Tow trucks are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. When loaded with another vehicle, their weight and the force involved in a crash increases even more. This creates serious dangers for everyone on the road.
Contact a truck accident attorney in St. Louis by calling (314) 300-6260 today.
Common Causes of Tow Truck Accidents
Understanding the frequent causes behind tow truck accidents can help you recognize when driver or company negligence may be involved.
Distracted Driving
Tow truck drivers frequently rely on dispatch systems, GPS, or phones to find new locations. Trying to navigate, handle dispatching calls, or respond on short notice increases the risk of missing critical traffic signals or driving distracted, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods or busy intersections.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
There is often pressure on tow truck drivers to reach customers quickly, especially when responding to busy, high-speed locations or highways. This can result in unsafe lane changes, aggressive behavior in traffic, and not adjusting for poor weather or heavy congestion.
Driver Fatigue
Many tow operators work odd, extended, or unpredictable hours, including handling overnight emergencies. This can lead drivers to operate while fatigued, impairing their judgment and slowing their reaction time.
Improperly Secured Vehicles
If chains, straps, or towing mechanisms are loose or not checked correctly, vehicles shift during transport or could even detach completely, creating hazards for everyone nearby.
Equipment Failures and Poor Maintenance
Powerful brakes, tires, hydraulics, and winch systems on a tow truck must handle extra forces, making preventive maintenance essential. Poor equipment care greatly increases the risk of sudden failures leading to accidents.
When tow truck collisions happen, victims often face serious injuries and need legal help to get compensation for their losses.
Who Can Be Liable For Tow Truck Accidents?
Determining liability after a tow truck accident isn’t always as straightforward as a typical car crash. Tow trucks serve a commercial role with unique responsibilities, and several different people or businesses can be at fault when someone gets hurt.
Tow Truck Driver
If the accident was caused by driver error, such as speeding, distracted driving, reckless maneuvers, driving fatigued, or failing to properly secure the vehicle being towed, then the truck’s operator can be held responsible for resulting injuries and damages.
Tow Truck Company or Employer
The business that owns the truck or employs the driver may be liable as well. In some cases, they can be vicariously liable, meaning they are responsible even if they didn’t do anything negligent. They might also be directly liable if poor training, lack of supervision, improper maintenance, unsafe fleet management, or unrealistic schedules contributed to the crash.
Maintenance Providers and Mechanics
If a mechanical issue (like brake failure, tire blowout, or hydraulic malfunction) leads to the accident and resulted from faulty repair work or substandard service, those responsible for vehicle maintenance could be named in a claim.
Other Negligent Parties
Liability sometimes also falls on other parties, like other drivers on the road who force the tow truck driver to make a dangerous maneuver.
After a serious tow truck crash, it’s important to look at every potential party who could be responsible and to contact a St. Louis personal injury attorney so you can fight for the compensation you’re entitled to. If you have questions, we can help you get started.
Call our team today at (314) 300-6260 to schedule a free case evaluation.