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Nobody ever wants to be in a situation where they need to call a tow truck to move their disabled vehicle, but when breakdowns and traffic collisions happen, being able to get help quickly from someone who can get your car to a repair shop is essential. Unfortunately, just like any other driver on public Pennsylvania roads, tow truck operators can sometimes be negligent in how they navigate their vehicles through traffic and even in how they use the specialized equipment attached to their truck.
Whatever the circumstances that led to you getting hurt in a tow truck accident in Philadelphia, it is important for you to pursue compensation for your injuries. By retaining and working closely with a capable truck accident attorney, you will have far better chances of getting a favorable outcome from your lawsuit or settlement demand than you would ever have on your own.
What Kinds of Negligence Can Justify Tow Truck Accident Claims?
Whether it stems from an accident with a tow truck, a collision with a vehicle that fell off a tow truck after not being properly secured, or any other dangerous situation, successfully filing suit over an injury caused by a tow truck in Philadelphia requires proving that the tow truck driver was legally negligent in some way. More specifically, the injured person must be able to show through a preponderance of the evidence that the tow truck driver they are suing violated their duty of care to act responsibly while operating their truck and that said breach of duty was the main and direct cause of an injury serious enough to require professional medical care.
In addition, tow truck companies that hire and employ negligent drivers can sometimes also be held vicariously liable for injuries caused by their employee’s negligence if the employee caused the injury in question in the course of performing their normal job duties. However, this will typically not be possible in situations where the tow truck driver is an independent contractor using their own personally owned truck, as a qualified legal professional can explain in more detail.
Getting Paid Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Anyone who can prove a Philadelphia tow truck driver or company was directly at fault for their accident-related injuries can demand compensation for the full value of all losses they experience because of those injuries. This can include both economic and non-economic forms of harm, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost working and earning capacity or short-term income loss due to temporary disability
- Personal property damage, including costs of vehicle repair/replacement
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Psychological trauma and suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life
However, Pennsylvania state law generally allows people injured in wrecks like this a maximum of two years to file suit after initially sustaining harm, even if they have suffered life-altering and debilitating injuries. This is one of the biggest reasons why contacting legal counsel quickly after this kind of accident can be so vital to getting a positive case result.
Contact a Philadelphia Attorney for Help After a Tow Truck Crash
The last thing anyone should expect from their tow truck driver is the same kind of reckless or careless driving that led to them needing a tow truck in the first place. Nevertheless, tow truck operators can and do cause wrecks of their own more often than many people might expect—and fortunately, they can be held civilly liable for those wrecks if you understand and can effectively enforce your rights under Pennsylvania law.
You have professional legal support available to demand the restitution you deserve after tow truck accidents in Philadelphia. Call today for a consultation.
