Tow truck drivers often speed to accident locations, weaving in and out of traffic and ignoring rules and regulations in an effort to be first on the scene. Once they leave a collision with a vehicle, they are much larger, with more prominent surrounding blind spots, which can put them at greater risk. In addition, they face time pressure to get the vehicle to its destination, unload it, and get back out on the streets.
Tow trucks might not look much more significant than other vehicles on the road. However, they have massive engines and are heavier than they appear. If they hit another vehicle, the force is intense, and that only increases if they are actively towing vehicles at the time of a crash.
If you are injured in a tow truck accident in Portland, consider help from a legal professional. Our seasoned truck collision attorneys at Gideon Asen, LLC can work on your case from start to finish.
What Is a Tow Truck?
Tow trucks, sometimes called recovery trucks, breakdown trucks, or wreckers, are commercial vehicles that are specifically designed to tow or haul other automobiles. Generally, they come to the scene of an accident or breakdown to take a vehicle to a garage for repair or to a salvage yard.
Wreckers come in several varieties. The most familiar ones are those designed to haul passenger vehicles. They lift the front of the car, using the towed back wheels as they transport.
However, some tow trucks have flatbeds, allowing them to carry another vehicle. Specialized tow trucks can also haul other commercial trucks and oversized vehicles. The bigger the tow truck and the larger the vehicle it tows, the more force is involved when they get into an accident.
Tow Truck Collisions
Tow trucks have a lot of moving parts, which must be adequately secured while they are operated. If a vehicle being hauled is improperly loaded, it can lead to a wreck. There are several other ways that a tow truck can cause a crash, including the following:
- Striking another vehicle
- Merge into the wrong lane
- Rear-ending or T-boning another vehicle
- Equipment malfunctions
- Losing cargo
- Dropping a boom arm or other component
A professional lawyer can help determine who is at fault in their client’s tow truck crash in Portland.
Conditions Leading to Tow Truck Accidents
People in Portland often think of tow truck drivers as first responders because they are the first to show up at the sight of an accident. However, this is not the case. Tow truckers are working for a profit and may face some of the pressures that other commercial drivers face. They can be overworked, have inadequately maintained equipment, or not know how to use it correctly.
Tow truck drivers respond to as-is scenarios and often have to hook up and move vehicles that are in precarious positions. If no first responders are on the scene helping direct traffic, these circumstances can put them at high risk for an accident. In addition, they may have to quickly respond to other impatient and irresponsible drivers, which can also lead to wrecks.
Speak to an Attorney about Portland Tow Truck Accidents Today
If you have been in a collision with a tow truck, you may have significant injuries and be dealing with medical bills and time away from work. However, negotiating with the trucker’s insurance companies or navigating third-party liability issues can be complex.
A dedicated personal injury attorney can help you ensure that the person responsible for your injuries pays for them. Schedule a consultation with Gideon Asen, LLC, to speak with a legal professional who handles tow truck accidents in Portland.
