Mississippi Tow Truck Accident Lawyer

For almost 30 years, Giddens Law Firm has represented injured people across Mississippi, from Jackson to the Gulf Coast, in serious crashes involving commercial vehicles. Founding attorney John Giddens holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers and Mid-South Super Lawyers. Whether a tow truck struck your vehicle or you were hurt at a roadside scene, that experience is what stands between you and an insurer working to limit what it pays.

A tow truck accident is rarely a simple two-car collision. The driver works for a towing company, which answers to its insurer, and more than one party may share the blame. A Mississippi truck accident lawyer at Giddens Law Firm can identify who is responsible and pursue the full compensation you are owed. Call 601-355-2022 for a free consultation.

What Makes a Tow Truck Accident Different Than an 18-Wheeler Crash

A semi-truck spends its day moving down the highway. A tow truck does the opposite: its job is to stop in or beside live traffic, again and again, often at night and in poor weather. That single difference is the source of nearly every issue that sets these cases apart.

Tow trucks are struck while parked at a scene, they cause crashes when they rush to a call or block a lane, and the vehicles they carry can come loose. Each of those situations points to a different responsible party and a different set of rules, which is why a tow truck case should not be handled like an ordinary truck wreck.

Mississippi’s Move-Over Law and Roadside Crashes

Mississippi’s move-over law (Miss. Code Ann. Section 63-3-809) is central to many tow truck cases. When a tow truck is stopped on the roadside with its flashing amber lights on, approaching drivers must move over a lane if the road has two or more lanes in their direction, or slow down and be ready to stop when moving over is not safe. A driver who ignores that duty and strikes the tow truck, its operator, or a stranded motorist can be held at fault.

The violation is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $250, or up to $1,000 if it causes injury or property damage, and it is strong evidence of negligence in an injury claim.

The law works in both directions. A tow truck is protected only when it is displaying the proper warning lights. An operator who parks in a live lane without warning lights, or positions the truck more dangerously than the job requires, can share the blame for a crash.

At Giddens Law Firm, our tow truck accident attorneys examine where the tow truck was, which lights were on, and whether the other driver had a reasonable opportunity to move over.

How Tow Truck Accidents Happen in MS

Most tow truck crashes stem from the pressures of the job. Operators are often paid by the call, which rewards speed, and many work long, late shifts that leave them fatigued.

A loaded wrecker is slow to stop, and its size creates wide turns and large blind spots. Crashes occur when an operator speeds to reach a breakdown, swings wide across a lane, or works a scene without properly clearing traffic.

The towed vehicle is a second hazard. When a car is not properly chained or strapped, it can break loose and crash into traffic behind the wrecker. Our firm examines whether the load was secured to the required standard.

Who Is Liable for a Mississippi Tow Truck Accident?

Liability for a tow truck accident often reaches beyond the driver. The parties most commonly responsible include:

• The tow truck operator, for speeding, distraction, unsafe positioning, or careless maneuvering.
• The towing company, for poor training, ignored maintenance, or schedules that push operators to rush.
• The party that ordered the tow, such as a motor club or a police rotation contractor, depending on its role.
• Another driver, including one who failed to move over for a stopped tow truck.
• An equipment manufacturer, when a defective winch, hitch, or brake component failed.

Because a towing company carries commercial insurance with far higher limits than a personal policy, naming the company as a responsible party often decides whether a settlement covers your bills. Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence (Miss. Code Ann. Section 11-7-15), so even a partly at-fault person can recover a reduced amount, and insurers will try to shift blame to lower what they pay. Our attorneys request the police report, secure the towing company records, and work with reconstruction experts to show how the crash happened.

Compensation You Can Recover

A tow truck crash can leave you with medical bills, lost income, and lasting pain. Mississippi law allows injured people to recover economic damages, such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

When a crash takes a life, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim. Our firm calculates the full cost of an injury, including future care, rather than the insurer’s initial offer.

Why Choose Giddens Law Firm

Giddens Law Firm focuses on serious injury and truck accident cases, and that focus is what a tow truck claim requires. Founding attorney John Giddens has practiced for more than 25 years, holds an AV Preeminent rating, and is recognized by Best Lawyers and Mid-South Super Lawyers. From offices in Jackson and Gulfport, the firm represents injured clients throughout Mississippi.

We handle tow truck cases on a contingency fee, so you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. That arrangement gives every client access to experienced representation, regardless of their finances.

Contact a Mississippi Tow Truck Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a tow truck accident anywhere in Mississippi, Giddens Law Firm is ready to help. We will investigate the crash, identify every responsible party, deal with the insurance companies, and take your case to trial if a fair result requires it. Call 601-355-2022 or contact us today for a free case evaluation. You pay nothing unless we win.