North Carolina Tow Truck Accidents Attorney

Tow trucks provide an essential service to motorists dealing with a malfunctioning or damaged vehicle. Qualified and careful tow truck drivers help local agencies as well, ensuring that vehicles do not block traffic lanes or park illegally. However, like other commercial trucks, these complex and large-scale vehicles pose a danger of serious harm. Tow trucks are particularly dangerous because they are often hauling another vehicle, and a careless driver or a faulty truck may result in dire consequences for people in surrounding vehicles. At Nagle & Associates, we only handle serious injury claims for victms of motor vehicle accidents. We have handles many cases against tow truck drivers and towing and salvage companies, and we stand ready to help you with your tow truck accident case. Raleigh truck accident lawyer Carl Nagle has an insider understanding of the defense tactics used by insurance companies to minimize the claims of injured individuals, having formerly worked as an insurance claims adjuster and thereafter as an insurance defense attorney. Now, Mr. Nagle only represents North Carolina accident victims. Our firm has successfully recovered hundreds of millions on behalf of people throughout the state, including in Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem.

Holding a Negligent Driver or Company Accountable for a Tow Truck Accident

Private businesses or governmental agencies manage tow trucks, and they may manage their own trucks or contract to private operators for truck management. There are two different types of tow trucks in North Carolina. Flatbed trucks use a powered tow truck bed to position a broken vehicle on the back of the truck. Hook and chain trucks use chains around a vehicle frame to pull the vehicle, while the rear axle of the pulled car remains on the roadway.

Tow truck accidents may result from various causes, including an improperly loaded truck, driver error, or a failure to adjust to road hazards. Drivers and tow truck companies may be held legally responsible for harm resulting from their failure to use reasonable judgment and follow safety standards. Proving negligence, or carelessness, in a crash that involves a tow truck requires an analysis of multiple factors.

Negligence is a legal term for a failure to use reasonable care. When a tow truck driver does not pay proper attention to the road, and this failure leads to an accident, they may be held liable for the injuries caused by their inattention. Distracted driving or driving at an unsafe speed, among other behaviors, may cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle. Since tow trucks are larger and heavier than average motor vehicles, drivers are required to use particular caution on the road. Additionally, tow truck drivers who do not load their vehicles safely may find that the vehicles have shifted while they were in motion. If this leads to an accident, the driver may be at fault for the resulting injuries.

Liability for injuries in a tow truck accident may extend beyond the driver to the tow truck company and its owners. Tow truck companies are required to ensure that drivers maintain clean driving records, and a failure to examine a driver’s background or to provide proper training may serve as evidence of a company’s negligence. Drivers are also required to carry the appropriate commercial license for a tow truck.

A tow truck company and a driver must also abide by safety procedures that ensure that towed cars remain properly secured to the tow truck. Cable and attachment mechanisms should be inspected regularly to make sure that they are secure. A detached towed car may lead to an accident, since drivers may not have enough time to react to the detached vehicle to avoid a collision.

Retain a Dedicated Truck Accident Lawyer in the Raleigh Area to Protect Your Legal Rights

Victims of tow truck crashes may find themselves overwhelmed by the physical, emotional, and financial effects upon their lives. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident with a tow truck or another commercial vehicle, Raleigh truck accident attorney Carl Nagle and the team at Nagle & Associates can pursue the compensation that you deserve. We are skilled in proving the full extent of damages, both present and future. We make it a priority to leave our clients in a strong financial position. For this reason, we charge a smaller legal fee than other personal injury firms, at one-quarter rather than one-third of any settlement. Call our office at (800) 411-1583 or fill out our online form to set up a free consultation with a skilled tractor-trailer crash lawyer. Nagle & Associates has seven offices throughout North Carolina and is proud to have served victims in Raleigh, Asheville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, and other cities throughout Durham, Catawba, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, and Cumberland Counties.