Pennsylvania Tow Truck Accident Lawyer
If you’ve suffered an injury in a Pennsylvania tow truck accident, the experienced attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC can explain your legal rights, investigate, evaluate your case, negotiate a settlement, and, if necessary, represent you in court. Schedule a free consultation today with our nationally-recognized Pennsylvania tow truck accident lawyers to explore your legal options.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
- Tow trucks’ size, structure, equipment, and maneuvers pose unique dangers to others on the road.
- You may be eligible to recover compensation for your damages from a tow truck accident, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost income.
- An investigation led by an experienced tow truck accident attorney can determine how the accident happened and who is liable.
- While the statute of limitations for tow truck accidents is typically two years, contact a Pennsylvania tow truck accident lawyer immediately to determine the deadline for your case. Prompt action will allow your attorney to investigate the accident while the evidence remains available and the witnesses’ memories are fresh.
- It is important to hire an experienced tow truck lawyer in Pennsylvania to provide legal guidance, investigate the accident, negotiate with the other parties involved, and, if needed, take your case to trial.
Why Hire a Tow Truck Accident Attorney in Pennsylvania
If you or a loved one was involved in a tow truck accident in Pennsylvania, hiring an attorney is the best way to protect your rights and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. An experienced Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer can do the following:
- Provide legal guidance to help you understand your rights and options.
- Investigate your accident to determine how your accident happened and who is at fault.
- Gather evidence such as accident reports, photographs, medical records, witness interviews, expert reports, and black box data, which is information collected by an electronic recording device on some commercial vehicles.
- Evaluate your damages and determine and calculate your damages.
- Negotiate with insurance companies and other parties to reach a settlement.
- Represent you in court if your case goes to trial.
Cordisco and Saile LLC has been a leading personal injury law firm in Pennsylvania for over 30 years. Our attorneys have obtained millions in settlements and verdicts for injured Pennsylvanians, including many injured in truck accidents.
In one case, we recovered $10 million for a first responder struck by a commercial truck driven by an improperly trained driver.
Choose attorneys who know how to fight and can go the distance for you in court, such as the experienced trial attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC.
The Dangers of Tow Truck Accidents
Pennsylvania was ranked in TruckInfo.Net’s top five states with the most truck accidents in 2022. That year, large trucks such as tow trucks were involved in accidents with 8,432 vehicles in Pennsylvania, resulting in 178 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The main task of tow trucks—retrieving inoperable vehicles—puts them in dangerous, awkward positions. The maneuvering needed to access disabled vehicles can create impaired views for the tow truck driver and other drivers. Heavy traffic areas and narrow roadways can exacerbate these difficulties.
If not properly operated, the towing hook can be dangerous, even when it is not transporting a vehicle. The hook can detach unexpectedly, potentially colliding with another vehicle. Cars not properly secured to towing hooks can release without warning, entering the roadway and causing collisions. Towing hooks also can hit other vehicles or people while securing a vehicle.
Flatbed tow trucks, which are tow trucks that transport vehicles on a level platform rather than using a tow truck hook, are not free from risk. Vehicles not properly secured to flatbed tow trucks can dislodge, enter traffic, and collide with vehicles or cause an accident.
Even if properly attached, disabled vehicles on tow trucks can also create dangerous situations. Pieces of damaged vehicles may dislodge during transport, striking others on the road or causing roadway obstructions.
In addition to improperly securing vehicles and vehicle parts before transport, tow truck drivers can commit errors that create other dangerous situations, such as:
- The driver exceeds speed limits and drives recklessly. Some tow truck companies incentivize drivers to get to accident scenes quickly to improve profits.
- Some drivers drive while fatigued, especially if their shifts are too long or drivers exceed the hours they are legally allowed to be on the road.
- Drivers drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Some make unsafe parking choices.
- Trucks improperly display hazard signs.
Tow truck operators fail to properly inspect a truck or remedy a problem identified in an inspection.
We’re ready to fight for you. Take the first step towards getting the compensation you deserve.
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Damages From Tow Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one was injured in a tow truck accident, a Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer will seek compensation for your damages, including:
- Current and future medical bills
- Loss of income and potential future income
- Damage to property
- Expenses to alter your home to accommodate injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one from a tow truck accident, an attorney will help you pursue a wrongful death suit. In addition to damages for loss of companionship, Pennsylvania law allows family members to recover damages for funeral and medical expenses and loss of their loved one’s future income, retirement income, and inheritance.
You may also be entitled to punitive damages depending on your specific case. Punitive damages serve to punish the responsible party and deter future misconduct. Pennsylvania law allows punitive damages to be awarded if you prove the defendant’s conduct was wanton, malicious, willful, or exhibited a reckless disregard for others’ rights.
Determining Liability
A Pennsylvania tow truck accident law firm can determine liability by conducting an investigation. Attorneys interview witnesses, talk to medical providers, consult experts, review medical records, and analyze evidence to identify potentially liable parties and applicable insurance coverage.
One or more of the following parties may be liable for an accident:
- Tow truck driver
- Tow truck company
- Tow truck manufacturer
- Tow truck maintenance provider
- Others involved in the accident
The tow truck company may be liable if the driver was working within the scope of their job duties when the accident occurred.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Tow Truck Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
Under Pennsylvania law, the statute of limitations for personal injury or wrongful death claims is two years from the accident date or the victim’s death. If you do not file your lawsuit before the deadline, your claim may be time-barred, which means you will lose your right to seek compensation.
Some circumstances can alter the time you have to file a lawsuit. For example, if you do not discover your injury immediately, you may have more time to file your case. Conversely, you might need to file sooner if your claim involves a government agency. An experienced Pennsylvania tow truck accident lawyer can explain the filing deadlines applicable to your specific tow truck accident case.
While two years may seem like a long time, initiating the legal process as soon as possible creates the best opportunity to maximize compensation for your injuries. The earlier an investigation starts, the more likely witnesses will recall the events correctly, evidence will be available, and photos and other documentation will be accurate.
Contact Cordisco & Saile for Help with Your Tow Truck Accident Claim
If you or a loved one was injured in a tow truck car accident, the award-winning personal injury attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC can help. Our passion for our clients shows in our case results and client testimonials.
Call (215) 515-0193 or use our online form to schedule your free consultation.
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