Companies that own tow trucks are obligated to keep their customers and the general public safe. For example, a trucking company must provide proper training and licensing to their drivers and perform regular maintenance on their tow trucks. If a company breaches this duty and one of its drivers or trucks causes an accident, the company may be held liable for their negligence.
If you were injured in a tow truck accident and want to take legal action, a New Orleans tow truck accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may help you with your case. Call (504) 777-7777 today for a free consultation.
Tow Truck Drivers Can Cause Accidents Due to Drowsiness and Other Forms of Negligence
Tow trucks are used for a variety of services, such as transporting a vehicle that was damaged in an accident or transporting a broken-down car to a mechanic. Tow truck drivers might also respond to calls from businesses or municipalities to remove vehicles that are parked illegally on their premises.
In order to drive and operate a tow truck, drivers must carry a Commercial Driver License (CDL), which is administered by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Tow trucks are heavy vehicles that have intricate operating systems used for towing vehicles. Without proper training, tow truck drivers might cause accidents and injure other road users.
Some scenarios in which a tow truck driver might cause an accident include:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Making improper turns or using bad judgment when determining how much space is needed to make a turn
- Driving while distracted by a phone or dispatch device
- Not driving carefully in inclement weather
Truck drivers are also more susceptible to fatigue due to their long working hours. Many tow truck services operate 24/7 and are on call to tow vehicles at any given time. Tow truck employers might abuse this expectation of convenience and force their employees to work for an unreasonable amount of time, making the employer inadvertently responsible for causing an accident.
Property damage can also occur during a tow truck accident or even during standard tow truck services. Compared to other types of work trucks, tow trucks can have a higher chance of damaging your vehicle if it is not properly loaded or unloaded.
In the event of a tow truck accident, you might decide to pursue legal action. The process of filing a lawsuit can become complicated, especially if you are still suffering the effects of an injury or cannot operate your vehicle if it was damaged in the accident. A New Orleans tow truck accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you with your case. Call (504) 777-7777 today for a free case evaluation.
For a free legal consultation with a tow truck accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 777-7777
Our Legal Team Wants to Fight for Your Right to Receive Compensation
If you or someone you care about was injured or had their property damaged due to the negligence of a tow truck driver, the tow truck driver might be held responsible for covering those damages. A New Orleans tow truck accident lawyer can determine what kind of compensation you might be entitled to collect.
Types of compensation for damages might include:
- Expenses for medical treatment
- Property repair costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
Liable Parties in Tow Truck Accidents
Since tow trucks are usually owned by businesses, parties other than the driver who caused the accident might be found liable for damages. Tow trucks can be used by local businesses, such as auto shops or impound services, or larger companies, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Potentially liable parties might include:
- The manufacturer of the tow truck, including people responsible for supervising assembly lines and quality control
- The business that owns the tow truck
- Whoever was responsible for maintaining the tow truck and did not make proper repairs or provide adequate upkeep of the truck’s operating systems
- The business that owns the impound yard if the accident occurred while you or your vehicle were present on the location
Our team might be able to investigate your accident to determine how negligence might have played a role in causing your injuries and other damages. One of the most effective ways of proving negligence is by providing evidence. The plaintiff can submit evidence of the accident. For example, if your car is damaged, it is recommended to take photos of the damage immediately after the accident occurs.
Other types of evidence that might be used in court include:
- Surveillance camera footage
- Dashcam footage from your vehicle, the tow truck, or other motorists present at the time of the accident
- Evidence of injuries, such as photos and medical records
- Police records
- Records from first responders, such as emergency medical technicians or firefighters
- Eyewitness testimony
According to the Louisiana Civil Code (CC) § 3492, plaintiffs must comply with the statute of limitations and file their personal injury lawsuit within one year of the accident. Because of this short time span, it is important to report the accident as soon as possible to allow your legal team a reasonable amount of time to gather evidence and begin the process of building your case.
New Orleans Tow Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (504) 777-7777
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Wants to Help You with Your Tow Truck Case
A New Orleans tow truck accident lawyer can help you build your case if you want to seek compensation for a tow truck accident. Recovery goes beyond physical injury and damaged property. It also means healing from the mental pressure of putting your life back together after an accident. Our attorneys want to help you restore normalcy and provide relief for you and your loved ones.
If you were injured in a tow truck accident and want to take legal action, the team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help. Call (504) 777-7777 today for a free consultation.
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