West Palm Beach Tow Truck Accident Lawyers

Did you suffer injuries in a collision with a tow truck? Are you facing mounting medical bills and a loss of earnings due to your injuries? If so, the West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers of Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. are ready to help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for a crash you didn’t cause. If a tow truck driver or the company that employed them was negligent and caused you harm, you have the right to seek justice. Our team has more than four decades of experience helping those who’ve been hurt in truck accidents, including securing a 3,000,000 settlement for an 18-year-old plaintiff who was hurt by a truck that was backing up.

Let us put our experience and skills to work for you. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case today at (561) 689-8180 or reach out to us online.

Common Types of Tow Trucks

Tow trucks are useful for transporting damaged or disabled cars or removing vehicles from spots that they shouldn’t be in. The driver uses specialized equipment to lift and secure vehicles for transportation to a junkyard, repair shop, or car dealership.

The most common types of tow trucks are:

• Hook and chain – A hook and chain attached to a crane lifts the car by its rear or front bumper and places it on the back of the tow truck. It can easily cause damage, so it’s mostly utilized for disposing of vehicles at the junkyard.

• Wheel lift – A metal piece gets attached to the vehicle’s front or rear wheels, and a hydraulic lift pulls those tires off the ground, pulling the vehicle behind the tow truck.

• Integrated – An arm located at the center of the truck lifts vehicles onto the back. It is useful for towing large and heavy vehicles.

• Flatbed – Instead of pulling a car behind the tow truck, a flatbed allows the truck driver to drive the car onto the back for transport.

Tow truck drivers must be properly trained in handling these vehicles and must be alert and attentive at all times. If they don’t know how to secure a car to the truck adequately, it can detach, creating an obstacle and a hazard for other drivers. They should also ensure they know how to maneuver their truck while towing another vehicle. Failure to properly attach, secure, and transport a vehicle could result in a serious injury accident. Also, since tow trucks are large, heavy vehicles, a collision involving one could be devastating for occupants of smaller passenger vehicles.

Reasons Why Tow Truck Accidents Happen

Tow trucks are typically larger and heavier than standard cars, trucks, or SUVs. There are federal regulations and state traffic laws the tow truck driver should always follow to mitigate the risk of injury to other drivers and passengers. Any mistake they make could have disastrous consequences.

The most common causes of tow truck accidents are:

• Tailgating
• Improperly attaching a vehicle to the truck
• Distracted driving
• Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes or merging
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Inadequate maintenance and repairs on the truck
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to yield to other drivers when necessary

When someone is involved in an accident with a tow truck, they assume the tow truck driver should be held liable for their injuries. However, the towing company could share some fault if they negligently hired an inexperienced or unqualified employee. Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. has extensive experience investigating these types of accidents to determine who should be financially responsible for the injuries you sustained in a tow truck accident.

Determining the Compensation You Deserve After A Tow Truck Accident

Accident victims often face significant financial, emotional, and physical stress and strain in the aftermath of a tow truck crash. If this has happened to you, you might need to be hospitalized, may require ongoing medical treatment to heal, prescription medication to manage pain, and time away from work to rest. Worrying about how you’re going to afford to pay for your expenses can cause financial strain and significant stress.

You could file a claim for compensation for your losses, but Florida’s no-fault laws require that you file with your auto insurance company first. Personal injury protection (PIP) can cover up to 80% of your reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to the $10,000 required limit. After you file a claim, the insurance company would pay upfront for your doctor’s appointments, prescriptions, and other costs until the coverage runs out.

Tow truck accidents could easily result in expenses much higher than $10,000, and you might need additional compensation from another source. You could file a claim with the tow truck driver’s liability insurance company as long as your injury meets at least one of the following requirements under the serious injury threshold:

• Permanent injury, except for disfigurement or scarring.
• Significant and permanent disfigurement or scarring.
• Permanent loss of a bodily function.
• Death

You could be owed compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of past and future earnings
• Car rental expenses
• Inconvenience
• Medical bills
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs

Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. can review your total past and future losses to determine the settlement amount you need from the insurance company to cover everything. You did not cause the accident and shouldn’t be responsible for any of your expenses.

Call Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. for A Free Consultation

With over 40 years of experience representing those who’ve been severely hurt in truck accidents, you can depend on us to fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. We know the aftermath of an accident can create overwhelming stress and financial strain. Let us help you get the money you need to rebuild your life and put the accident behind you.

Our skilled West Palm Beach tow truck accident lawyers are standing by, ready to take your call. Contact Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. at (561) 689-8180 for a free consultation.