Texas Tow Truck Accident Lawyer

Texas Tow Truck Accident Attorney

Have You Been in a Tow Truck Accident in Texas?

Truck Accident? Call the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today at (713) 535-7051. We’ve all seen tow trucks on Texas roadways. After all, these trucks are hard to miss due to their sheer size and the fact that they are typically pulling a disabled vehicle behind them. Tow trucks come in different sizes and have varying towing capacity, but even the smaller tow trucks are much larger than the typical motor vehicle, and much more capable of causing serious bodily harm or even death. When you have been injured in an accident involving a tow truck, you need representation from a Texas tow truck accident lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm.

Different Types of Tow Trucks

Generally speaking, a tow truck is a vehicle that is used to transport other vehicles that have been damaged or are otherwise disabled. To accomplish their job, they are equipped with mechanisms for hoisting the other vehicles. Tow trucks come in different sizes for different purposes.

Light Duty Tow Trucks

Light duty tow trucks are commonly seen on our state’s roads. They are typically considered to be Class A vehicles, and can weigh anywhere between 7,000 to 11,000 pounds. These trucks are used to tow pickup trucks and passenger cars. Due to being smaller than other towing trucks, light duty tow trucks are easier to handle. They can fit into smaller spaces, and are ideal for towing most smaller vehicles. These tow trucks are typically used to remove abandoned vehicles and recover vehicles from accident scenes.

Medium Duty Tow Trucks

Medium duty tow trucks are Class B vehicles, and generally weigh somewhere between 7,000 and 17,000 pounds. They are used to tow mack trucks, farm equipment, and machinery, and are the vehicle of choice for tow jobs that do not require fitting in small spaces. Medium duty tow trucks are the go-to choice for towing box trucks, vans, and motorhomes.

Heavy Duty Tow Trucks

Heavy duty tow trucks are the largest type, and are Class C vehicles. They must have at least a 23 ton gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and are used when there is a need to tow items that are extremely heavy, such as containers and industrial equipment. They employ more torque and horsepower than light duty and medium duty trucks, making them the proper choice for towing larger items.

Why Tow Truck Accidents Happen in Texas

Tow truck accidents have a myriad of causes. Some of the most common ones encountered by our Texas tow truck accident lawyer are listed below.

Improper Loading

The entire purpose of a tow truck is to haul a disabled vehicle from one place to another. It is essential that the operator of the tow truck be properly educated in how to perform this job function with care and precision. One of the most important parts of the entire process is to properly secure the vehicle that is being towed onto the tow truck. When this is not accomplished, the vehicle being towed can slip off the tow truck and run into other vehicles. The towed vehicle is under no-one’s control at this point and can easily cause a crash or even a multi-car pile-up. According to our Texas tow truck accident lawyer, the importance of a disabled vehicle being securely and properly loaded onto the tow truck cannot be overestimated.

Poor Visibility

Tow trucks are massive by themselves, and when they are towing another vehicle, they can have a much longer trail. This makes it difficult for the tow truck driver to see all of the area around his vehicle, which means that he has many blind spots where he is unable to see other motor vehicles. This causes particular challenges when the tow truck driver must change lanes.

Tow trucks don’t just cause visibility issues for their own drivers, but also for drivers of other vehicles. Motorists driving near a tow truck on the highway may experience difficulty in seeing what is around the tow truck and knowing when it is safe to change lanes.

Maneuverability Challenges

Tow trucks are designed for lifting and hauling large vehicles. They are not designed to be nimble or to move easily in tight spots. Often, they are loaded down with the weight of another large vehicle. All of these reasons combined make maneuvering these trucks problematic and difficult to accomplish in small or cramped spaces. Tow trucks are also difficult to stop quickly, change lanes, or turn. If you believe maneuverability issues were a contributing factor in your accident with a tow truck, you need to speak with a Texas tow truck accident lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm.

Inclement Weather

While inclement weather can cause accidents with any type of vehicle, it can have an especially detrimental effect on tow trucks. Rain causes roadways to be slick, which in turn can make it extremely difficult to hook up a car that needs to be towed. Also, many times vehicles that need to be towed were in a weather-related accident which caused them to end up in a precarious position, such as stuck in a snowbank. Obtaining access to these vehicles can be a nightmare. Bad weather and tow trucks are not a good combination!

Improper Maintenance

Tow truck consists of many different parts, from their hydraulic beds to their wheel lift. For optimum safety, it is essential that these trucks and all their parts are properly maintained. Failure to do so can easily result in an accident on Texas roadways.

Consult With A Texas Tow Truck Accident Lawyer At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm

If you have been injured in a tow truck accident, there is no need for you to fight alone in recovering the compensation that you are owed. At the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, we are here to provide you with the advice and guidance you need to obtain the damages you are due. Contact us today to speak with a Texas tow truck accident lawyer. We may be reached by calling (713) 535-7051 or via our contact page.