At the 2016 Tennessee Tow Show, Mike McGovern and I were asked to lead a discussion on the dangers of the use of social media in the tow world. We published a brief blog about this concept shortly thereafter. However, as the use of social media becomes more prevalent, it is wise to revisit this quickly developing legal issue.
In January, 2017, a 67 year old Kansas City man was killed when a wheel broke loose from a vehicle that was being towed and struck the windshield of the vehicle he was driving. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a part from a towed vehicle to break loose and cause damage to another vehicle or person on the roadway.
A popular, dense population with too many cars and not enough parking is the perfect recipe for private property towing. Sometimes there’s another individual lurking in the shadows, the spotter. A spotter is loosely defined as an individual monitoring the parking lot who immediately calls the tow company to report an illegally parked vehicle.
Towing is a contentious industry. Often, the nature of the job places tow drivers in a precarious position with exposure to a wide variety of claims. To respond to these risks, some of my tow company clients have considered requiring drivers to wear body cameras. Body cameras, like anything, have their pro’s and con’s. Here are a few things that tow companies should consider when evaluating.
We have written much in these blogs about the need for a quality employment manual. Now it’s time to devote some time to an equally important manual: the safety manual. The safety manual is just what it sounds like: it’s a comprehensive source of safety policies that your company requires. For the security of your company and drivers, a safety manual is a must. It tells your drivers how to correctly, and safely, do their jobs. However, from a financial perspective, a safety manual can also save you money. This is because in the modern climate of skyrocketing insurance rates, most reputable insurance companies will require your company to have a safety manual before they will issue you a competitive rate.
In recent years, the costs of towing liability insurance have skyrocketed. The insurance companies have offered several different reasons for this unprecedented escalation. I’ve heard it’s because the costs of automobile liability insurance, in general, has risen. More drivers on the road means more accidents, which means higher insurance for everyone, including the tow industry. Others have attributed the increase to several major insurance companies pulling out of the market. Less insurers means increased costs for those that remain. Finally, some insurance companies have said that towing is simply too risky to insure. Towing is expensive and dangerous.
Understanding required minimum wage pay can save you time, legal problems and a lot of money. TowLawyer attorney, Nick Porto, discusses what you need to know to make sure your business is compliant with required minimum wage pay.
There’s an economic reality to hiring an attorney to collect a tow bill. No matter what you might have heard, here’s the truth: if you hire a lawyer, absent some exception, you have to pay your attorney’s fees. You can’t make the losing side in a lawsuit pay your attorney’s bill. It’s your responsibility.
On August 27, 2017, tow truck operators from locations near and far will convene at a local Kansas City park to remember Blake Gresham and “light up the night” for awareness about the importance of Move Over Laws. On August 27, 2012, Blake Gresham was just 18 years old when he was struck and killed while towing a vehicle from a Kansas City highway. This year will be fourth time tow companies have gathered on the anniversary of his death. However, this year will be the first time the event will feature the Spirit Ride.
The very nature of law enforcement towing presents a situation where the law enforcement agency is “hiring” a tow company for a consumer who can’t make the decision themselves because the consumer is incapacitated, incarcerated, injured or maybe even deceased. Simply put, the consumer is vulnerable and, whether they know it or not, is relying on the law enforcement agency to select the best company possible.
