Tow trucks are important components of the traffic system, helping to clear accident sites and relocate stalled vehicles, but unfortunately, sometimes tow trucks become involved in accidents of their own, often with devastating results. When a tow truck accident occurs in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the motorists in the smaller vehicle are at a significant disadvantage against a large truck that outweighs it by about three times or more, depending on the type of tow truck and whether or not it’s towing a vehicle.
Injuries in tow truck accidents are often severe or catastrophic. Injury victims may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn for compensation for their serious economic and non-economic damages.
Types of Tow Trucks
Tow truck accidents in New Jersey and elsewhere can be devastating to others involved in the collision. Depending on the type of tow truck and the type of accident—such as a rear-end collision, T-bone accident, or head-on collision—injuries range from mild to severe. Types of tow trucks involved in collisions include:
- Hook and chain trucks
- Flatbed tow trucks
- Wheel lift trucks
- Boom tow trucks
- Integrated tow trucks
- Oversized tow trucks
Like other commercial trucks, tow trucks have features that make them a danger to others on the road. They are bulky, difficult to maneuver, make wide turns, require long stopping times, and have poor visibility and extended blind spots. In some cases, a tow truck may tow an improperly secured vehicle, causing serious accidents with injuries from an unbalanced load or a vehicle falling or coming loose from towing equipment.
Types of Tow Truck Accidents in New Jersey
Because tow trucks have poor visibility and take longer to stop than typical vehicles, accidents commonly occur in intersections, community roadways, rural routes, and on interstate highways. Common types of tow truck accidents include:
- T-bone collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Multi-car pileups
- Roadway departures
All car accidents are terrifying and have the potential to end in serious injuries, but a tow truck accident can be devastating, with long-term impacts on injury victims.
Compensation for Damages In a Tow Truck Accident
When a tow truck has a collision with a standard car, it’s typically the motorists in the smaller vehicle who suffer the worst injuries. About 70% of injuries occur to the occupants of other vehicles involved in commercial truck accidents, including in collisions with tow trucks. When serious injuries occur, the damages add up quickly. A successful compensation claim results in compensation for damages such as the following:
- Property damage to a vehicle
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs for further treatment
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering compensation
In some cases, other non-economic damages apply, such as traumatic limb loss, disfigurement, loss of hearing or vision, diminished life quality, or PTSD.
How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help?
It’s challenging to take on a complex legal claim in a state that requires filing a claim against your own auto insurance except in cases of catastrophic injury or other limited circumstances. An experienced truck accident attorney can investigate all aspects of your tow truck accident to determine the best way forward. Call the experienced Cherry Hill commercial truck accident attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti for experienced legal counsel to obtain the compensation you deserve.