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Tow Trucks of Various Types

On Colorado Springs highways, tow trucks come in various shapes and sizes. A flatbed truck, for example, has an additional platform added to the rear.

Smaller cars may be transported on the flatbed, which slides out. When an car is transported on a flatbed, the chance of damage is lessened.

A wheel lift tow truck, for example, employs a yoke to attach to a car’s front wheels. The car does not utilize any hooks or chains during the drive, and the rear wheels stay on the ground. Certain firms use a wheel lift tow truck to move cars off the highway quicker.

Tow cars with hooks and chains may also be seen. They look like wheel lift trucks but come with a hook and chain. Because this sort of car is prone to damaging cars by mistake, it is utilized less often.

An integrated tow truck is generally the best solution for more significant cars needing help. This truck has increased power and stability, allowing it to move huge goods out of challenging circumstances.

Certain towing businesses also use a boom truck. Boom trucks feature a hydraulic arm that can pull cars and may be used for various other tasks.

The car’s condition and type determine the kind of towing truck sent by a firm. Many of the cars are equipped to execute the task, but each tow truck poses a distinct danger of an accident.

Tow Truck Regulations

Specific authorization is required to operate a tow truck on Colorado Springs roadways. The licenses are suitable for a year and must be used for one of three things: accident management, private property, or consent tow.

A peace officer issues an accident management permit, which permits the tow truck to tow without the approval of the car owner.

Private property permission is required for a non-consensual tow on private land. An unregistered car parked in a private parking area is an example of why a non-consensual tow might be needed.

A consent towing permit gives the tow truck authority to execute its duty and transport your car.

Applicants for any kind of permission must pass a criminal background check. The Department of Licensing and Regulation may regularly inspect a towing firm. Towing companies must also operate safely and professionally.

Conditions are deteriorating. Accidents involving tow trucks in Colorado Springs

Many of the same factors that increase the risk of car accidents also increase the risk of tow truck accidents.

Hazardous weather, such as rain or ice, may be one of the first things that come to mind. In every climate, a car may break down or get stranded. Rain reduces vision and raises the risk of a tow car colliding with a stranded driver.

On the ice, cars often slip, resulting in collisions. Tow truck drivers must be even more cautious on icy roads since they often need their services.

Another factor that increases the danger of accidents for all motorists, but notably tow trucks, is heavy traffic. Colorado Springs has nearly a million people, and hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through each day.

At some hours and on specific days, traffic tends to surge. Due to their size, tow trucks have difficulty getting past other cars in congested areas. Because the trucks must also carry huge loads and have extra protrusions such as cables and beds that might crash with other cars, maneuvering can become perilous.

Any motorist who is distracted is more likely to have an accident. Distractions in the car may come from various sources, including the radio, other passengers, and cell phones.

A motorist’s attention might be diverted from the road by events outside the car. Tow truck drivers are often required to go to unknown locations and may get distracted while navigating to their destinations.

Tow truck accidents may also be exacerbated by speeding and other risky activities. When someone fails to move over or slow down in time for a stopped truck on the side of the road, an accident might occur at an intersection or on a highway. A tow truck may accelerate or fail to yield on its route to pick up a stranded car.

Furthermore, if a tow truck fails to properly attach a smaller car, it may roll away and collide with another driver.

Overall, these dangers combine to increase the risk of a tow truck collision causing damage.

Accidents Involving Tow Trucks

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, car collisions are the top cause of fatality in the towing business. Many tow trucks are also involved in nonfatal accidents.

Pedestrian collisions are one sort of tow truck accident. In one recent year, the Colorado Department of Transportation discovered a 5% rise in pedestrian accidents. When a single car collides with a pedestrian, it is called a pedestrian accident.

If a tow truck driver backs up a car and fails to detect a person behind them, a pedestrian accident might occur. Such accidents may be devastating because people are entirely exposed to the truck’s enormous size and weight.

Due to recklessness, tow trucks are sometimes involved in multi-car accidents. If a tow truck in a hurry fails to maintain adequate space between their car and the car in front of them, and the car in front has to stop quickly, a rear-end accident may occur. In rear-end collisions, tow trucks may cause more catastrophic injuries.

Tow truck accidents may also occur when a tow truck driver disregards traffic restrictions, such as running a red light. In addition, side-impact accidents are common in Colorado Springs junctions, and driving the wrong way or passing improperly may result in head-on crashes. Even if they are moving modestly, people might suffer significant injuries in a head-on accident.

Accidents involving tow trucks in Colorado Springs may result in serious injuries.

Whatever kind of tow truck accident a victim is involved in, they are likely to get severe injuries due to the tow truck’s increased bulk. Even a low-speed collision might cause serious injuries.

Injuries sustained in a tow truck accident in Colorado Springs include:

Neck and shoulder injuries

Bone fractures

Head injuries from a traumatic event

Injuries to the spine

Injuries to soft tissues

Not all injuries will manifest themselves at the moment of the accident. You should go to a hospital or clinic to ensure you don’t have any hidden injuries from the accident.

In the event of a tow truck accident in Colorado Springs, who is responsible?

You should pursue legal action against the responsible party or parties after determining the cause of a Colorado Springs tow truck accident. In many circumstances, though, responsibility is unclear. An expert Colorado Springs tow truck accident lawyer can assist in determining the reasons for the accident and who was at fault.

Every motorist has a responsibility to drive safely and lawfully. Tow truck drivers, in particular, have a responsibility to drive safely due to the larger size of their cars and the weights they transport. Tow truck drivers must not speed to get to their location, and they must follow the same traffic regulations as everyone else.

A tow truck firm may potentially be held liable in the event of an accident. They must ensure that their drivers have received the appropriate training and certificates before driving. If a tow truck firm was negligent in any manner in employing a driver who caused an accident, it might be held accountable.

Trucks must also be repaired and maintained by businesses. They might be held accountable for an accident caused by a malfunctioning tow car. Tow truck equipment makers may be held liable if a component they created fails to function correctly while the driver is operating the tow truck.

Finding out who is responsible is crucial, but it might be tough to do so right away. It is essential to get legal advice to maximize your reward. In your Colorado Springs tow truck accident case, they can assist you in identifying all possibly responsible parties.

Liability Insurance for Tow Trucks

Tow truck operators in Colorado Springs are required by law to have liability insurance. The property and physical injury that a tow truck causes to others is covered by liability insurance.

A tow truck driver in Colorado Springs must have at least $15,000 to $30,000 in liability insurance. Certain tow truck firms also purchase medical costs coverage. The coverage pays for the driver’s and passengers’ medical expenditures if they are hurt while on the job.

What To Do If You’re Involved In A Tow Truck Accident In Colorado Springs

After a tow truck collision in Colorado Springs, seek medical attention and contact the cops. It’s critical to call the cops to examine the area and take testimony from drivers, passengers, and bystanders. They create a police record based on this information, which you may use to back up any claims you make later.

If you’re able, take images of the occurrence after taking care of your health and contacting the police. Photographs may help preserve the accident site, which may alter when officials arrive and clear the route of cars.

Even if you don’t need emergency care, be cool and get medical help as soon as possible. The primary method you’ll establish your medical costs for which you’ll eventually seek reimbursement is via hospital records and invoices.

Finally, speak with a tow truck accident lawyer in Colorado Springs to learn about your legal options. You must move promptly because the statute of limitations restricts the amount of time you have to submit a claim. (For Colorado Springs residents, the limit is two years after the accident.)

Additionally, hiring an attorney as soon as feasible will aid in the development of your case while evidence is still fresh and more readily obtained.

The Strategies of Insurance Companies

Insurance companies place a stumbling block in the way of claimants receiving the money they deserve in each car accident claim. You will communicate with both your insurance carrier and the negligent party’s insurer throughout the tow truck accident claim procedure in Colorado Springs. In either situation, the insurance may deny or minimize your claim. They may begin by making a low-ball offer significantly less than you deserve.

Insurance firms will also attempt to get you to speak with them, and everything you say might be used against you. You may be asked to produce a recorded statement by the insurance company.

While doing so, some insurers may attempt to persuade a tow truck accident victim that they do not need legal representation. This strategy should not fool victims. They should get legal counsel as soon as possible to assist them in communicating with the insurance company so that they do not say anything that may jeopardize their claim.

How Long Does It Take To File A Tow Truck Accident Claim In Colorado Springs?

Not all claims are identical, and various variables might influence how long it takes to settle a claim. If the defendant’s carelessness is apparent, you may be able to achieve a reasonable settlement quickly; but, if responsibility is ambiguous, your case may take longer. In any case, you and your attorney will need time to collect evidence to show who was negligent and to what degree.

Furthermore, if your injuries are more serious, a case may take longer. Insurance companies, once again, want to pay as little as possible. They will often fight your claim harder if the amount you seek is substantial.

In certain circumstances, your claim may take longer while you negotiate a reasonable settlement or file a lawsuit to have a judge compel a defendant to pay you a fair sum. Your legal team will also want to keep track of how your injuries affect your life while you recuperate, as well as any prognoses you get from your physicians.