The United States Department of Transportation estimates that more than 500,000 truck accidents occur every year, while more than 75% of these accidents are caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle.
A tow truck is used to transport vehicles from one location to another, including new vehicles, broken down vehicles and impounded vehicles. In most instances, tow truck companies are run by local governments or business. These businesses usually offer services for towing automobile such as cars, trucks, buses, trailers and moving large machinery, whereas the government will use tow trucks in public areas, police departments and transportation authorities.
The five most common forms of tow trucks include:
- Hook & Chain
- Boom
- Wheel-lift
- Integrated
- Flatbed
Of course, there are several other types of tow trucks that may be used for specific situations; however these are the most common forms used on the roads today.
The Most Important Facts About Tow Truck Accidents
As 15% of tow truck accidents are caused by the driver, there are typically many factors that contribute to these sorts of crashes. The most common factors that contribute to many recent tow truck accidents include:
- Texting while driving
- Driver inexperience
- Negligent driving
- Adverse weather conditions
- Blowouts
- Defective tires
- Poor maintenance
- Fatigued drivers
- Brake failure
- Reckless driving
- Excessive speeding
- Lack of proper truck inspection
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
In most cases, these accidents may be avoided by providing the necessary training and licensing to tow truck drivers in order to improve performance. Tow truck drivers are usually required to obtain a CDL license; however, new standards have made it voluntary for these drivers.
Recent reports have shown that less than one third of new truck drivers have been properly trained, while only half truck driver training courses offered in public and private training schools offered adequate training.
There Are Many Types Of Tow Truck Accidents
There is an estimated 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States today. With this enormous number of trucks, there are bound to be many different types of accidents that occur with these large vehicles. Tow truck accidents are typically caused by a number of different situations including:
- Roll overs
- Air brake failure
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone collisions
- Jackknife accidents
- Blind spot collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Under ride collisions
- Tire blowout
Additionally, adverse weather conditions, distracted drivers, and load shifts have been shown to contribute to these types of accidents. Many times, these will lead to severe injuries and possible death to those involved.
The Most Common Tow Truck Accident Injuries
In some instances, a tow truck can weight upwards of ten-thousand pounds. With this large of a vehicle colliding with the typical three-thousand pound passenger vehicle, it will destroy the automobile and most likely injury the individuals inside. When a tow truck is involved in an accident, they are known to destroy everything in their path.
Common types of tow truck injuries include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Burns and lacerations
- Concussion injuries
- Corneal abrasion injuries
- Dental injuries
- Herniated discs
- Internal injuries
- Psychological injuries
- Rib and torso injuries
- Seat belt injuries
- Spinal Cord injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Wrist injuries
If you are suffering from any type of injury following a tow truck accident, or any type of accident, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately to prevent further damages. Individuals should then contact an experienced auto accident attorney to discover how they can pursue their case in the court of law.
Need Help? Contact A Tow Truck Accident Attorney
At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, our slogan is “Put the Power of Perkins to Work for You.” This is because we believe that injured victims should receive the maximum compensation due to the negligent actions of another individual. Our experienced truck accident attorneys will work to help you seek justice for your losses and damages in the court of law.
We have offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury and New London, and serve clients throughout Connecticut. For additional information about our fire truck accident lawyers, or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation, we invite you to contact us at 800-PERKINS. A member of our intake team will gather the information for your accident and quickly connect you with one of our attorneys fit to handle your case in the court of law. To begin here, simply complete the Free Case Evaluation form on this page – It’s FREE.