and the front of the vehicle is lifted off the ground while the rear axle remains on the ground for transport purposes. These tow trucks work by putting hooks under the frame or around the axle of the towed vehicle. Hook-and-chain trucks are not popular because the tow truck driver must have access to the towed vehicle’s keys. Moreover, hook-and-chain tow trucks can cause a lot of damage to the towed vehicle.
• Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks: Use a metal yoke that fits under the front or rear wheels and is lifted with a hydraulic hoist for towing. These tow trucks work by sliding a steel yoke underneath the rear wheels of a towed vehicle. After sliding the yoke, the vehicle is lifted, pulled backward, and towed away. These are tow trucks primarily used in repossessions because they work quickly and can tow a vehicle without requiring the tow truck driver to get out of the tow truck.
• Flatbed or Slide Tow Trucks: A traditional flatbed truck is outfitted with a hydraulically inclined bed, enabling it to get to ground level to slide the disabled vehicle up and onto the flatbed. These two trucks have a flatbed that tilts down. Once the flatbed is tilted down, the towed vehicle can be pulled up onto the flatbed with cables or chains. Once the vehicle is pulled up, the flatbed tilts back up, and the tow truck can drive away. This type of tow truck is recommended because it is least likely to damage a towed vehicle and can tow badly damaged vehicles after a car accident.
• Integrated or Repo Trucks: Lighter trucks are often used in the repossession of vehicles or towing illegally parked vehicles. The controls for this truck are in the cab, making it easier and quicker to lift a car without having to leave the truck to attach it. These tow trucks consolidate both the boom and the wheel lift.
• Boom: Tow trucks of all kinds often are equipped with a boom used to recover vehicles from ditches or in other situations when the truck operator does not have the keys to the vehicle being towed. These tow trucks have a slanted boom used to hoist one end of the towed vehicle and are particularly useful for pulling vehicles out of mud, embankments, ditches, and lakes.
• Quick-pick tow trucks
• Rotator tow trucks
• Car carriers
• Frame-lift tow trucks
• Swing-lift tow trucks
• Rollbacks
• Winch-and-pull tow trucks
• Tilt-tray tow trucks
• Four-wheel lift tow trucks
• Sling tow trucks
• Under-lift tow trucks

Types of Tow Truck Accident Damages

If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a tow truck, you may be able to recover the following damages:

• Property loss
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Current medical bills
• Past medical bills
• Future medical bills connected to injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Costs of physical therapy
• Permanent injury or disability
• Mental anguish
• Household and vehicle modifications
• Wrongful death damages
• Punitive damages

What are the most common injuries in tow truck accidents?

In a tow truck accident, individuals can sustain a wide range of severe injuries due to the massive force involved in such crashes. Some commonly seen injuries following a tow truck accident include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, whiplash, herniated discs, broken bones, lacerations, bruises, internal bleeding, abdominal injuries, dislocated joints, burns, loss of limbs, joint injuries, and psychological injuries. These injuries can vary in severity and may have long-lasting impacts on an individual’s physical and emotional well-being.

What is the Move Over Act in Alabama?

The Move Over Act in Alabama, also known as Act 2019-520, is a law that requires drivers to take specific actions when approaching parked emergency or authorized service vehicles displaying visual signals. This law applies not only to law enforcement vehicles but also extends to utility service vehicles, garbage trucks, and wreckers. Under the Move Over Act, drivers on multi-lane highways are mandated to either move over as far as possible from the stopped service vehicle or decrease their speed by a minimum of 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit if changing lanes is not feasible. Failure to adhere to the provisions of this law can lead to misdemeanor fines, beginning at $25 for the initial violation and escalating for subsequent offenses. The primary objective of the Move Over Act is to enhance the safety of emergency and service vehicles by reducing the occurrence of roadside collisions. By requiring motorists to either change lanes or slow down significantly when approaching a stopped service vehicle with visual signals, the law aims to minimize the risk of accidents and create a safer environment for individuals working on or near the road.

Our Tow Truck Accident Attorneys Are Ready to Help

The attorneys at Ferguson & Ferguson are nationally recognized tow truck accident lawyers. If you were injured because of the negligence of a tow truck driver, or if you are a tow truck driver injured by another driver, call our office now to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We take all of our personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis; you will not pay us anything if we do not win. Call us today at 256-534-3435. The tow truck accident attorneys are ready to provide you with a free review of your case.

Huntsville Office Location:
303 Williams Avenue SW
Suite 321
Huntsville, AL 35801

Decatur Office Location:
211 Oak Street, NE
Decatur, AL 35601