Getting hit by a tow truck in Slidell can cause serious damage and bring on a wave of unexpected stress. With more than 121 years of experience advocating for accident victims, your tow truck accident lawyer in Slidell at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers is here to help you make sense of what happened.
Your Slidell truck accident lawyer knows how stressful this can be, so reach out when you are ready and let us walk you through the next steps.
Tow Truck Collisions in Slidell May Involve More Than One Crash
Some tow truck accidents do not stop with the first impact. These crashes often involve a second car hitting the vehicle being loaded or striking the tow truck itself while it is assisting someone else.
With Slidell’s mix of highways, bridges, and busy throughways, these collisions tend to happen in active traffic areas where a small mistake can turn into a chain of events that affects several people at once.
When a Driver Hits the Tow Truck Assisting Someone Else
We have seen cases where a distracted driver crashes into a stopped tow truck on the shoulder, often without braking. These crashes are especially dangerous because the truck operator is usually outside the cab, and other drivers may not realize a vehicle is disabled until it is too late to react. These collisions tend to happen at high speeds and can be devastating for everyone involved.
Your Slidell tow truck accident attorney with Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers can help investigate whether proper warning lights, cones, or other visibility measures were in place. We also look at dashcam footage, accident timing, and other drivers’ behavior to understand what happened and who is responsible. That extra context can make a big difference when building your case.
When a Towed Vehicle Causes Additional Damage During the Tow
Some crashes happen when the vehicle being towed becomes unstable or detaches entirely. If the load was not secured properly or the tow ramp was misaligned, the car being towed can swing, roll, or collide with nearby traffic. These risks increase when the tow is done quickly, in tight spaces, or without proper clearance.
In many of these cases, a deeper review of equipment condition and driver training is needed. Investigators may check tie-down strength, camera footage, or even tire angle to determine why the towed vehicle moved the way it did. These details help us show how the crash occurred and whether safety steps were skipped or rushed.
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(504) 500-1111Common Tow Truck Accidents Involving Pedestrians and Cyclists
Not every tow truck crash involves another driver. In cities like Slidell, pedestrians and cyclists are often the ones who get hurt, especially when sidewalks are blocked or bike lanes are not respected. These accidents do not always get the attention they deserve, but can lead to serious injuries and long-term setbacks. Here are some of the situations where tow trucks put pedestrians and cyclists at risk:
- Turning left or right across bike lanes without checking
- Blocking curb ramps or sidewalk access during a tow
- Improper loading near crosswalks or heavily trafficked pedestrian zones
- No flagman or spotter in busy loading areas
- Backing up quickly with no rear visibility
- Pulling across pedestrian medians or shoulders
- Driving too fast near school zones or bus stops
- Blocking designated bike-only travel paths
- Double-parking in narrow corridors without cones or warnings
- Dropping a load too close to the edge of the sidewalk
Your Slidell personal injury lawyer at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers can help you understand what your options look like if a commercial truck caused harm while operating on or near a sidewalk. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.1, you may be able to file a survival action if a family member passed away from injuries related to this type of crash.
How Business Ownership and Contracts Affect Tow Truck Crash Claims
Some tow trucks in Slidell operate under third-party dispatch systems, franchise agreements, or app-based service contracts, which can make things more complicated when a crash happens. The truck might be owned by one business, operated by another, and insured through a third. These layers of responsibility often create confusion about who may be held legally accountable.
Liability Questions Involving Franchises, Vendors, or Apps
In some cases, the truck is owned by a local company, but dispatch, billing, and branding are managed by a separate entity. These kinds of contracts are common in the towing industry and can lead to finger-pointing when something goes wrong. If the driver works independently but represents a larger company, untangling the employee-employer relationship can get complicated quickly.
Your Slidell car accident lawyer at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers knows how to investigate tow operator records and examine vendor agreements when ownership is unclear. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 32:1717, towing companies must register with the state and provide clear information about equipment and driver accountability. If a company fails to meet these requirements, that may influence your claim.
Insurance Claims That Get Delayed by Commercial Policy Disputes
Even when the fault is clear, insurance claims involving commercial tow trucks can be delayed when companies disagree about who should pay. One company may try to shift responsibility onto another by pointing to contract language or driver classification. These disputes can leave injured people waiting for help while the companies argue over the policy terms.
Your tow truck lawyer at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers can step in and push for answers when communication stalls. We review commercial policies, claim notes, and company correspondence to show who was responsible under Louisiana Civil Code Article 1994. When a company fails to meet its obligations, it may be liable for damages caused by that delay.
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(504) 500-1111Your Slidell Tow Truck Accident Lawyer Is Here to Answer Your Questions
You do not have to know exactly what happened or have everything figured out to speak with our firm. Your tow truck accident attorney in Slidell from Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers is here to help you understand your options and decide what makes sense for you and your family.
If you want to talk things through, contact us and we will be here to listen.