Tow trucks play an essential role in keeping roads clear after accidents and mechanical breakdowns, but these heavy-duty vehicles can also cause devastating collisions. Because tow trucks are significantly larger and heavier than most passenger vehicles, accidents involving them often result in serious injuries, extensive property damage, and complex insurance claims.
At Flynn Law, we represent individuals injured in tow truck accidents throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Whether you were struck by a flatbed tow truck, a wheel-lift tow truck, or another commercial towing vehicle, our attorneys are prepared to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Tow Truck Accidents Occur
Tow truck operators often work under difficult conditions. They respond to emergencies, operate alongside busy highways, recover disabled vehicles, and frequently work during poor weather or at night. While many towing professionals perform their jobs safely, negligence can place everyone on the road at risk.
Common causes of tow truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Improperly secured vehicles
- Equipment failures
- Overloaded trucks
- Inadequate driver training
Because tow truck drivers frequently respond to urgent situations, they may feel pressure to drive aggressively or rush between calls, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Serious Injuries From Tow Truck Collisions
The size and weight of a tow truck can cause catastrophic injuries, even at relatively moderate speeds.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Shoulder injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Severe burns
- Crush injuries
- Wrongful death
Many victims require emergency surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation.
Types of Tow Truck Accidents
Tow truck crashes occur in many different ways.
Examples include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone crashes
- Highway merging accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover crashes
- Accidents involving improperly secured vehicles
- Winch and cable failures
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle collisions
Each type of accident requires a careful investigation to determine how the collision occurred and who may be responsible.
Who May Be Liable?
Tow truck accident claims are often more complicated than ordinary automobile accidents because multiple parties may share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Tow truck drivers
- Towing companies
- Commercial vehicle owners
- Maintenance contractors
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Cargo or equipment suppliers
- Other negligent motorists
Determining liability often requires reviewing maintenance records, driver qualifications, inspection reports, dispatch logs, and electronic driving data.
Improperly Secured Vehicles
One unique hazard involves vehicles that are improperly loaded or secured.
If a disabled vehicle shifts, falls from the tow truck, or separates while traveling, nearby motorists can suffer catastrophic injuries. Towing companies are responsible for following industry safety procedures designed to prevent these dangerous situations.
Failure to properly secure a vehicle may constitute negligence.
Highway Recovery Accidents
Tow truck operators frequently work alongside busy highways recovering disabled vehicles.
Unfortunately, secondary crashes are common when approaching motorists fail to slow down or move over for emergency vehicles. Drivers who ignore “Move Over” laws place tow truck operators, stranded motorists, and other drivers at significant risk.
These accidents may involve multiple vehicles and extensive injuries.
Workers Injured Around Tow Trucks
Tow truck accidents do not affect only other motorists.
Mechanics, roadside assistance personnel, police officers, construction workers, delivery drivers, and other employees may be injured while working near tow operations.
Depending on the circumstances, injured workers may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits while also pursuing a third-party personal injury claim against negligent individuals or companies.
Flynn Law helps clients explore every available source of recovery.
Evidence Is Critical
Commercial vehicle cases require prompt investigation.
Important evidence may include:
- Police reports
- Dash camera footage
- Surveillance video
- Driver qualification files
- Maintenance records
- Inspection reports
- Dispatch records
- GPS tracking information
- Witness statements
- Accident reconstruction analysis
Preserving this evidence early can significantly strengthen a personal injury claim.
Compensation Available
If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Every case is unique, and the value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries, available insurance coverage, and the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Why Choose Flynn Law?
Tow truck accident litigation often involves commercial insurance policies, corporate defendants, and complicated liability issues. Insurance companies may attempt to shift blame or minimize the extent of your injuries.
Flynn Law has experience investigating complex commercial vehicle accidents and fighting for injured victims throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Our attorneys work to identify every responsible party, preserve critical evidence, and pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
Contact Flynn Law Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a tow truck accident, do not wait to seek legal advice. Evidence can disappear quickly, and insurance companies often begin building their defense immediately after a collision.
Contact Flynn Law today for a free consultation. We proudly represent clients across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, and you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.