Tow Truck Accident Attorneys

There are approximately 6.5 million motor vehicles of almost every conceivable body type registered in Indiana, and sometimes tow trucks need to move them when they are parked where they shouldn’t be or incapable of being driven away. But while tow trucks can be indispensable when the sites of car, truck, or motorcycle crashes have to be cleared, they can still inflict devastating injuries when they get into crashes of their own.

Fortunately, compensation might be available if you get hurt by a tow truck driver in Indiana, and you could increase the amount you obtain with the help of the Indiana truck accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, where we have been fighting for the wrongfully injured since 1998.

Schedule a free consultation with an accomplished Indiana tow truck accident attorney by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.

Leading Causes of Tow Truck Accidents in Indiana

Tow trucks are highly specialized vehicles designed for highly specialized tasks, so it may be no surprise that tow truck accidents are often the result of qualities that are unique to these vehicles.

For example, tow trucks feature complex systems of hooks, straps, chains, and winches with which to secure the vehicles that they tow. If these components are negligently manufactured or poorly maintained, the vehicle fastened to a tow truck could break loose and endanger anyone in the vicinity.

Similarly, mechanical issues of a more general nature could bring about Indiana tow truck accidents, such as tire blowouts or failing brakes, as could various external elements like inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.

Yet despite their distinctive properties, tow trucks do share one thing in common with every other vehicle: they are driven by human beings, who occasionally make catastrophic mistakes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that driver error constitutes 87 percent of the critical reasons for accidents involving any kind of truck. Some of the leading driver-based causes of Indiana tow truck accidents include:

Improper hook-ups – Even if a tow truck’s hook-up system is fully functional, the vehicle being towed could separate from the tow truck and harm unsuspecting motorists when the system is not deployed correctly or the vehicle is not properly balanced before it is connected.

Speeding – Driving too quickly is the top factor in motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Drivers who speed have less time to react but require more time to stop, making a collision both more likely to occur and more destructive when it does.

Distraction – Neglecting to pay attention is right behind speeding as a contributor to domestic collisions, and it has grown into an epidemic with the rise of cellphones, which tow truck drivers frequently use to find new towing opportunities.

Reckless turning – When a tow truck makes an excessively sharp or abrupt turn, the vehicle that it is towing could sideswipe adjacent vehicles and objects or simply detach altogether.

Inebriation – Driving under the influence is a major concern in Indiana, where law enforcement makes a DUI arrest every 11.98 hours, and it could have a disastrous effect on a tow truck driver’s reflexes and judgment.

Fatigue – Since their jobs require them to spend so many hours behind the wheel, tow truck drivers may be particularly susceptible to fatigue, which studies have shown can be as detrimental to driving as inebriation.

As you can see, a tow truck accident can have a wide range of causes, but Hensley’s knowledgeable Indiana tow truck accident lawyers will determine the best course of action if you are contemplating a case.

Steps to Take After an Indiana Tow Truck Accident

To better protect that case, there are important steps that you should remember to take after an Indiana tow truck accident. Specifically, you should:

Move to a safe location – This may not be your last accident of the day if you linger in traffic, so move yourself and your vehicle to a safe location before you do anything else.

Dial 911 – If police and emergency personnel have not already arrived, take out your phone and dial 911 to request their presence, and give the responding officer a comprehensive account of the accident so that an accurate report will be produced.

Snap pictures and shoot videos – While you have your phone out, snap pictures and shoot videos of your surroundings, and don’t forget to capture any text printed or painted on the tow truck, which could indicate potential defendants for your case.

Get treatment – Because delays in medical care could hinder the healing process and permit doubt to be cast on the relationship between the incident and your injuries, you should get treatment as soon as possible.

Write down driver and witness information – Do not leave the scene of the tow truck accident without writing down basic identifying information for the driver who hit you and anyone who witnessed what took place, including (when applicable):

- Name

- Address

- Phone number

- Email

- Insurance company and policy number

- Vehicle make, model, and year

- Driver’s license

- License plate

Notify your auto insurance company – Promptly notifying your auto insurance company could keep you in compliance with the terms of your policy and allow you to access the benefits that it may provide.

Avoid other insurers – Though it is a good idea to communicate with your insurer, it may be wise to avoid the insurers for the other parties, as anything you say to them could be used against you. Instead, you may want to…

Talk to an attorney – A seasoned lawyer will go over the pertinent details of your accident and prepare the foundation for a rock-solid case.

What Our Indiana Tow Truck Accident Attorneys Can Do for You

A tow truck accident could change your life in an instant, overwhelming you with escalating expenses while undermining your ability to earn the money to meet them, but this is where the Indiana tow truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group can make a difference.

If you hire Hensley, we will launch a comprehensive investigation into your tow truck accident and each of the defendants who may be liable for it, then establish valid claims against them or file a lawsuit within the period allotted by law.

We will also move swiftly to amass the materials to shore up your case, such as:

Police reports

Citations and dispositions

Eyewitness statements

Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage

Black box data

Phone records

Driving histories

Vehicular servicing logs

Forensic analysis and accident reconstruction

If proof of wrongdoing exists, our tenacious Indiana tow truck accident lawyers will do everything in their power to find it.

Get Compensated for the Totality of Your Losses

Once an airtight Indiana tow truck accident case has been assembled, we will negotiate tirelessly with the defendants’ insurance carriers for a settlement that compensates you for the totality of your losses, including your:

Medical bills

Lost wages

Pain and suffering

Psychological trauma

Mobility restrictions

Scarring and disfigurement

Diminished quality of living

Loss of consortium

Punitive damages (if relevant)

And if an offer is not extended that reflects the true value of your case, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that does, in contrast to many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture into a courtroom, and end up leaving money on the table that belongs in their clients’ pockets.

We realize that you may be reluctant to agree to more expenditures when you can least afford them, so you may be pleased to learn that our firm operates on a contingency basis, which means that you won’t owe us anything until our Indiana tow truck accident attorneys win your case.

You have enough to worry about just trying to recover from your injuries. Let Hensley worry about recovering the resources necessary to do it.

Reach Out to Our Indiana Tow Truck Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been standing up for hardworking Hoosiers like you for more than 25 years. If you are struggling to get back to normal in the wake of a serious tow truck injury, reach out to our Indiana tow truck accident lawyers to explore your legal options.

You can call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indiana tow truck accident attorney.