Tow Truck Accident Lawyers in Augusta
Did you get hurt in a tow truck accident? Was it due to the actions of the truck driver, trucking company, or another negligent party? If so, you should contact Chris Hudson Law Group to represent you in your case and help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Our lawyers specialize in truck accident cases, including accidents with tow trucks.
Many people rely on tow trucks to transport their car to a dealership when it breaks down or remove their vehicle from a ditch after an accident. Augusta residents rely on this convenient service daily, but careless truck drivers of these useful vehicles could cause serious accidents and injuries.
Tow trucks aren’t as massive as tractor-trailers and other types of commercial trucks. However, they’re bigger than most passenger vehicles, and the occupants of smaller cars often suffer debilitating injuries and even death during a collision.
You should not have to suffer when someone else was at fault for your injuries or the loss of a loved one. At Chris Hudson Law Group, our tow truck accident lawyers will help you fight for justice. Call us at (706) 863-6600 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation today.
Common Types of Tow Trucks
You probably don’t think too much about tow trucks unless you need one. If you’re stranded, the driver can tow your car away and drive you to where you need to go safely. However, some drivers lack experience or make an error that results in an accident.
The structure of tow trucks creates significant hazards to other drivers. They’re large, made up of various moving parts, and carry cars that could become loose if not correctly secured.
There are different types of tow trucks that can be used, depending on the vehicles that need to be towed. They are:
- Hook and chain tow truck – A hook and chain attached to a crane lifts a car from the rear or front bumper to pull it toward the back of the vehicle and keep one set of tires off the ground. The car will roll behind the tow truck on two of its own wheels. Towing companies typically only use this vehicle for hauling cars to the junkyard since the chains wrapped around the car can easily cause damage.
- Flatbed tow truck – A hydraulic mechanism on the truck picks up vehicles and lowers them onto the back. The driver could also lower the flatbed trailer and drive the car onto it.
- Wheel-lift tow truck – A hydraulic boom and crossbars lift a vehicle by the front or rear wheels and pull it behind the truck.
- Integrated tow truck – This tow truck contains an arm towards the center and more axles than other tow trucks. It allows the driver to haul larger vehicles, such as buses and other commercial trucks.
A car can roll off the back of a tow truck, creating an obstacle for drivers to navigate around. If they can’t maneuver away in time, they could crash into it. Sometimes, collisions send debris flying in all directions that could break a driver’s window or cause impaling injuries. Encountering a tow truck could put you in danger, especially if the driver isn’t qualified to operate it or becomes distracted at the wheel.
Common Causes of Tow Truck Accidents
Tow trucks are big, heavy, and have more significant blind spots than passenger cars, just like tractor-trailers. However, there’s one major difference. Tractor-trailers typically transport consumer goods, toxic substances, and other cargo. Tow trucks only carry vehicles.
The driver should obey all traffic signs and signals and avoid any distractions that could take their focus away from the task at hand. If they do anything to cause an accident with another driver, they could be held accountable for the victim’s resulting expenses.
The most common causes of tow truck accidents are:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Fatigued driving
- Inadequate inspection of the truck and its parts
- Driving under the influence
- Tailgating
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failing to check blind spots
Many people think that the tow truck driver must be responsible for an accident because they were the only person operating the vehicle. However, their employer could be at fault for various reasons. For example, the company must perform background checks to confirm the driver has experience, training, and licensing. However, if they skip the background check to remedy a staffing shortage, they could be liable for any harm other people suffer in the crash.
Let Chris Hudson Law Group Handle the Investigation of Your Tow Truck Accident
There are critical steps you need to follow after sustaining injuries in an accident involving a tow truck. You need to protect your rights so you can pursue compensation. First, you should go to the hospital. A doctor should thoroughly examine your condition and determine the treatment plan you should follow to recover.
It’s never a good idea to go home immediately after the accident to rest. The longer you wait to seek medical treatment, the less chance you could have to recover the maximum available compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies look at gaps in treatment as evidence that the victim didn’t get hurt or the injury isn’t as serious as they claim. The insurer might decide to provide a low settlement offer or deny your claim entirely. You could miss out on the monetary award you need to cover your medical bills, prescription drug costs, and other expenses.
You should also hire a lawyer who specializes in truck accidents. At Chris Hudson Law Group, that is our specialty. We can take on the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on healing. We can investigate and gather evidence to prove that someone else caused the crash. Some of the evidence we might need to obtain could include:
- Photos from the accident scene
- Copies of your medical records and medical bills
- The truck driver’s employment history, qualifications, and criminal records
- Police reports
- Security camera footage
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Vehicle repair estimates for the damage to your car
- The towing company’s inspection reports, maintenance and repair logs, and other documentation
We know it can seem like a daunting task to pursue a legal case after a tow truck accident. It’s stressful dealing with insurance companies, completing confusing paperwork, and locating the necessary evidence to show what happened. Chris Hudson Law Group can relieve your burden and complete each step of the process on your behalf. You can depend on our legal team to go to battle for you against the at-fault party and try to reach a favorable outcome.
Fault and Compensation in Tow Truck Accident Cases
Filing an insurance claim might be necessary to pursue the compensation you need to compensate for the losses you suffered. Accident victims typically require medical care to recover and might not be able to work during that time. The expenses you incurred during treatment and the income you couldn’t earn should be the at-fault party’s financial responsibility. They should also compensate you for the estimated value of pain and suffering you endured due to their actions.
The losses you could seek in an insurance claim are:
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical impairment or disfigurement
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
Georgia uses the fault system when it comes to car insurance. That means the at-fault driver becomes financially responsible for the victim’s losses, and their insurance company could provide the necessary compensation.
The tow truck driver should have insurance coverage. All trucking companies must purchase insurance with minimum liability limits. You could potentially cover your total losses depending on the liability limits listed on the policy.
Chris Hudson Law Group can review your case to determine the maximum compensation you should receive. We can negotiate with the insurance company and seek a settlement we believe is fair. Some of the factors we might use to calculate an appropriate monetary value of your losses are:
- Type and severity of the injury
- Psychological trauma experienced, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression
- Duration of the recovery period
- The total cost of medical treatment
- The estimated cost of necessary treatment in the future
- Liability limits on the towing company’s insurance policy
- Impact of the accident on your quality of life
- Lost income from the inability to work
At Chris Hudson Law Group, our tow truck accident attorneys understand the financial strain you might face. Medical bills can lead to debt. If you can’t afford treatment, you could suffer the effects of your injury for the rest of your life. We make it our mission to secure the highest possible financial award so you’re not forced to pay for anything out of your own pocket.
Contact Chris Hudson Law Group About Your Tow Truck Accident Case
Chris Hudson Law Group is located in Augusta and represents accident victims from all over Georgia. We fight for our client’s rights and work hard to hold people accountable for their misconduct. Our legal team will remain in your corner until the end of your case to provide the guidance and support you need.
We offer free consultations and take cases on contingency, so you avoid upfront fees and costs. We don’t collect any of our legal fees unless we win your case. If we lose, you’ll never have to pay.
If you were involved in an accident with a tow truck and want a dedicated and experienced tow truck accident lawyer to represent you, call Chris Hudson Law Group at (706) 863-6600 today.