Written by the FleetEasy Team
Serving Spokane and Washington State with Commercial Towing Services
If you or your driver has been in an accident in a commercial fleet vehicle in Spokane, the priority is safety. After that, the focus is often on accident recovery, towing the fleet vehicle and getting operations moving again. Unfortunately, if your truck or trailer isn’t recovered properly, it can impact liability, costs and safety long after the accident scene is cleared.
Improper towing does not just risk additional vehicle damage. It can lead to secondary incidents, cargo loss, worker injuries, and insurance complications that could have been avoided with experienced, knowledgeable and professional recovery.
Understanding these risks helps fleets make better decisions in stressful situations.
Secondary Damage During Recovery
One of the most common consequences of improper towing is secondary damage. While some situations make it impossible to remove a damaged truck or trailer without causing additional damage, this can often be avoided with the right equipment and know-how.
Here are some examples:
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- Structural damage to trailers that were not properly supported
- Frame twisting caused by uneven lifting points
- Axle, suspension, or braking damage from dragging or misalignment
- Additional damage to cargo containment systems
In many cases, this damage isn’t noticeable at the scene. Issues might pop up later during an inspection or after the vehicle returns to service. At that point, liability questions become more complicated.
Secondary damage can also impact insurance claims, especially if it is determined that improper recovery methods contributed to the loss.
Load Loss and Cargo Damage Risks
Commercial vehicles transporting in and out of Spokane are rarely empty, and cargo introduces another layer of risk during towing and recovery. Improper towing can lead to load shifts, damaging trailer floors or sidewalls, spilled or damaged freight, etc.
Once cargo is damaged or lost during recovery, responsibility may extend beyond the original incident. Fleet owners and managers may face disputes related to carrier liability, contract delivery obligations, claims from cargo owners or insurance companies and even environmental cleanup if spilled cargo has created an issue.
Increased Injury Risk at the Scene
Even after the vehicles have stopped moving, there are safety risks at the scene of an accident recovery. Improper towing and recovery methods can put recovery operators, drivers, first responders, and passing motorists at risk. This is because it can lead to unstable commercial vehicles, shifting loads, equipment failure and in bad situations, another accident.
Where liability is concerned, any injuries or damage that happens during recovery could lead to an investigation to discover is proper procedures, methods and equipment were used. This is something you want to protect you, your driver and business from by hiring a trusted and experienced professional like Pro-Tow by FleetEasy.
Compliance and Documentation Concerns
Commercial vehicle incidents are often reviewed through a regulatory and insurance lens. Improper towing can complicate this process, especially if your tow truck company skipped documentation that could prove otherwise.
FleetEasy and in-house divisions are stringent about compliance, reporting and detailed documentation. We take notes, photos, and videos, and keep a detailed record of every detail of an accident recovery and towing operation. Doing so ensures everything complies with regulations, clarifies questions about recovery procedures, custody of cargo and vehicles, and any disputes over responsibility for post-incident damage.
Diligent reporting protects all parties involved.
Reducing Liability Starts With the Right Call
Improper towing decisions are often made under stress, limited visibility, or time pressure. However, those early decisions can have lasting consequences.
Fleets can reduce liability exposure by working with Spokane fleet services providers experienced and knowledgeable in commercial and heavy-duty recovery. They must also understand both operational and risk implications throughout the process, to ensure your people, property and business are protected during and after the recovery.
Driver training also plays a big role in reducing liability. Ensure they know what they can handle, when they should call for specialized help, and who they should call. We hope you choose FleetEasy for your fleets in Spokane, Washington State and beyond.
Have questions? We’d love to help.