When one thinks of a dangerous profession, driving a tow truck likely does not come to mind. However, tow-truck drivers responding to motorists in need face the possibility of becoming injured in serious car accidents due to their regular proximity to the roadway. Unfortunately, one man was killed and two others were injured after a man in California reportedly ran off the side of the road, striking three trucks.
Reports indicate that a man in a pickup had experienced a complicated flat tire. Two tow-truck drivers — in separate trucks — responded to the scene and were assisting with the tire. Unfortunately, a truck driven by a 52-year-old man allegedly veered off the road, striking all three trucks and the two tow-truck drivers.
The driver of the truck believed to have caused the accident was uninjured. One of the two tow-truck drivers, a 48-year-old man, died from his injuries at the scene of the accident. The second tow-truck driver, a 42-year-old man, suffered serious injuries including severe internal injuries, a broken leg and fractures, while the driver of the truck with the flat tire suffered minor injuries.
An accident such as this will likely have significant financial ramifications.The family of the deceased man will likely have to cope with funeral expenses and lost wages. The seriously injured man will need to deal with medical bills and may never be able to return to work in the same capacity. While workers’ compensation benefits may apply in the case of the tow-truck drivers, civil litigation against the man believed to have caused the accident could result in a monetary award if negligence can be proved in a California civil court. Many victims of car accidents — or their family members if the accident resulted in a fatality — have taken such action and received relief for some of the financial stresses created by a death or injury.
Source: 10news.com, “Pickup truck hits, kills tow truck driver; another severely hurt”, Jan. 17, 2015